Skip to main content

Based on current COVID-19 positivity rates, visitation is allowed until further notice.
Call (631) 548-6853 or click here for more information.

5 Heart-Healthy Foods You Should Include in Your Diet

Aug 1, 2018

Peconic_Bay_Medical_Center_5_Heart-Healthy_Foods_You_Should_Include_in_Your_Diet_IMAGE1.jpeg

If you have a family history of heart disease or if you just happen to be concerned with the health of your heart, your diet plays an important role in keeping any potential problems in check. Your diet should accompany regular workout regimen as well, but having a regular diet consisting of some heart-friendly foods can make all the difference in your efforts to have a healthy heart. So, while it's worth considering seeking interventional cardiology services in Suffolk County, NY, here are some great foods to add to your diet.

Leafy Green Vegetables

It's not too surprising that one of the best things you can eat is exactly what your mom was always trying to get you to eat when you were a kid: vegetables. Leafy green vegetables contain vitamin K which helps protect arteries and are high in dietary nitrates which are essential for reducing blood pressure. One study shows that increasing your intake of leafy green vegetables can lower your risk of heart disease by approximately 16%.

Berries

Studies show that eating lots of berries can have a major impact on reducing the risk of heart disease. Rich in antioxidants, such delicious berries like raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries can contribute to the reduction of bad cholesterol of eaten on a regular basis. Even regularly drinking shakes made up of freeze-dried strawberries for eight weeks can decrease your level of LDL cholesterol by 11%.

Beans

Beans contain a type of starch known as "resistant" starch. Resistant starch has the effect of resisting digestion and being fermented by your gut's good bacteria. The result is a decrease in blood levels of triglycerides and cholesterol and reducing the risk of heart disease. Also, a diet rich in beans has been shown to reduce blood pressure and inflammation, both key factors in fighting heart disease.

Peconic_Bay_Medical_Center_5_Heart-Healthy_Foods_You_Should_Include_in_Your_Diet_IMAGE2.jpeg

Dark Chocolate

One of the advantages of seeking a heart-healthy diet is you can eat as much dark chocolate as you want. High in antioxidants such as flavonoids, dark chocolate is an excellent food for fighting heart disease. One study has shown that people who eat chocolate at a minimum of five times per week lowered their risk of coronary heart disease by 57% compared to those who didn't eat chocolate.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes contain a strong antioxidant known as lycopene. This natural plant pigment has been shown to decrease the risk of heart attack and stroke among regular eaters. Throw in the fact that garlic has properties that can lower bad cholesterol, and dining on whole grain pasta in marinara sauce is one of the most delicious and healthy things you can do for your heart.

Ask any expert in advanced cardiology in Suffolk County, NY, and they'll tell you the same thing: the first step to a healthy heart is with a heart-friendly diet. Contact Peconic Bay Medical Center to get your heart in healthy condition.