October
Best Types of Food for a Healthy Heart
Photo by Lilly Trott for Shutterstock
Especially as we age, it is always important to reevaluate our diets. Food has an enormous impact on many facets of our health, and our heart is no exception. By making a few painless, easy, delicious decisions, you can strengthen and preserve your heart’s condition early-on against heart disease and other cardiac conditions. Here are the best types of food for a healthy heart.
Fruits and Greens
We have been told all our lives about the incredible power of eating fruits and vegetables. They are crucial to a well-rounded diet, and just as crucial to maintaining a healthy heart. You want to incorporate a good amount of fruit in your diet – this could include apples, oranges, bananas, and more. Fruit is refreshing, and we are all guilty of forgetting how important a role it plays. The same goes for vegetables; there is no way to go wrong with loading up on veggies, whether it’s a salad, a raw snack, or any other way of having them. Especially incorporate the darker greens like kale and spinach.
Poultry and Fish
It all depends of course on how it is prepared, but choosing poultry and varieties of fish over continual dark meat options like beef or lamb will have an enormous impact on your arteries and overall heart health. These things are fine in moderation, but in our everyday diets, you should really stick to a leanly prepared chicken (not fried) or an omega-3-loaded fish like salmon. Practicing this method when it comes to your protein will benefit you in so many more ways than one.
Grains and Oils
The type of oil that you cook with plays much more of a role than you think. You may not think it’s a big deal if you use butter and fatty oils to fry components of your dishes, but you would be surprised as to how quickly it can catch up to you. This is all the more reason to change out butter for olive oil when preparing your meals. When it comes to grains, you should always opt for whole, healthy grains like oats, rice, and barley.
Make an Appointment With Brookhaven Heart Today
At Brookhaven Heart, we always encourage you to make the best decisions now to prevent any debilitating heart risks later. If you have any questions on other specific ways to be proactive about your heart, or if you have any concerns, make an appointment with one of our highly qualified specialists today. Call us at 631-654-3278, or make an appointment online.
