Heart Disease kills more than all cancers combined. Here are a few simple heart-loving foods that you could take to protect that very important ticker :-
1) Avocados, almonds and Olive Oil
Rich in unsaturated fats, these foods will help raise HDL (Good Cholestrol Levels) HDL transports excess cholestrol from the arteries back to the liver.
2) Salmon and Tuna
Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, salmon and tuna can help keep arteries clear so blood can reach your vital organs quickly and bring toxins and cholestrol to the liver for disposal. Opt for fish canned in water rather than in oil.
3) Green Tea
When hamsters on a high fat diet were fed green tea, scientists found that the beverage lowers triglycerides and cholestrol levels. It seems the chemicals in green tea were able to speed up the breakdown of triglycerides to fatty acids which can then be burned off as energy later.
4) Flaxseed
Hailed as a miracle food, flax seed contains high amounts of alpha linolenic acids, which is similar to Omega 3. Besides lowering the eveil trinity of heart disease, flax seed apparently has the ability to keep platelets from becoming sticky, therefore reducing the chance of a heart attack.
5) Fruits & Veg
A diet rich in fibre will help keep heart disease at bay. Green leafy veg contains heart-protective carotenoids and lutein, while foods like oats, citrus, fruits and berries have soluble fibre that lowers bad cholestrol. Colourful foods like bell peppers are rich in flavanoids which may help stop artery clogging plague from forming.
6) Soy Products
Soy Milk, Tofu, tempeh and edamame are rich in soy protein, which can be attributed to a decreased risk of breast and colon cancers and heart disease. Soy has a modest effect on lowering cholestrol, but when eaten together with other heart healthy foods, soy products are healthier alternatives to meat.
Looks like these are simple, regular foods that we can incorporate into our daily food intake. Point is, don’t treat it like a chore and you will enjoy the foods. These foods not only help to prevent heart disease, but they are also foods that can help keep you in perfect shape. So why not?!?!