Our heart is the one responsible for pumping blood that carries oxygen throughout our body. However, because of our lifestyle and the kinds of food that we eat, plaque can develop on the arterial wall of our heart that can block the veins. This can lead to various heart problems like high blood pressure, heart attack, or stroke even. The good news is that you can keep your heart healthy and strong by carefully choosing what foods to eat. If you want to protect your heart against various problems, these foods are worth adding to your diet.
Wild salmon. Regardless of whether you are going to bake it, broil it, or grill it, wild salmon can deliver quite a powerful punch of omega-3 fatty acids into your system that are essential to healthy heart. It also contains selenium which is known to protect your heart against various problems.
Walnuts. What’s great about eating walnuts? Well, studies have shown that this nut contains essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamin E, folate, and fiber which contribute to a healthy heart. Another plus to eating walnuts is that they are high in polyunsaturated fats which are heart friendly. The best way to eat walnuts is to consume them as is. You can snack on them or mix them with your salads or desserts for that added crunch.
Dark chocolate. You can never go wrong in eating chocolate, well, dark chocolate that is in terms of protecting your heart. Dark chocolates that contain up to 70% cocoa can boost blood circulation which can aid your heart in its function. Of course, you need to limit your consumption of this to one small square per meal because you don’t want to add more calories to your body.
Chia seeds. Another type of food that is good for your heart is chia seeds. Add a spoonful of chia seeds to your smoothies, shakes, oat meals, and the like to absorb the nutrients that they contain to improve your heart function. You might be surprised to find that chia seeds can prevent plaque from building up in your arterial wall so your risk of suffering from heart problems will be significantly reduced.
Coffee. Well, what do you know? Coffee does have other benefits other than perking you up. Studies have shown that those who have at least three cups of coffee per day can increase one’s mental capacity so your risk of suffering from cognitive decline as you age will be reduced significantly. The antioxidants that are found in coffee are believed to provide protection to the heart.
These are just a few examples of foods that can contribute to your heart’s overall health. Adding them to your diet can be a huge advantage especially when plaque build-up or arterial blockage will be reduced. Combining these types of food with daily exercise and you can promote better heart health in the long run.
