Articles

Foods for the Heart

The topic of keeping a healthy heart has already been discussed here in Accoona, but since it's Valentine's Day, we thought we should dive in deeper into what really makes a heart healthier. Below is a list of the top foods that can you should eat to keep your heart in top shape.

Check them out and be sure to find ways to include them in your diet:

Salmon

Rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, salmon can supplement your heart's health. Apparently, foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce mortality in heart patients as well as lower the risk of heart disease.

Oatmeal

Not only does oatmeal serve as a great low-calorie breakfast, but it also benefits your heart in tremendous ways. Oatmeal contains magnesium, potassium, fiber, and other nutrients that can promote a healthy heart. It is often recommended by physicians to people with high cholesterol as oatmeal has been proven to lower cholesterol levels.

Nuts

Aside from being a good source of protein, nuts such as almonds and walnuts are also rich in omega-3 fatty acides, vitamin E, folate, fiber, and other nutrients that supplement the heart. Easy and convenient for consumers, peanuts are among people's favorite heart-friendly foods.

Tuna

Going back to the seafood department, if you want to keep your ticker healthy, you may want to load up on tuna as well (after all, eating only salmon can take its toll on you. ) Like salmon, Tuna also contains Omeaga-3 fatty acids, a substance that can really keep your heart healthy.

Berries

Got a bit of a sweet tooth? Then opt for more berries in your diet. Blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries aren't just a yummy addition to meals, they also fall under the "super food" category. They're loaded with anti-oxidants that promote overall wellbeing, and they can keep your heart healthy and lower your risk of heart disease as well thanks to all the anti-inflammatories that they contain.

Spinach

Popeye the Sailor Man definitely set the right example when he chugged down all those cans of spinach. While most green leafy veggies are great for your heart, spinach in particular has a lot of B-complex vitamins, calcium, potassium, folate, and fiber that can keep your heart in awesome shape.

Tomatoes

Loaded with lycopene and other vitamins, you can help keep your heart healthy by including a lot of tomatoes in your diets. What's great about this fruit is that it's yummy and can be incorporated in a number of meals, so you certainly wouldn't have a hard time adding them in your meal plans.

The above list is by no-means comprehensive. See, there are plenty of foods out there that can keep your heart happy and healthy. So if you're really serious about lowering your cholesterol or risk of heart disease it's important that you read up on the types of food best for your heart, and of course apply what you've learned in your daily meals.

Ready to start educating yourself? Then check out the following resources below:

Eat Well - A page that's full of tools for healtheier eating

Face the fats - Know your fats! This is Fats 101 by the American Heart Associaton

Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations - Start a healthy lifestyle with these pieces of advice and tips

Healthy Recipes - Healthy recipes from WomenHeart.org

Grocery List - Use this tool to create your grocery list filled with foods that are approved by the AHA

Tools and Reources - The resource page of MillionHearts.hss.gov

Image credit: epSos.de on Flickr