Delicious Foods That Are Good for Your Heart

Contrary to popular belief, just because something is delicious does not mean that it isn’t good for you. There are a number of delicious foods that are good for your heart. Here is a list of heart-healthy foods that your taste buds will love.

Salmon

Salmon is tasty, regardless of whether you bake it, broil it, or grill it. This food is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are healthy fats that help keep the blood pressure and triglyceride within a healthy range. Omega-3 fatty acids have also been shown to protect against heart disease. In fact, there have been studies done to confirm that populations that consume the most fish also have the lowest rates of heart disease.

Beans

Beans are rich in fiber, B vitamins, magnesium, and iron. All of these nutrients have been shown to protect against heart disease. You should consider trying a variety of beans, such as navy beans, black beans, pinto beans, and chickpeas. Beans make a great side dish. They can also be added to soups, pureed foods, and salads.

Berries

Berries are filled with antioxidants that can lower your blood pressure and increase your HDL level. In fact, berries contain more antioxidants than many other fruits and vegetables. HDL (high-density lipoprotein) is also known as good cholesterol. It helps remove plaque from your arteries.

You can add berries to your salads, smoothies, and oatmeals. They also make a great snack.

Dark Chocolate

If you have a sweet tooth, then you should consider having a piece of dark chocolate. Dark chocolate helps lower blood pressure. It also helps reduce the number of free radicals in the body. Furthermore, researchers believe that the catechins in dark chocolate help protect the heart.

You should have one or two ounces of dark chocolate per day. One dark chocolate bar has about 145 calories.

A healthy diet is one of the keys to a healthy heart. You do not have to sacrifice taste for health. Beans, berries, dark chocolate, and salmon are tasty foods that will benefit your heart.

References:

Balk, C., & Wang, C. (2017, July 25). Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Disease: Current State of the Evidence. Effective Health Care. Retrieved January 19, 2022, from effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/products/fatty-acids-cardiovascular-disease/clinician

Daniel R. Mangels and Emile R. MohlerIII, Mangels, D. R., Daniel R. Mangels From the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, MohlerIII, E. R., Emile R. MohlerIII From the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Mangels, C. to D. R., & Al., E. (2017, March 23). Catechins as potential mediators of Cardiovascular Health. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. Retrieved January 19, 2022, from hahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/ATVBAHA.117.309048

[Editors Note: Initially the article recommended consuming one or two grams of dark chocolate per day, which has been corrected to one to two ounces.]

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