It’s the month of LOVE! What better way to show yourself some LOVE than by eating foods that fuel a happy, healthy heart?! Here are six easy foods to add into your diet to ensure you are maintaining a heart that is in tip-top shape!
1. Leafy Green Vegetables: from spinach to kale to collard greens!
Leafy greens are packed with Vitamin K which helps protect your arteries. These super foods also reduce blood pressure and decrease the stiffness in the lining of your blood vessels. When you eat more leafy greens – you lower your risk for heart disease.
2. Whole Grains: from oats to brown rice to quinoa!
Whole grains are very high in fiber which greatly reduces your bad LDL cholesterol and decreases the risk of heart disease.
3. Berries: from blueberries to strawberries to raspberries!
Incredibly high in antioxidants, berries help protect your heart against inflammation. Eating berries daily can help improve the function of the cells in your blood vessels which in turn control your blood pressure.
4. Avocados!
This fruit is a wonderful source of healthy monounsaturated fats that help reduce your levels of cholesterol. They are also high in potassium which is key nutrient in maintaining a healthy heart.
5. Dark Chocolate: Chocolate?! It’s true!
Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants that can help reduce your risk for coronary heart disease. But just remember, it’s still high in sugar so just be careful not to eat too much. Search for chocolate that is 70% or higher in cocoa.
6. Olive Oil: similar to avocados!
This monounsaturated fat is packed with antioxidants to fight inflammation in you heart and reduce your risk for chronic disease.
