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Put These On Your Plate For Heart Health
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So many foods are great fuel for your heart.* You’ll find healthful foods flagged in every corner of Kowalski's Markets. Here's a starter list of all-star heart foods.
| Food | Why | Serving | | Oatmeal | Soluble fiber, magnesium, potassium and a handful of other nutrients that can lower cholesterol and blood pressure. | 1/2 cup cooked | | Winter squash | Antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin C. | 1/2 cup cooked | | Almonds and walnuts | Vitamin E, magnesium, copper, monounsaturated fat and arginine. (Arginine helps form nitric oxide which has a relaxing effect on arteries.) Contain anti-inflammatory substances too. | 1 oz. or a small handful | | Red bell peppers | Antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin C + vitamin B6 and folate. | 1/2 cup sliced or diced | | Fava and navy beans | Niacin, folate, vitamin B6, magnesium, potassium, copper and zinc. | 1/2 cup cooked | | Oranges | Antioxidant carotenes, vitamin C and flavonoids + potassium, folate and fiber. | 1 whole fruit | | Cinnamon | May have anti-inflammatory and anti-clotting properties. | 1/2 tsp./day (*Not recommended for women who are pregnant.) | | Apples (be sure to eat the peel) | Pectin and other fibers that lower cholesterol; antioxidants. | "An apple a day..." so they say | | Pomegranate | Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. May slow development of plaque in arteries and improve heart function. | 6 oz. of pure juice or 1/2 cup of whole fruit |
* But what about... Dark chocolate. It has been linked with heart health. However, the way manufacturers process their cocoa determines whether or not the heart-helping natural flavanols in cocoa beans are present in the candy. Flavanols are phytonutrients that stimulate the production of nitric oxide--a substance that can relax arteries and keep blood flowing smoothly. Keep in mind, flavanols or no flavanols, chocolate is a calorie-rich food. A little is wonderful, a lot is not.
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