Monday, May 9, 2011

Top Foods to eat for Healthy Heart

Mostly all of us know the importance of eating a heart healthy foods as it lowers the risk of heart disease but we still go after cheeseburgers, pizza, ice cream, etc. Enjoy good cardiac health by taking healthy foods in diet throughout your life. Heart disease is one of the major causes of death of men and women across the world. So, taking care of your heart should be one of your main concerns if you wish to make sure that you live a long and healthy life. Check out the list of top healthy foods that you must consume in your daily diet as snacks or as part of a meal to stay away from any heart related problems.

Top Foods to eat for Healthy Heart

There are several things to do in routine life for keeping healthy heart including regular exercise, avoiding harmful habits like smoking, controlling stress and more focus on the natural way is the best i.e. eat "super-foods" which boost nutritional goodness. Some people think that preferring for healthy heart foods means sacrificing taste but its totally wrong belief since there are loads of delicious heart-healthy foods.

10 best foods to eat for Healthy Heart

1. Oats

Oats are an outstanding source of soluble fiber that helps to decrease the risk of heart disease and can lower LDL (or bad) cholesterol levels. Saponins, a compound included in Oats, bind with cholesterol and carry it out of the body. Oats are also wealthy in an antioxidant called as tocotrienol, which aids keep LDL cholesterol from fixing together and making plaque on arteries. Oats are even great source of omega-3 fatty acids so supposed to maintain cardiac health.
Top Foods to eat for Healthy Heart
Begin your day with a steaming bowl of oats since it is tasty breakfast good for health and also easy and quick to prepare in the morning. Add berries, almonds, and other dried foods in the bowl for making oatmeal if you want much delicious taste. The FDA also permitted oatmeal manufacturers to formulate claims that oatmeal can lesser the risk of heart disease as they are filled with numerous health benefits. Ensure you select brands that come with these labels while shopping for oatmeal. You will be happy to know that oatmeal helps you if you are trying to lose weight because they make you feel full for hours.

2. Berries

Any type of berries whether blueberries, raspberries, strawberries are an incredible source of fiber,
beta carotene, and several other nutrients, which decrease your risk of heart disease and cancer. In the list of antioxidant-rich fruits as per U.S. Department of Agriculture study, blueberries stood at the top position, followed by cranberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries. Berries are known to be nature’s own candy and all kinds of berries endorse the fitness of the human heart. Berries are crammed with antioxidants that can aid to wipe up a surplus of potentially unsafe free radicals. Blueberries are wealthy in a class of phytonutrients called anthocyanins that support the integrity of the vascular system while Cranberries are rich in flavonoids, plant pigments that present antioxidant benefits.
Top Foods to eat for Healthy Heart
Take berries into your diet frequently and boost heart health. Add delicious flavor by topping your whole-grain cereal with fresh or frozen blueberries. For a nourishing breakfast, power up pancakes, waffles, or muffins with fresh, frozen, or dried blueberries. You can eat berries plain or combine with other fruit for a low-calorie, high-fiber yummy fruit salad, dessert, or snack.


3. Spinach

Spinach is a wonderful source plant-based omega-3s and folate which help to decrease the risk of heart disease, stroke and osteoporosis. Folate breaks down an unsafe substance in the blood associated to heart disease called as homocysteine. Also spinach has powerful antioxidant nutrients, vitamins C and vitamin A (beta carotene) that aid to prevent LDL cholesterol from oxidizing and creating plaque on artery walls.
Top Foods to eat for Healthy Heart

This great green leafy vegetable can be consumed in several ways however to benefit from its maximum nutritional value, eat fresh (juice), steamed, or rapidly boiled. Eat 1 cup of fresh spinach or a half cup of cooked spinach daily. You can even put few fresh spinach leaves on top of a salad or pizza, or insert it as an ingredient to your morning omelette.

4. Salmon

Salmon is a cold-water fish, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids that the body cannot form so it’s vital to include them in your diet. Omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon helps to protect your heart, lessen your risk of rising blood clots and also decrease inflammation. Salmon includes a very dominant antioxidant, the carotenoid astaxanthin. Ensure to select wild salmon over farm-raised fish that can be crammed with insecticides, pesticides, and heavy metals. In order to maintain good overall health, you should consume these foods two servings a week as per the American Heart Association. Obtain omega-3s from fish oil, almonds, walnuts, or flaxseed in case salmon doesn’t suit you.
Top Foods to eat for Healthy Heart

Salmon is loved by Americans since it is very versatile, simple to cook, and tastes delicious. Salmon can be prepared in the oven, microwave, stovetop or on the grill. With a luscious, rub or marinade grill salmon. Put aside a hunk to slice for a pasta or salad later on. Other ways is to preserve for 15 minutes salmon in a lime, onion, garlic, and soy blend earlier than grilling for a yummy fish taco or grilled fish sandwich.

5. Avocado

Avocados hold a great source of heart healthy mono and polyunsaturated fats which makes them exclusive amid fruits. Oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat in Avocados assists to lower LDL levels and hoists the number of HDL cholesterol in your body. It also contains potassium that can help protect against heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. For the inclusion of other carotenoids, particularly beta-carotene and lycopene, this fruit must be integrated in your heart healthy diet.
Top Foods to eat for Healthy Heart
Avocados are splendid, so add some avocado in your diet by including it in proper amount with a sandwich or spinach salad. Select avocados exclusive of bruises, dents, or wrinkles. Collect the benefits of 7 grams of fiber, plenty of potassium, and a superior dose of vitamin E by eating half an avocado.

6. Nuts

Nuts are nutritional powerhouses and loaded with mono- and polyunsaturated fats identified to benefit the heart. Nuts can help lower cholesterol and the omega-3 fats in it might protect against uneven heart rhythms. Nutrients in nuts such as fiber, selenium, vitamin E, and vitamin A may also aid lower cardiovascular risk. It has been showed by the studies that both healthy men, and who already suffered a heart attack may decrease cardiovascular risk by eating nuts often.
Top Foods to eat for Healthy Heart
Eat most nuts daily like peanuts, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, some pine nuts, and pistachio nuts around 1.5 ounces, or 42.5 grams as they can lessen your risk of heart disease, as per the Food and Drug Administration. Enjoy nuts but limit the portion size. Always ensure the nuts you are eating are not salted or coated with sugar. Add a handful of walnuts or almonds in your salad rather than utilizing cheese, meat or croutons. Boost energy and beat hunger by taking small portions of nuts that help dieters to stay on track.

7. Olive oil

High level of monounsaturated (good) fats in Olive Oil has some outstanding health benefits like perhaps lowering your risk of heart disease and different types of cancer. Polyphenols, potent antioxidants contained in Olive oil could help slow the development of atherosclerosis by declining the vulnerability of bad cholesterol to oxidative harm and stress.
Top Foods to eat for Healthy Heart
Olive oil has been served as the lot from money to medicine since over 4,000 years in the Mediterranean cultures. As well as in olive oil the existence of phenols, tocopherols, and other natural antioxidants ward off the structure of certain free radicals (highly reactive molecules) that might cause cell destruction within the human body. Always prefer the extra-virgin or virgin varieties as they are the least processed and while cooking utilize them in place of butter.

8. Legumes
Top Foods to eat for Healthy Heart

Legumes are low-cost vegetables that comprise beans, peas and lentils. They are packed with fiber and plant-based protein and eminent for their ability to lesser cholesterol and decrease the risk of heart disease. They are also high in omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, and nutrients such as folate, potassium, iron and magnesium that aid in preventing coronary cancer, heart disease, obesity, diabetes mellitus, etc. Legumes are suggested for a daily diet due to the connected health benefits or person must eat two to four cups of cooked dry beans weekly to protect against heart disease.

9. Soy

Soy foods are a good addition to a heart healthy diet, which can be taken in any form whether soy milk, tofu, soy-beans, or apply soy flour in recipes. They are cholesterol-free, low in saturated fat, and include high-quality protein, essential fatty acids, dietary fiber, and plenty other nutrients. Soy foods like soybeans could reduce LDL and increase HDL cholesterol levels.
Top Foods to eat for Healthy Heart

Soybeans are rich in fiber and supply omega-3 fatty acids while soymilk is filled of magnesium, potassium and calcium, all significant for regulating blood pressure. Always go for natural sources of soy - edamame, tempeh, or organic silken tofu. However, watch the salt content in your soy since few processed varieties like soy dogs can hold extra sodium that boosts blood pressure.

10. Flaxseed

Flaxseeds, also known as flax oil and linseed oil are packed with fiber, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, you just require sprinkling of flaxseed and may go a long means for your heart. Take numerous ground flaxseeds in your diet if you do not eat fish, in order to compensate.
Top Foods to eat for Healthy Heart

Get most nutritional advantage of it by chewing them thoroughly or grind them up. Prevent or lessen the symptoms of cancer, arthritis, colitis, heart disease and also acne by eating it regularly. For the eventual heart-healthy breakfast, top a bowl of oatmeal or whole-grain cereal with a splash of ground flaxseed. In all kinds of foods, Flaxseed hides easily whether morning cereal, yogurt parfaits, homemade muffins, or cookies.

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