Six Foods For A Better Heart Health

Heart health involves good nutrition, stress management, physical activity, smoking cessation, weight management and more. A healthy lifestyle will point you in the direction of good heart health. There are many heart healthy foods that are important to incorporate into your diet and meal planning, especially the six listed below:

1. Whole Grains
Whole grains are high in antioxidants and soluble fiber. Eating a high fiber diet lowers your risk of heart disease by 40 percent. Oatmeal, beans and barley are good whole grain options.

2. Fish
Eating two or more servings of fish per week lowers your risk of heart disease by 30 percent. Salmon and fresh tuna are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids lower triglycerides and help prevent abnormal blood clotting, which can cause a heart attack or stroke. You may like to read, Natural Remedies For Depression.

3. Beans
Beans are high in fiber content and flavonoids. They work to bind cholesterol and prevent platelets from clotting in the blood; these things help lower the risk of heart disease and stroke.

4. Nuts
Walnuts, pecans, almonds, hazelnuts and pistachios contain monosaturated fats. Eating a handful of nuts two to four days a week will reduce the incidence of heart disease.

5. Chocolate
Dark chocolate, containing 70 percent cocoa solids, has flavonoids, which help to keep the blood thinned and prevent potential heart disease. Chocolate also boosts immune system effectiveness.

6. Fresh Fruit
Apples, pomegranates, bananas, berries, raisins and tomatoes are important fruits to augment heart health. Apples and pomegranates are loaded with antioxidants. Pomegranates also reduce artery build-up and lower blood pressure. Potassium-rich bananas help to maintain heart function and replace the important electrolytes excreted by the kidneys. Berries act to lower blood pressure. Raisins help to prevent periodontal or gum disease, which is often associated with heart disease.

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