How 7 Foods and Beverages Make Your Heart Stronger?
80Healthy Heart
Foods and Beverages For a Strong Heart
The right foods are readily available to help you keep your heart in tip-top condition.
FOODS:
1- Chocolate will reduce inflammation - Just 2 ounces of dark chocolate will provide enough flavonoids to reduce the levels of C-reactive protein - a marker for inflammation that damages the heart - and reduce your risk of heart disease by as much as 33%. Pick a healthy chocolate that has at least 70% cocoa and is low in sugar.
2- Garlic will control blood pressure - The sulfur compounds in garlic are what will help your blood flow freely and lower your systolic blood pressure by as much as 8%. One clove per day is enough to reap the benefits. Chop, mash, or press the garlic and let it sit 10 minutes before eating. I like it raw, but cooking quickly is also beneficial.
3 - Pistachios will control trigylcerides - The nutrients in these nuts will keep these heart damaging fats in check. A study showed that a daily handful of pistachios lowered trigylcerides levels in people who snacked on these nuts, as opposed to people who snacked on pretzels, by 33%, according to UCLA research.
4 - Tomatoes will lower bad cholesterol - Tomatoes can lower bad cholesterol (LDL) by 13% in as little as 3 weeks. This is due to the lycopene in tomatoes which stops LDLs from turning into plaque and clogging the arteries. The tomato benefits can be found in 2 TBS. of organic ketchup, 1/2 cup of tomato sauce or a tomato.
BEVERAGES:
1- Cranberry Juice - Consuming up to 8 oz - from 1 to 3 times per day will help raise the good (HDL) cholesterol. This is due to the polyphenols in cranberry juice. (See the 4 amazing health benefits of cranberries in the link below).
2 - Black Tea - Consuming 8 ounces of black tea daily will help dilate the blood vessels and improve circulation. This is due to the flavonoids found in the tea. (See link below for the benefits of many herbal teas).
3 - Red Wine - Consuming a daily 4 ounce glass of red wine will help prevent blood clots. This is due to the antioxidant known as resveratrol.
Lists of Other Healthy Foods
- 4 Amazing Health Benefits of Cranberries
As we finally move away from food products and back to food in its most natural state, we are finding out that fresh food has all the nutritional benefits that we will ever need This includes cranberries,... - 5 Ways to Pick a Perfect Cantaloupe
Nothing is worse that running home with what you thought was a sweet, ripe cantaloupe - only to find it is inedible. It can be tricky to find a great one and since they do not ripen further once you get home,... - Garlic: 5 Other Super Benefits
As a food and medicine, the benefits of garlic have been known and used for thousands of years. Garlic has antioxidant benefits which help destroy free radicals - those particles that are known to damage cell... - 8 Super Health Benefits of Asparagus
Asparagus has so many health benefits, it should be added to the healthy diet. Asparagus is great as a detox vegetable, an anti-aging vegetable, and no surprise - an aphrodisiac, and much more. The... - Chia Seeds: 8 Healthy Benefits
8 Benefits of Chia SeedsChances are you know those wonderful Chia Pets sold every year at Christmas time. Turns out those sprouted pets start out as healthy chia seeds and happen to be super nutritious. Among... - 10 Healthy Foods to Help You Lose Weight and Feel Fu...
Historically, food has always been there to keep us healthy. Unfortuntately, the Western Diet has become filled with processed foods that contain partially hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, and... - 12 Herbal Teas with Healthy Benefits
Herbal teas are also known as tisanes* and herbal infusions. Herbs have long been used in traditional medicine, and as a tea, is often prescribed by herbalists. If something ails you, there may be an herbal...
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All of these foods and beverages are readily accessible. We really have no excuse not to eat right and be responsible for our health.
Thanks for the tips! And I will drink more tea! And I have been craving chocolate for the last week - maybe that means there is some inflammation in my body. We must listen to our bodies more often.
Rated up and more!
Lots of great foods...I love raw chocolate! It's bitter, but I put the powder in smoothies so you can't taste it, and it takes my sweet cravings away.
I think I am on the right track. Other than pistachios and red wine, I consume these foods and beverages fairly regularly. This list is a nice reminder as to how important they are for our health.
The tip about black tea is interesting. I've been seeing it offered more and more in ready-made iced tea bottles lately. Home brewed, black tea does make an excellent iced tea, too. You've also given me the perfect excuse to snack on a small amount of chocolate - I feel less guilty about it now.
Thanks for the tips!
Great hib, voted up and bookmarked for my healthy future. I LOVE all those things on your list but like the herbivorhippi I have not had pistachios in a long while.
Keep on hubbing!! :-)
I like to partake of garlic on a daily basis. I take it for its wonderful heart healthy benefits. I wish more people would let food be thy medicine as opposed to pharmaceutical drugs. I also sprinkle red pepper flakes on my food. They add great flavor and have a thermogenic effect on your body, naturally increasing metabolism. Cinnamon is great for decreasing your blood sugar. Foods have so many healing properties why not use them?
Thanks for a great article. I will read more.
Teresa
Hmm, you got my chocolate in there, my pistachios and my black tea and to top it off, a little wine every now and again. I'm liking you girl. Thanks for the hub.
great hub --- I must read the same books as you on health.
Yes!! I love chocolate .. sure it's good for my heart so always said to everyone who look at me and said as chocolate again!! ...Good Hub.. I will share to my friend.
Thanks a lot !
I am a chocolate addict.
Very interesting!
I love dried cranberries and wonder it they're just as good or not :)
Thanks for the tips. Keep it coming. I read somewhere that beef liver is good for the heart too, is that true? My heart feels weak; esp during and after a meal. When I breath I feel like my lungs are under water. Keep suggestions coming.
theherbivorehippi Level 2 Commenter 22 months ago
Man....I haven't had pistachios in forever! They sound so good right now and now I have a reason to go get some! Awesome! Thanks for a delicious hub!