
Top 14 Super Foods That Keeps Heart Healthy
Heart is one of the main organs of the body and one that works just the way an engine works in a car. It is very important for this part of the body to work in a perfect way to ensure that the overall functions are smooth and you have good health and a fit body. However, on the other hand, this is one of the organs that are most prone to diseases and infections. This makes it all the more significant to work out different ways in which the heart can be kept healthy and problem free.
In a scenario, where a person does not give proper attention and heed to the good care of the heart, cardiovascular diseases, strokes and heart attack risks increase to a peak level. This only means that there are more chances of immortality if heart health is not maintained.
The good news comes in the form of the natural gifts provided by Mother Nature that provides nutrients and essential enzymes that can achieve the goal of a healthy and active heart. Among them, there are various foods that can be incurred in the daily meals to get best results without much effort. You will be more than glad to know that with some super foods, you can easily have a problem free heart and without any side effects. To know more about the top super food, check this list below. It will surely help you gain a lot of knowledge about this aspect:
1. Salmon
Salmon is one of the fatty fishes that has high levels of monounsaturated fats as well as omega fatty 3 acids. It is one super food that is considered an ideal one for a lot of health related aspects including for the healthy heart. It helps in maintaining the heart beat in the right way and keeps away various heart diseases by reducing the levels of triglycerides. This food should be a part of the diet at least two times in a week. One can substitute salmon with mackerel or sardines.
2. Blueberries
Being the part of the berries family, blueberries are loaded with benefits for the entire body and for most of the organs. This includes the heart as well. Blueberries are without a doubt one of the super foods for the heart. Anthocyanins is one of the powerful antioxidants present in this fruit along with vitamin C, potassium, fiber and many other nutrients that can help the heart function in an ideal way. It also has anti-inflammatory properties to look forward to. One can easily substitute blueberries with raspberries, strawberries or blackberries.
3. Oatmeal
Oatmeal has a sponge like benefit that absorbs the accumulated fats near the heart and its tissues. It has high levels of fiber that helps in lowering bad cholesterol. One should always consider eating fortified oatmeal and not the instant one. This is definitely one of the foods that are ideal for breakfast. It has other added benefits like control over diabetes and blood pressure. It also helps in losing weight.
4. Potatoes
People think that the white colour of the potatoes makes them a bad starch and a refined product. However, this is not the case and it is perfectly considered as one of the best super foods for ideal heart functioning. The potassium levels will lower the blood pressure and balance it whereas the fiber levels helps in keeping away various heart diseases. Along with good health of the heart, there are innumerable other benefits associated with potatoes.
5. Dark Chocolate
Yes, you heard it right! One of the most delicious foods that each one of us likes to indulge in is one of the super foods that keep the heart healthy. However, this is valid only for dark chocolate and not for milk or white chocolate. According to many researches, people who have a small piece of dark chocolate each day have lower chances of suffering a stroke or a heart attack. The flavanoids called polyphenols are present in dark chocolate in huge amounts that strikes balance in blood pressure and reduces inflammation and chances of clotting.
6. Spinach
As one of the main examples of green leafy vegetables, spinach is no doubt full of vitamins, minerals, fiber as well as antioxidants for the body and for the heart. The levels of calcium, potassium, and B complex vitamins are definitely something that will help you achieve your goals. A bowl of spinach in the daily menu only means protection from heart diseases. It has a lot of additional benefits as well including good eyesight.
7. Beans
Beans are highly recommended by professionals as one of the best foods provided by nature to mankind. Among the various categories where beans are a super food, the one for heart is also a significant one to consider. Not only are they high in fiber but quite low in fat and calories. This helps in treatment of bad cholesterol in the body without any effort. The flavanoids and antioxidants in beans help as a protection shield to the heart against all kinds of diseases. You can consider any kinds of beans in the daily diet. About ½ to 1 cup will give you desired outcomes.
8. Soy and Soy Products
Soy, soy milk, tofu and any other products that are prepared from soy is a wonderfully super food for heart and for the body. They have good levels of protein and highly recommended for those who are vegetarians. Apart from that, they are free from bad cholesterol as well as unhealthy fats. The polyunsaturated fats in soy and its products ensure a controlled blood pressure and cholesterol. It also has fiber, minerals and vitamins to make it a perfect every day food to meet the nutrient requirements. Heart health is just an added benefit; the main aim is to provide the body with uncountable advantages.
9. Tomatoes
Along with providing the body with potassium levels, tomatoes have an added benefit in the form of the powerful antioxidant known as lycopene. Not only does lycopene helps in removal of bad cholesterol for heart health but also opens up the blood vessels and reduces the chances of heart attacks. The low levels of calories and fats along with low amounts of sugar ensure that there is no harm to your daily healthy diet. Apart from that, tomatoes are really beneficial for the body in ample number of ways that you can’t even imagine.
10. Green Tea
This is one fluid that can be definitely categorized under the ‘super foods’ for the heart because of the qualities it has. Catechins and flavonols is what green tea provides the heart with. About 2-3 cups of green tea each day lowers the ricks of heart attacks and strokes in people and keeps the heart healthy and fit. This is one fluid that helps in a lot of other situation like hydrating the body and aiding in weight loss. Green tea also detoxifies the body and removes the free radicals that damage the cells in the body.
11. Nuts
Starting from almonds to walnuts and from macadamia to pistachios, all the examples of the nuts categories are highly rich in omega fatty 3 acids. They also have good mounts of fiber and vitamin E content that works wonders on the bad cholesterol and controls it. A handful of any of the above mentioned nuts is definitely going to protect the heart from a lot of diseases. Nuts have loads of other advantages that you will be happy to gain through this. It is a super food no doubt and one of the top ones for the heart.
12. Citrus Fruits
Oranges and grapefruits definitely have flavanoids along with high levels of vitamin C and antioxidants. Regular consumption of oranges and grapefruits has shown lower risks of heart attacks and heart diseases in both men and women. However, one should not add sugar to orange juice and should also have grapefruits in a controlled environment.
13. Olive Oil
This is oil that is heart healthy and perfectly has all the qualities that a super food for heart should have. It not only reduces the bad cholesterol levels but also ensures reduction of inflammation through the polyphenols antioxidants that they have. You can easily include them in the daily meal cooking or else in salads and dry pastas to get maximum benefits for not only the engine of the human body but for a lot of other organs.
14. Red Wine
Red wine in many cultures is taken each day with dinner. In fact any alcohol that is taken in moderate amounts can help in reduction of risks of heart diseases. The polyphenols in red wine is what makes it a perfect option for the protection of the heart. In fact, it is one of the delicious ways to achieve your aims. So are you trying some fine red wine with dinner tonight? It is definitely worth a try!