Fight heart disease with tasty foods.
In the United States, heart disease is one of the leading causes of death. Cardiovascular diseases like hypertension, heart attacks, and stroke take over 17.9 million lives each year. While this may seem like a daunting statistic, the good news is that heart disease typically takes years to become really life threatening, and no matter where you are in the stages of the disease, making lifestyle changes can always help.
I always say that when it comes to your diet, small changes over a span of time are much better than adopting crazy fads, or trying crash diets to change your health. Think of your health as a long term investment in yourself. Incremental changes made over a period of time can have long-standing positive effects on your overall health and life expectancy.
READ MORE: 10 Foods That are Surprisingly Bad for Your Heart
So, try and find a way to add these tasty food options into your diet. Short term, it’ll keep your belly full. Long term, it will create a healthier, happier you.
Salmon- Salmon and other fatty fish are superfoods, because they are chock-full of omega-3 fatty acids.
Dark Chocolate- Dark chocolate contains polyphenols, which are flavonoids that help with blood pressure, clotting, and inflammation.
Green Tea- Drinking green tea daily can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease by 20%, due to high levels of antioxidants.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil- Olive oil contains monounsaturated fat, which reduces cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
Broccoli, Spinach, and Kale- Dark leafy greens are full of antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, all of which are good for your heart.
Coffee- Two cups of coffee today can be safely consumed, and can provide benefits to your heart health.
Avocado- Avocados are high in monounsaturated fats, antioxidants, and potassium.
Tahini- Tahini helps improve artery health because it is full of calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and antioxidants.
Beets- Beets contain betalains, which have high-antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They also contain nitrates that help relax and dilate the blood vessels.
Chili Peppers- Chili peppers are anti-inflammatory, improve blood pressure, and support a healthy circulatory system.