A balanced diet is pivotal to a healthy heart. It is absolutely essential to include those foods in the diet which not only help bring down your cholesterol levels, and provide for a flatter belly, but also cater to an excellent health condition of your heart. Heart disease is the leading killer of men and women—and claims more lives than all forms of cancer combined. Being diagnosed with cardiovascular disease can also take an emotional toll, affecting your mood, outlook, and quality of life. While weight control and regular exercise are critical for keeping your heart in shape, the food you eat can matter just as much. In fact, along with other healthy lifestyle choices, a heart-healthy diet may reduce your risk of heart disease or stroke by 80%.
No single food can make you magically healthy, so your overall dietary pattern is more important than specific foods. Instead of fried, processed food, packaged meals, and sugary snacks, a heart-healthy diet is built around “real,” natural food—fresh from the ground, ocean, or farm.
Listed below are 11 best heart-healthy foods that everyone must include in their diet for greater body fitness.
SalmonThis particular seafood is naturally rich in essential oils and omega 3 fatty acids well known for the anti-clotting effects they provide. Also, consuming salmon helps reduce the potentially dangerous fats called the triglycerides thus keeping all cardiovascular issues at bay.
Chia seedsChia seeds are rich in antioxidants and essential omega 3 fatty acids. These seeds are of plant origin and provide the best immunity against bad cholesterol and varying blood pressure levels in the body.
Green TeaConsumption of green tea is deemed absolutely important, especially for a healthy heart. This is because green tea contains powerful antioxidants like polyphenols and catechins, which helps keep potential heart diseases from cropping up in the due course of time.
WalnutsWalnuts are a primary source of monounsaturated and omega 3 fats which help fight cardiovascular conditions with ease. Consuming around 5 ounces of walnuts every day helps build the HDL cholesterol which is actually best for the health of the heart.
RaspberriesThese come equipped with polyphenols which are highly essential to remove all the harmful radicals in the body and provide for healthy fibers and essentials vitamins. The flavonoids which are present in these berries also help reduce clotting to quite an extent.
ChickpeasMake sure you get your hands on low-sodium varieties of canned chickpeas. These contain soluble fibers which help bring down the bad cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) and avoid potential heart risks.
Dark ChocolateThe flavonoids present in dark chocolate help reduce stress and inflammation to quite a great extent. It also helps in improved blood circulation and has the potential to reduce the chance of heart attacks and cardiovascular conditions.
PotatoesDo not be misguided by the name potatoes. Those spuds which are red, white or purple in color are extremely rich in potassium, calcium, and other essential nutrients which cater towards a healthy heart condition and reduce the risk of any strokes and cardiovascular issues in the near future.
BeansThe most underrated of all eatables, beans contain proteins and soluble fibers. This is especially the case for kidney beans, black beans, etc. They help reduce cholesterol and are actually good for your heart. Also, they don’t burn a hole in your pocket, which is quite a favorable case.
Green vegetablesConsuming vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage helps reduce the risk of various cardiovascular diseases. The essential vitamins and folic acid present in them help in guarding against potential heart issues.
Olive oilOne of the best cooking oils, it contains unsaturated fats which help reduce the risk of cholesterol build -up, subsequently protecting you from potential heart diseases.