Eating These Foods Prevent Heart Disease

According to a HealthLine report, heart disease was the #1 cause of death in the United States in 2016. The research shows that more than 630,000 people in the U.S. die from heart disease each year.

This is due to several factors that influence the health of people living in the United States. Similarly, other first world countries around the globe cite heart disease among the leading causes of death.

It’s alarming and tragic since heart disease is nearly 100% preventable. Yes, some people indeed suffer from congenital heart conditions. But, for the most part, the choices you make daily influence whether heart disease will impact your life or not.

One thing you can do to prevent and treat different heart diseases is to become more active. Lack of physical activity has led to the prevalence of heart disease since the late 20^th century.

In addition to increasing physical activity to become healthy, you can eat your way to better health. You can eat certain foods that naturally turn your immune system into a heart disease fighter.

5 Foods That Fight Heart Disease

You are what you eat… there’s no better way to say it. The foods you eat and the foods you avoid determine the state of your health, how you look, and how you feel.

When you eat saturated fats, highly processed foods, and sugar, your body will suffer. And inflammation is at the top of the list. Inflammation is the root cause of heart disease in addition to other conditions. On top of that, you’ll probably be overweight, as well.

The following is a list of a few foods you should make a part of your daily diet. Take it to heart (pun intended) and reap the heart-healthy benefits derived when you consume them regularly.

1. Eat Fatty Fish to Prevent Heart Disease

Fish like sardines, Alaskan salmon, trout, tuna, and mackerel contain fish oils that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Only purchase fish caught in the wild; do not consume farm-raised fish. This also applies to fish oil supplements. The oil must come from wild fish.

Our diets are too high in omega-6 fatty acids due to the excessive use of hydrogenated oils, which are detrimental to our health. They look clean and golden on the supermarket shelf but don’t be fooled. Most of these vegetable oils are harmful to our bodies over time.

The fish you consume will restore the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids in your body. This will reduce inflammation, lower your bad cholesterol, and prevent heart disease in the long run.

2. Eat Grass-Fed Beef

It’s best to consume red meat in moderation. But, if you’re going to eat beef, stick to grass-fed beef. Cows are meant to eat grass. But the food manufacturing industry puts profits above everything else. Unfortunately for the consumer, they feed the herd grains loaded with hormones, antibiotics, and steroids.

The meat contains a lot of inflammatory omega-6 fats. And by now, you know that inflammation leads to heart disease. So, stick to grass-fed beef, meat that will not cause your body to become inflamed.

3. Use Turmeric in Your Cooking

Used in India for centuries to treat various ailments, we have recently discovered the potency of turmeric. It is one of the best natural anti-inflammatory spices you can use in your cooking or sprinkle on your vegetables.

The curcumin, which is the active ingredient in turmeric, is also an antioxidant. Add pepper to turmeric and mix it up for best results. Using this mixture will enable your body to get the most benefit from this spice.

You could also take curcumin supplements to get your daily dose of this miracle spice. In fact, there are many ways you can add turmeric to your diet daily.

4. Use Garlic in Your Cooking

The allicin, which is the active ingredient in garlic, prevents blood clots from forming in your arteries. It also lowers your cholesterol and has antioxidant and antiviral properties. This is one of the most beneficial foods you could consume.

It’s best to crush it and use it in your cooking to get the benefits. Alternatively, you could purchase garlic supplements and take them daily.

5. Drink Red Wine to Prevent Heart Disease

No list on heart-healthy foods would be complete without mentioning red wine. It is well-known for reducing your risk of heart disease. Resveratrol (a polyphenol found in red wine) gets a lot of mention as a potent antioxidant. But red wine contains many other antioxidants that benefit your heart.

Red wine is chockful of flavonoids that prevent the oxidation of bad cholesterol, which causes inflammation. This is one of the reasons red wine is so beneficial for preventing heart disease. One or two glasses of wine a day should suffice.

There’s no need to go overboard and become an alcoholic to prevent heart disease. That’s just trading one disease for another… not good.

Foods That Promote Healthy Blood Pressure to Prevent Heart Disease

Hypertensive heart disease is a blanket term that refers to multiple cardiovascular disorders. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and coronary artery disease.

When your blood pressure gets too high, any of these may develop along with several other health issues. You must maintain a healthy blood pressure level. When you do so, you can avoid many of the common causes of illness and death that affect many people.

Controlling blood pressure with the foods you eat is another way to prevent heart disease. Adopting certain dietary practices has proven successful in regulating healthy blood pressure levels for thousands of years. By doing so, you can keep heart disease at bay.

Eat the following foods to promote healthy blood pressure levels you can live with:

• Natural Dark Chocolate
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Pomegranate
• Leafy Greens
• Pistachios
• Red Beets
• Oatmeal
• Bananas
• Seeds
• Garlic

These foods have potassium and dietary fiber, magnesium, and low sodium content. You get antioxidants that fight free radicals along with flavonoids proven to lower high blood pressure.

The vitamins, minerals, and nutrients in these heart-healthy foods keep your blood flowing freely and your artery walls from thickening.

Swap your unhealthy salad dressings for extra-virgin olive oil (EVO). EVO is full of essential fatty acids and oleic acid, an omega-9 fatty acid that helps prevent heart disease and cancer.

You can add garlic to most meals, and a banana makes a healthy, filling snack anytime night or day. Natural dark chocolate is versatile in the kitchen, and you can add pomegranate to your smoothies.

Oatmeal is a heart-healthy way to start your day. You can eat pistachios and seeds alone or add them to soups, salads, casseroles, and other dishes. There are many ways you can add these heart-healthy foods to your daily meals.

Now you know it is possible to avoid heart disease by changing what you eat. Try to include these foods in your diet. They contribute to improved overall health, so don’t ignore them. You’ll not only improve your health but will significantly reduce your risk of heart disease.