Thirty-four seconds.
Thirty-four seconds is all it takes for a heart-related death to occur in the United States. It is as good as saying that over 2,500 Americans die daily due to cardiovascular diseases.
If you think this is concerning, remember it is just a fraction of what’s happening worldwide. Heart diseases are slowly becoming a norm. And even young, seemingly healthy people are succumbing to unhealthy hearts.
Everyone wants to live happily. You want to live happily. You want to live with an abundance of peace, liveliness, and good health. However, you are unsure how to treat your body the way it deserves to be treated.
Well, it’s time to end your confusion and give your heart the care it deserves.
A healthy and happy life starts with a healthy heart. And a healthy heart demands a healthy diet. But what does a heart-healthy diet require? Superfoods!
Some foods make your heart cry. And some foods are a delight to the heart and make it healthier. This blog is about the latter. Read on as we discover five heart-healthy foods essential for keeping your heart healthy.
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts are wonder foods consisting of a plethora of essential vitamins and minerals. So it’s not surprising that they also benefit the heart. They provide you with a healthy dose of vitamins, minerals, and Omega-3 fatty acids that boost your overall heart health.
Be it peanuts, walnuts, almonds, or pistachios, nuts can keep your heart healthy in many ways. They increase good cholesterol levels and decrease bad cholesterol and triglyceride levels. But that’s not all; they also help reduce blood pressure, lowering the chances of heart disease.
And like nuts, non-nutty seeds also have the same benefits. For example, flax and chia seeds are enriched with numerous heart-healthy nutrients that reduce blood pressure, bad cholesterol, and inflammation.
Berries
Few people can resist the urge to munch on the tempting and delicious flavor of berries. But these sweet delectable little fruits offer much more than their taste. They are indeed a superfood that can help you maintain your heart health.
Strawberries, cranberries, blueberries, and blackberries – all of them are filled with nutrients that promote good heart health. They are rich in antioxidants like anthocyanin and ellagic acid that protect against heart diseases by increasing oxide levels and preventing inflammation.
Many studies have found that including berries in your daily diet can have wide-ranging benefits. Berries can reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) levels and blood pressure, improve BMI, and prevent blood clotting.
Fish
What kind of fish would you like for lunch? Salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna, or cod? Well, all of them have one thing in common – they contain Omega-3 fatty acids. And this means they can keep heart diseases away.
But if you ask us, we suggest eating fatty fish such as salmon and mackerel. Fatty fish are richer in Omega-3 than other fish and can protect you more efficiently. In fact, having fish in your meal twice a week lowers blood pressure, bad cholesterol, triglycerides, and even blood sugar. Besides, fish can also prevent many cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis and arrhythmia.
So, if you want a hearty meal that also takes care of your heart, make sure to include fish in your diet!
Dark chocolate
You might turn down a lucrative professional offer if you don’t like it, but can you refuse a piece of dark chocolate? We doubt that. After all, who can dislike that sweet aroma, the rich dark-brown color, and the delectably exotic taste of cocoa?
But it becomes more interesting with dark chocolates. Dark chocolates, which contain more cocoa and little to no sugar, can come in handy if you want to maintain good heart health. Dark chocolate contains antioxidants, and antioxidants are good for the heart. Besides, cocoa also contains flavanol, which has anti-inflammatory properties.
What are you waiting for? Treat yourself to some cubes of dark chocolates and make your heart healthy. But remember to eat chocolate with at least 70% cocoa content. And don’t eat too much – ideally, keep it below six servings a week.
Leafy greens
No blog, book, or suggestion can overemphasize the importance of greens in your diet. In essence, a diet without green vegetables is the same as the air without sufficient oxygen.
Green veggies, especially leafy greens, are just as important for the heart as for the rest of the body. They are power-packed with a host of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants – pretty much all the essential nutrients you need.
Spinach, kale, and collard greens are some of the most beneficial green leafy vegetables for your heart. Apart from a host of important nutrients, these vegetables also contain Vitamin K, which improves blood clotting. Besides, they are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids – you get the point.
So, if you want to make your heart healthy without unnecessary calories, include leafy greens in your menu NOW!
Ready to take charge of your heart?
How do you wish to live your life? No matter what you want to do and how you want to live your life, you need a healthy body with a healthy heart to keep going. And with this blog, we have tried to help you identify some foods that are good for your heart.
A healthy lifestyle begins with a healthy diet. And you need heart-healthy foods like the ones mentioned above to lead a healthy life without hassles. But that’s just one way to care for your heart. In addition to that, you must lead a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise and excludes unhealthy habits like smoking.
So, are you ready to take charge of your heart? Which of the above heart-healthy foods are you picking up first? Tell us in the comments.