Good health is of great importance. By knowing what foods to eat, you can avoid a heart attack or a stroke easily. Check out a list of 10 foods to prevent heart attack/stroke right now.
1. Pomegranates
Pomegranates are tasty, fun to eat, and can help your arteries as well. Based on several clinical studies, pomegranate has been proven to help clear clogged arteries.
This fruit can help because it has high levels of antioxidants. Which can greatly increase the production of nitric oxide in our blood. It also improves blood flow and arterial plaque build-up.
Enjoy your serving of this delicious fruit.
2. Flax-seed
Flax-seed may be tiny, but it is packed with benefits. Did you know that aside from the long list of benefits that flax-seed can offer, it can also be beneficial for your arteries?
According to NCBI, flaxseed is a great alternative to marine products. In fact, it has been found that it’s one of the richest sources of plant-based omega-3 fatty acid and ALA or alpha-linolenic acid.
Go ahead and add a tablespoon of ground flaxseed to your cereal.
3. Walnuts
Walnuts aren’t just tasty; they can also help our arteries by improving their flexibility. It also helps us by maintaining a healthy cholesterol level.
Walnuts are a rich source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a plant-based omega-3 fatty acid. Walnuts contain 2.5 grams of ALA per ounce – that’s amazing, right?
Now, who wants a serving of carrot walnut cake?
4. Fish
Who loves fish? We do! Aside from being delicious and healthy, fish can also do wonders for your arteries. According to studies, fish oils can prevent the accumulation of cholesterol and fats in the aorta (the main artery that carries our blood away from our heart), thus preventing heart attacks.
Also, fish has plenty of omega-3 fatty acids, and as we all know, these can do so much for us, such as enhancing our cardiovascular health.
You might want to start eating more herring, salmon, mackerel, tuna, and trout.
5. Turmeric
Are you familiar with Turmeric? If not, then it’s time to start studying this herb/spice.
Turmeric has been a staple spice and medicinal herb in India, and now, scientists are amazed by how amazing this plant is. Curcumin, the main active ingredient in Turmeric, packs powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant.
Now, for the health of your arteries and even for your heart, you should start incorporating Turmeric into your diet.
The current studies involving curcumin showed a drastic change in people who consume Turmeric. In fact, it even shows that it can slow down the development of atherosclerosis.
Try Turmeric tea or start searching for recipes too.
6. Green Tea
You should add this to your list of benefits. According to studies, there have been several results that indicate how green tea can help our arteries.
According to health.harvard.edu, green tea may work wonders for your heart and arteries. It can aid in lowering LDL cholesterol and even triglycerides, which then prevents stroke, heart diseases, and atherosclerosis.
So drink up and enjoy your green tea.
7. Citrus Fruits
Eating your favorite citrus fruit doesn’t just give you vitamins; it can also aid in improving your heart health. Did you know that citrus fruits can effectively reduce systolic blood pressure?
In a study by the University of Southern California, Department of Preventive Medicine, eating grapefruits and oranges, in particular, can protect your arteries from clogging because they’re high in viscous fiber.
What’s your favorite citrus fruit?
8. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a very delicious spice, no doubt about that.
This aromatic spice doesn’t just give you delicious flavors; it also helps you in so many ways. First, it’s loaded with antioxidants that protect you from free radicals. It’s also packed with anti-inflammatory properties, and can greatly reduce the risk of stroke and heart diseases.
It can reduce your level of total cholesterol, the “bad” LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, but it doesn’t intervene with your “good” HDL cholesterol.
Don’t forget to stock up on this aromatic spice.
9. Spinach
Any dark, leafy green is good for your body in a multitude of ways. But if you’re specifically looking to lower your risk of stroke or heart attack, spinach is the way to go. This is because spinach is full of folic acid.
Spinach is a great way to get your needed milligrams of folic acid.
10. Dark Chocolate
Studies and doctors have found that dark chocolate is one of the best ways to keep your heart healthy. Dark chocolate has also been known to reduce the risk of stroke. Dark chocolate can help with inflammation as well as clotting of the blood. For a heart-healthy snack, always make sure to pick dark chocolate with the highest amount of cacao and the lowest amount of added sugar.
By watching what we intake and what we eat, we can dramatically alter our health. These amazing foods aren’t that hard to find, they may already be in your pantry.
