17 Healthy Foods For Promoting Heart Health

Heart Healthy Foods

Even with medical advances and changes in lifestyle, heart and cardiovascular diseases still cause a quarter of all deaths in the UK and a third of all deaths worldwide.

Heart failure is the major reason for death in the United Kingdom, yet many people fail to take the necessary precautions to ensure their hearts are healthy. Over a year ago, the British Heart Association revised their standards to include how diet can affect heart health. Most experts believe vegetables protect against heart disease, despite some studies to the contrary. To support your heart, more doctors suggest the Mediterranean or DASH diet.

Food affects your heart, so you must be cautious when selecting what you eat. So, let us explore heart healthy foods in this article. 

Guidelines For Heart-Healthy Eating

• Cut down on the quantity of the oil that is saturated. Eat fewer fatty meals and dairy products. Put a stop to bingeing on pizza, sandwiches, and sauce. 
• Look at the Nutrition Facts sticker to find foods that have less sodium. Some tinned soups, veggies, meals, and snacks have "low sodium" or "no salt added" labels. 
• And lastly, add fibre vegetables, fruits, nuts, and whole carbs to provide fibre. Certain foods can affect blood pressure, cholesterol, and swelling, causing risk factors for heart disease. 

Some of the healthiest food choices can be found at Foodhak.

17 Best Heat Healthy Foods

Here are 17 heart healthy foods you should consume to improve the health of your heart. Choose a few of these foods each week to make your way to a healthier you.

1] Leafy greens

Leafy green veggies with a high content of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants include spinach, kale, and collard greens. They contain significant nitrates and vitamin K that may help lower blood pressure and enhance vascular performance. According to studies, eating more leafy vegetables is linked to a 16% reduced incidence of heart disease and a lower chance of the illness. Check out the best Creamy Mushroom, Spinach Risotto, and Spirulina Thai Green Curry recipes if you need them delivered to your doorstep.

2] Fish and oil

Fish such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, and tuna are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids in these delicious, fleshy fish enhance heart disease metabolic signs when broiled, grilled, or baked. It also contains high levels of selenium, a mineral that keeps the heart healthy.

Omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the chance of CVD events and arrhythmias and protect against heart disease. Another study found that long-term fish consumption reduced total cholesterol, lipids, fasting blood sugar, and high blood pressure. These are perfect heart healthy foods. 

3] Whole Grains

Experts suggest eating whole gluten-free carbohydrates, such as rice and wheat flour, to maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Steer clear of processed and refined cereals at all costs because they are loaded with gluten, linked to various cardiac conditions, including clogged arteries.

Examples of common whole grains, such as whole wheat, brown rice, oats, rye, barley, buckwheat, and quinoa, are included.

4] Nuts

You can add various nuts to your heart healthy foods list. The top ones are:

Walnuts: This type of nut is loaded to the gills with heart-healthy nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, Vitamin E, and folate. Walnuts are one of the healthiest nuts you can consume. In addition to that, it contains a lot of monounsaturated lipids. Consume them unadulterated for the most beneficial effect on your cardiac health.

Almonds: These crumbly, fleshy almonds are high in omega-3s, just like walnuts, but the bitter taste of meaty walnuts may not be to everyone's liking. Almonds provide an alternative for those individuals. 

5] Beans and legumes

There is a type of starch in beans known as resistant starch. This starch is refractory to digestion and is fermented by the good microbes in your stomach. It has been shown that consuming beans and legumes can reduce cholesterol and triglycerides, lower blood pressure, and lessen inflammation. It contains a high amount of resistant carbohydrates. If you are at a loss for what to prepare for dinner and need inspiration, look at the finest recipe for Mung Mushroom Bolognese here!

6] Chia seeds

Chia seeds are associated with many health benefits. This plant-based omega-3 powerhouse has only 60 calories per teaspoonful, helps prevent plaque accumulation, and effectively lowers "bad" cholesterol levels. You can add them to salads, yoghurt, or soups or sprinkle them on top of salads. 

7] Avocado

This fruit contains a high concentration of monounsaturated fats, also called "good fats," which have been shown to lower the risk of blood clots and cholesterol in the bloodstream. In addition, avocados have high potassium content, an important ingredient for maintaining a healthy heart. You can satisfy about 28% of your daily potassium requirements with just one avocado containing 975 milligrammes of the nutrient. However, an avocado of a typical size contains 240 calories, so moderation is key. 

8] Soy milk

It's rich in cholesterol-lowering isoflavones. This low-fat, cholesterol-free drink is unlike cow's milk, one of the finest heart healthy foods. It also includes niacin, which improves blood circulation.

9] Green tea

Green tea boosts fat loss and insulin sensitivity. It's packed with antioxidant polyphenols and catechins, which can defend your heart, lower inflammation, and avoid cell damage.

One study found that after 6 weeks of treatment, green tea extract raised leptin and decreased LDL (bad) cholesterol in overweight and obese women.

10] Dark Chocolate

Yes! It's real. The best dark chocolate bars have flavonols that relax arteries and improve blood flow, so choose one with at least 70% cocoa, which lowers blood pressure. Avoid compounds like palm oil that contain heavy fats.

11] Tomatoes

Lycopene is a naturally occurring plant pigment with significant antioxidant characteristics in high tomato concentrations. Tomatoes have been linked to a reduction in the chance of cardiovascular disease and stroke, in addition to an increase in HDL, also known as the "good" cholesterol. Boosting one's consumption of tomato products and taking lycopene supplements can benefit one's blood sugars and blood pressure.

Check out the best recipe for Tom Yum Soup and Italian Vegetable Pomodoro here if you want some ideas to start your health journey.

12] Garlic

Garlic has a long history of utility as a natural medicine and has been used for treating a wide range of illnesses. In recent years, it has been discovered that garlic can help enhance the health of the heart. This is due to a compound in garlic known as allicin, which is thought to have a wide variety of therapeutic impacts on human health.

13] Raisins

According to research presented to the American College of Cardiology in 2012, grabbing a fistful of these can assist in lowering high blood pressure. Raisins contain a high concentration of potassium, which has been shown to reduce hypertension and enhance the body's production of immune-enhancing antioxidants. Recent studies suggest that eating meals high in potassium may benefit cardiac health.

14] Avocado oil

Avocado oil, which comes from pressing the fruit, has been lauded as a  heart healthy foods because it can change the fatty acids in the tissues around the heart. A study by the National Institute of Cardiology in 2005 found that the oil could stop the rigidity in blood vessels, a common cause of heart disease.

15] Olive oil

Make sure that it's 100% pure. Pure olive oil has more "good fats" and vitamins that help clear your arteries. It is also much better for your heart than vegetable oil, which has "bad fats" that raise cholesterol.

16] Edamame

Edamame, an immature soybean, is common in Asian cooking. Edamame contains soy isoflavones, which may lower lipids and enhance heart health. Including soy protein in your diet may lower your risk of coronary disease.

17] Fruits

Adding fruits to your diet is a great plan. Some of the perfect heart healthy foods in this category are:

Apples: Do not skin this common fruit—it contains antioxidants, including flavonoids that protect cholesterol from free radicals. Pectin and fibre in apples (any colour) prevent cholesterol uptake and remove it.

Oranges: They contain pectin and a flavonoid that lowers blood pressure and reduces inflammation. Citrus includes vitamin C, which protects against stroke, and hesperidin, which enhances heart blood flow.

Grapefruit: Like oranges, it is high in vitamin C, which a study suggests may lower LDL and heart risk. If you're taking heart medicine like Viagara or a statin like Lipitor, avoid this rich morning meal because it includes a toxic chemical when mixed with those drugs.

The correlation between nutrition and coronary heart disease increases with more information.

What you consume can affect almost every element of your heart's health, from your blood pressure and inflammatory levels to your cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Consuming these items that are good for the heart as part of a nourishing and well-balanced diet can assist you in maintaining a healthy heart and reduce the likelihood of developing heart disease. Visit Foodhak to learn more about heart healthy foods and their linked recipes. 

 Reviewed By : Michele Porter - Nutritionist