10 Foods for Heart Health
We all know the heart is one of the most important parts of your body. What we don’t always know is how to eat to ensure we take care of the heart just like we would for any other part of our body. Here are 10 foods that, when combined with healthy habits like regular exercise, reducing stress and maintaining a healthy weight, can help you treat your heart well:
- Salmon – This and other kinds of fatty fish, like herring and sardines, are loaded with omega 3 fatty acids, which have been shown to benefit your heart in a variety of ways.
- Nuts – Almonds, Pecans, Walnuts and more have a wealth of unsaturated fats that can help lower your low-density lipoprotein (LDL).
- Beans – Beans and Legumes are high in fiber and low in fat, making them a natural pick for heart health.
- Oats – This whole grain is a pro at helping reduce cholesterol, thanks to plenty of fiber.
- Greens – Spinach and other leafy greens are a great way to get blood-pressure-controlling- potassium into your diet, along with a variety of other vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals.
- Raspberries – These sweet, little fruits are a powerhouse of antioxidants and fiber to help fight inflammation and cholesterol. Take that, heart disease!
- Broccoli – Broccoli is loaded with fiber, potassium and other heart-boosting nutrients to help lower cholesterol and manage blood pressure.
- Turmeric – Over recent years, turmeric has been found to be a force in fighting inflammation, while one of its main compounds, curcumin, has shown promise in helping keep plaque from building up in arteries.
- Bulgur Wheat – You want fiber? This whole grain has it and can be a tasty way to help with unhealthy cholesterol and weight management.
- Sweet Potatoes – Satisfy your sweet tooth while you add fiber and potassium to your diet with this root vegetable.
What better way to love your heart treating yourself well with a delicious restaurant menu choice with these good-for-your-heart foods?
Healthy Dining provides Americans with the digital tools and resources necessary to find the best restaurant choices for their dietary goals and healthy lifestyles. President and founder Anita Jones-Mueller, MPH, launched Healthy Dining in San Diego, CA, in 1991 by combining the brainpower and creativity of chefs, restaurateurs, health experts, registered dietitians and communication strategists. Now, in collaboration with the National Restaurant Association and scores of partner organizations, the Healthy Dining Program has grown to become the most powerful restaurant industry nutrition initiative in the nation. Healthy Dining’s signature website, HealthyDiningFinder.com, enables millions of nutrition-conscious restaurant diners, as well as those dealing with diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and other nutrition-related conditions, to easily find dietitian-recommended Healthy Dining and Kids LiveWell choices served at more than 60,000 restaurant locations. For more information please visit www.HealthyDiningFinder.com.
For more healthy food options take a look at these Together Counts articles.