Eating a heart-healthy diet can prolong your loved one’s life and lower their risk of heart disease. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to make good choices when it is so easy to get tempted by so many options at the grocery store.
Heart attacks, strokes, and heart disease are much more likely to strike adults over 65. The majority of doctors concur that heart issues can be avoided or delayed. While exercise can help, a healthy diet is also important for heart health.
Check out some ideas for your heart-healthy shopping list now. These heart-healthy grocery foods help prevent coronary heart disease fatalities, and diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Nuts
Consuming nuts may reduce levels of triglycerides and bad cholesterol, which are important contributors to the development of plaque deposits in arteries. Additionally, they are high in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids, both of which are good for the heart.
According to Harvard Health, which also lists other foods high in antioxidants, walnuts and pecans are among the foods that stabilize toxic by-products of the body’s energy-producing processes. These by-products, often referred to as free radicals, can harm DNA, worsen LDL (bad) cholesterol, and cause havoc in other parts of the body.
Fruits and Vegetables
Nutritious fruits and vegetables are those that are dark green, deep orange, or yellow in hue. Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries are just a few of the berries that are nutrient-dense. Other excellent vegetable choices are broccoli, Brussels sprouts, spinach, and kale.
Keep in mind, though, that even though you might occasionally enjoy a glass of grapefruit juice, you should be aware that some drugs do not combine well with grapefruit juice. In particular, if you have high blood pressure or an irregular or abnormal heartbeat, the combination may have a negative impact on how the medication functions and result in hazardous adverse effects. Before enjoying your next glass, check with your doctor if you suffer from any of these.
Whole Grains
Whole grains including oatmeal, brown rice, and quinoa include dietary fiber that help lower cholesterol levels and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. A nice option is a cereal like Grape Nuts, which is low in added sugar and high in fiber and a number of minerals. Because fiber is extremely filling, it also aids in reducing appetite.
Dark Chocolate
Yes, you read that right. You can still pick up a chocolate or two on your next grocery run. Flavonoids, an antioxidant found in abundance in dark chocolate, can improve heart health. It’s interesting that eating chocolate has been linked by multiple studies to a lower risk of heart disease.
Less than six servings of chocolate per week may lower your risk of diabetes, coronary heart disease, and stroke. To get the most out of dark chocolate’s heart-healthy properties, choose a high-quality variety with at least 70% cocoa content.
Do keep in mind that although these studies demonstrate a relationship, they may not take into consideration all potential contributing factors. Remember, everything in moderation.
