Eat your way to a healthy heart with these delicious superfoods.
NUTS- If you’re looking to lower cholesterol levels, research shows that you should get cracking!
Almonds and cashews are other good options. However, while nuts are heart healthy, they’re also high in calories, so practice portion control.
BEANS- They really are good for your heart. Researchers at Arizona State University Polytechnic found that adding 1/2 cup of beans to soup lowers total cholesterol, including LDL, by up to 8%. The key to this heart-healthy food is its abundance of fiber, which has been shown to slow the rate and amount of absorption of cholesterol in certain foods.
TEA- While tea has become well known for its cancer-fighting antioxidants, it is also a great defense against LDL cholesterol levels. Black tea has been shown to reduce blood lipids by up to 10% in only 3 weeks.
SPINACH- This popular green contains lots of lutein, the sunshine-yellow pigment found in dark green leafy vegetables. Lutein already has a “golden” reputation for guarding against age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness. Now research suggests that just 1/2 cup of a lutein-rich food daily also guards against heart attacks by helping artery walls “shrug off” cholesterol invaders that cause clogging.
GARLIC- Aside from adding zing to almost any dish, garlic has been found to lower cholesterol, prevent blood clots, reduce blood pressure, and protect against infections. Now research finds that it helps stop artery-clogging plaque at its earliest stage by keeping cholesterol particles from sticking to artery walls.