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Heart Healthy Foods

Courtesy of the Le Cordon Bleu

These days it’s no secret that a large portion of the food out there isn’t very good for us. Fast Food chains line every major street we drive down, and many of the processed foods that we find in our grocery stores are not much better. With so much out there that isn’t good for us, it can sometimes be hard to find the foods that are actually helpful to our bodies. Heart disease is the number one cause of death for both men and women, so it’s incredibly important to ensure that the foods you eat are not making you part of this alarming statistic.

What Makes Particular Foods Good for Your Heart?

The foods that are most often recommended by doctors and experts for preventing heart disease are heavy in phytonutrients. These compounds help to prevent and even repair damage to the heart. In addition, they are a key component of pulling free radicals out of the bloodstream, and helping to protect blood vessels.

While many people look for one particular food to help control the amount of build-up in their blood vessels and arteries, nearly all doctors are adamant that a well-rounded diet of unprocessed foods is most effective in preventing heart disease and coronary episodes. Ensuring that all of the food groups are represented, and that fruits and vegetables in particular are consumed on a regular basis, will help keep your heart healthy. Now that we know why these food groups and nutrients are particularly good for your heart, let’s take a look at some of the best things for you to eat and drink.

Common Heart Healthy Foods

Fish – Fish are a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids. Among the best for the heart are Salmon and Tuna. Omega-3 fatty acids help to strengthen your immune system, reduce blood clots and protect against heart attacks by lowering blood pressure.

Fruits and Vegetables – Many fruits and vegetables like blueberries, carrots, spinach, broccoli, sweet potato, red bell pepper and more contain carotenoids, which have helpful anti-oxidants to help protect your heart.

Other fruits and vegetables like oranges, tomatoes, acorn squash and asparagus contain B-complex vitamins, and vitamins C and E, which help to protect against blood clots, hardening of the arteries and free radical damage.

Drinks – There are also a few different drinks that are particularly helpful. Red wine contains flavenoids, which are useful for increasing good cholesterol (HDL). Homemade sun tea is also a great source of flavenoids.

Cooking for Your Heart

There are a number of great recipes available, and as you can see from the sampling of heart healthy foods offered above, there is no shortage of great ingredients that you can use to make a delicious meal that’s also good for you. At the end of the day, your best bet is to make sure that you are steering clear of foods that are particularly fatty, high in salt content, and have a lot of added sugar. If you stick to these basic rules of thumb, you can cook some fantastic dishes, and still protect your heart.

This article is presented by Le Cordon Bleu North America. Le Cordon Bleu North America offers Le Cordon Bleu culinary education classes and culinary training programs across the United States. To learn more about the class offerings, please visit http://www.Chefs.edu for more information.  Le Cordon Bleu North America does not guarantee employment or salary.