Keep your heart strong and your energy level high. The following foods in your shopping cart are sure to guard against heart disease, keep you energized while keeping your waist trim.
Whole-grain breads and cereals -- You can reduce your cholesterol, and control your weight with a diet that includes significant amounts of insoluble fiber.
Fruits -- Eat delicious fruits like apples, pears, citrus and berries. They are packed with fiber and have shown promise in fighting heart disease. Lycopene, found in fruits like tomatoes, watermelon and pink/red grapefruit, are thought to help lower your risk cardiovascular-disease.
Dark, leafy greens -- Reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease by eating greens such as arugula and spinach which contain folate. Folate is thought to break down homocysteine, an amino acid in the blood that is thought to increases the risk of heart-disease.
Nuts -- Containing healthy fats, walnuts have omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids contribute to lowering triglyceride levels. Other nuts such as almonds, cashews,and macadamias possess monounsaturated fats. These fats are paramount in helping lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and will also raise HDL (good) cholesterol.
Salmon -- Fight heart disease with cold-water fish that contain omega-3 fatty acids; salmon, mackerel and sardines are among healthy heart fish.