According to the CDC, over six million U.S. adults have heart failure. If you’re one of the millions of Americans struggling with heart disease or failure, you might be looking for ways to improve heart health.
This guide will discuss some changes you can make to your diet to start taking better care of your heart. Keep reading for a list of heart-healthy foods you can incorporate into your diet today.
Dark Leafy Greens
If you want to keep your heart healthy, you should consider adding more leafy greens to your daily meals. These vegetables are a great way to maintain a healthy weight while giving you a variety of vitamins and minerals your body needs.
Leafy vegetables, like spinach and kale, are high in vitamin K. This vitamin helps to keep your arteries clean while promoting stronger blood clotting.
These vegetables are also great at reducing blood pressure.
A Variety of Fruits
To achieve healthy living, you’ll also want to eat more fruits with your meals. Different colored fruits provide different vitamins and minerals for general health.
Orange fruits, like mandarins, have high amounts of magnesium and potassium. Potassium can help lower the amount of sodium in your blood and keep your heart healthy.
Berries are a great source of antioxidants. A diet high in antioxidants can reduce inflammation and decrease your chance of developing heart disease.
More Whole Grains
If you want to practice more healthy eating, you should consume more whole grains. Whole grains protect your heart and reduce your risk of developing coronary heart disease. Whole wheat bread, brown rice, whole grain oats, and quinoa are a few examples of whole grains you can eat.
While white rice and bread are depleted of their nutrients, whole-grain versions of these foods will keep your cholesterol and blood pressure at healthy levels.
Lean Meats
While red meat will increase cholesterol, lean meat will keep your heart healthy. Fish has high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which can help lower your blood pressure and improve artery function. You can also eat other lean meats, like chicken breasts, if you don’t like fish.
There are many healthy food recipes you can prepare using these lean meats. You can pair a portion of salmon or chicken with some brown rice and broccoli for a well-balanced meal.
Eating these kinds of meals and reducing the amount of salt you consume will improve your heart condition. Learn more info about what you need to change today.
Beans
Beans are a great source of protein and heart-healthy food. They also help reduce bad cholesterol and blood pressure. You can try cooking your favorite beans mixed with vegetables for a truly healthy meal.
Check Out This List of Heart-Healthy Foods
This list of heart-healthy foods can help reduce blood pressure and decrease your chance of developing heart failure. Consider adding more leafy greens and fruits to your daily meals.
Check out some of the other health blogs on our site for more heart-healthy food ideas.