7 Best Heart-Healthy Foods You Can Eat

Nothing is more important than maintaining a healthy diet that protects your heart.

While the number of deaths caused heart disease has gone down in recent years, it’s still the number one killer of Americans.

Eating a diet rich in fresh produce, fiber, and healthy fats can help wipe out free radicals and repair damage to cells.

Here are 7 of the best foods you can eat to help lower your risk of heart disease:

1. Fresh Herbs: When it comes to maintaining a heart-healthy diet, salt is a big no-no. But why would you even want to cover your food in salt when you could use some fresh herbs and spices instead? Pepper, thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano—they’re all tastier and healthier than salt.
2. Salmon: Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, salmon is a top superfood for heart health. In fact, the American Heart Association recommends eating at least two servings of salmon, or other oily fish, every week.
3. Olive Oil: Packed with healthy fats and powerful antioxidants, olive oil can work wonders at lowering cholesterol. You should substitute olive oil for butter whenever you can to dramatically lower your saturated fat intake.
4. Almonds: The plant sterols, fiber, and “good” fats in almonds make them one of the healthiest snacks you can possibly eat. Grab just a handful a day to help lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol. Almonds also pair well with salads, fish, chicken, vegetables, and many delicious desserts.
5. Tofu: If you’re not a big fan of meat, then tofu is the perfect substitute to make sure you get all the healthy protein, fats, minerals, and fiber you need in your diet. Tofu can take on the flavor of any spices you add to it, so you never have to feel bored with the taste.  

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6. Sweet Potatoes: With a low glycemic index, sweet potatoes won’t cause a spike in blood sugar, like white potatoes do. They’re also packed with fiber, lycopene, and vitamin A.
7. Swiss Chard: Just about any dark, leafy green is good for your overall health. Swiss chard, especially, is rich in potassium and magnesium, minerals that help control blood pressure. It also has heart-healthy fiber, vitamin A, and the powerful antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin.

Do you have any heart-healthy foods to add to the list? If so, tell us in the comments!

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