5 Great Foods You Must Eat for a Healthy Heart
We’re in the midst of American Heart Month, so it’s more important than ever to focus on treating your heart right.
And maybe nothing matters more than eating the right foods.
So, what are the best foods for good heart health? Here's a look at a few of them
Blueberries
The blueberry is a tiny fruit that packs a big healthy punch. It’s loaded with all sorts of goodness, including fiber, vitamin C and antioxidant. Plus, blueberries fight plaque from enlarging in your arteries and can decrease the chances of developing heart attack or stroke. In addition, blueberries do wonders for skin, eyes and urine, while also leading the fight against cancer and diabetes. Maybe best of all is the fact they’re readily available and delicious all 12 months of the year.
Salmon
Here’s an interesting statistic: if you eat two servings of salmon a week, your chances of dying from a heart attack decrease by 33%. Like blueberries, salmon comes full of antioxidants and also contains omega-3 fatty acids, which will keep blood pressure at a normal level, while also keeping your cholesterol in check. One important note: eat wild salmon instead of farm-raised, which may have insecticides, pesticides and various metals in them.
Beans
It’s pretty simple: beans are loaded with protein, minerals and fiber and you want plenty of that going into your body. Beans are also lacking cholesterol and don’t have much fat. A good side effect of beans is it takes some time to digest them, which means it can prolong that feeling of being full. And that means you won’t nosh on any sweets or other unhealthy foods. Plus, they’re pretty cheap and easy to find in a wide variety.
Nuts
Nuts feature unsaturated fats, omega-3 fatty acids (like salmon) and something called L-arginine, which can help prevent blood clots. Nuts, like almost all heart-healthy foods, have plenty of fiber and don’t have cholesterol. Just about all nuts are healthy, but the ones that really stand out ate pine nuts, cashews, pistachios and almonds. They also make a great snack.
Vegetables
There’s a reason mothers around the world have been imploring their kids to eat their veggies for years and years. They’re just so darned good for you. They’ve got fiber and lead the charge in lowering cholesterol. Their antioxidants will fight plaque buildup in the arteries, which can only benefit the heart. And best of all, there’s no shortage of vegetables – broccoli, spinach, peas and asparagus are just some of the ones that are easy to find any supermarket. They all come with their own special benefits, but have no doubt – eating them can only help your heart.