It is a well-known fact that nutrition plays a huge role in preventing the incidences of heart diseases. This includes incorporating heart healthy foods into the diet of your loved ones. This is especially crucial if they are well advanced in age. After all, no one desires to live their golden years, riddled with different heart conditions, and affect their standard of life. Heart healthy foods also promote good health in different aspects, such as preventing diabetes, high blood pressure, and other cardiovascular diseases. Heart healthy foods can be delicious too! Here are some heart healthy foods for your family members to enjoy.
Salmon
This well-known fish is a huge part of our cuisine, whether it’s eaten cooked or raw. The American Heart Association highly recommends salmon as a heart healthy food to be eaten regularly. This is because salmon contains a high level of omega-3 fatty acids which lower triglycerides and break up plaques in arteries to prevent them from clogging up. Salmon is also shown to reduce susceptibility to arrhythmias. They are also high in vitamin B, making them a power food itself. Salmon is not the only fish that is considered a heart healthy food. Fishes like trout, mackerel, tuna, and so on are also considered heart healthy foods so you will be spoilt for choice for your meals!
Oranges
It is common knowledge that oranges contain a high amount of vitamin C, which are proven to have antioxidant nature by combating free radicals. This isn’t the only reason explaining its citrusy goodness. Oranges also contain pectin, which functions similarly to bile acid sequestrants which stop the absorption of cholesterol. This means oranges can clear out arteries and lower the susceptibility of heart diseases and strokes, making it a heart healthy food. Oranges also contain other nutrients, such as potassium to help maintain healthy blood pressure levels.
Kale
Studies have shown that kale contains a high amount of nutrients, making it a heart healthy food. This is because kale contains glucoraphanin, which coats arteries to prevent plaque from sticking to the arteries wall and accumulating it to form clots. Kale also contains antioxidants, known to prevent other conditions like cancer too. But a lesser-known fact is that kale is one of the few vegetables that contain omega-3 fatty acids. Before you cook up a delicious meal, remember to throw some kale in too!
Garlic
As a modest vegetable, garlic boasts many components that aid in cardiovascular health, making it a heart healthy food. Garlic contains various enzymes that promote blood vessel dilation to increase blood flow. Garlic is a ubiquitous vegetable and exists in extract form too. If your loved ones may find it challenging to consume vegetables on their own, garlic extracts do the trick too. Garlic also spices up your meals by giving a great aroma, being a highly functional heart healthy food.
Almonds
Almonds possess a compound that can lower the level of low-density lipoprotein. Low-density lipoprotein is known to be detrimental for the body as it tends to congregate in blood vessels. Almonds can reduce that, making it a heart healthy food.
