Eat your way to a healthier heart – Guest Post

Eat Your Way to a Healthier Heart

With our need to be constantly on the move in our society, certain aspects of a healthy lifestyle tend to fall to the wayside.  Eating is one of those things that tends to take a back burner to convenience, ultimately adding pounds and a buildup of preservatives that harm our bodies more than we realize.  There are a handful of things that can be added to your regular diet that will ultimately improve your health, especially the health of your heart.

Eat your way to a healthier heart with some or all of the following items.

Spinach

Spinach is a great leafy green that can be added to many dishes and has a great flavor.  Rather than using lettuce, which has little nutritional value, spinach is a wonderful substitute that contains iron, folate, phytochemicals, and other minerals.  The benefits of spinach are many, including heart disease prevention, eyesight preservation, and improved overall health.

Oatmeal

Whole oats have been the cornerstone of nutritious breakfasts for many years.  The fiber in a bowl of whole oatmeal can help keep your stomach full for longer and helps reduce overall cholesterol levels.  Oatmeal, especially when fruit is added is a wonderful heart healthy way to start your say.

Salmon

Besides the high levels of protein found in salmon, omega-3 fatty acids can also be found.  Both of these are essential to a healthy heart and salmon is versatile and easy to cook.  Whether you like it smoked, broiled, or baked salmon is a great food that offers health benefits far beyond the heart.

Blueberries

Blueberries are one superfood that can be used in a wide variety of ways that will give you a great dose of antioxidants with every bite.  Blueberries can be added to oatmeal, whole grain cereals, salads, smoothies, and much more.  Start using this year-fruit fruit in your daily diet and reap the health benefits for your heart and beyond.

Soy

This is another great item that is full of vitamins, fiber and minerals.  A great alternative to meat, poultry, or fish, many vegetarians love soy products like tofu because they take on the flavors and characters of the dishes they are put in.  Raw soy beans, known as edamame, are a great natural source of the minerals and fiber that all people seem to enjoy.

By-line:

This post was contributed by Holly McCarthy, who writes on the subject of the nursing schools. She invites your feedback at hollymccarthy12 at gmail dot com