Spice up your diet with these foods that you might not have known are good for your heart.
By now, most people know that salmon and blueberries are good for your heart. And most of us are probably tired of hearing about their protective properties. Fortunately, you can keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels low and still enjoy a more varied diet. Here are five foods that are surprisingly good for your heart.
Garlic: This stinky plant is known for warding off vampires, but it could also ward off a heart attack. A chemical in garlic called allicin has been shown to relax blood vessels, which causes the blood to flow more smoothly, according to research done at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. How do you get the biggest boost from garlic? Crush (don’t chop) the cloves before cooking with them.
Curry: You may not be the most pleasant-smelling person if you eat all the foods on this list, but your heart will be in tip-top shape. Turmeric, a spice used in traditional Chinese and Indian curries, may reduce the risk of heart failure. In fact, tests run on mice at Canada’s Toronto General Hospital found that turmeric helped heal their hearts and made them pump blood more efficiently.
Beans: Like oatmeal, beans are good for your heart because they are high in fiber, and fiber is known to help lower the bad low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. One of the best sources of fiber is red kidney beans—one cup contains more than 13 grams of fiber—more than half of the daily recommended amount for women (which is 20 grams a day. It’s 30 grams for men.)
By now, most people know that salmon and blueberries are good for your heart. And most of us are probably tired of hearing about their protective properties. Fortunately, you can keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels low and still enjoy a more varied diet. Here are five foods that are surprisingly good for your heart.
Garlic: This stinky plant is known for warding off vampires, but it could also ward off a heart attack. A chemical in garlic called allicin has been shown to relax blood vessels, which causes the blood to flow more smoothly, according to research done at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. How do you get the biggest boost from garlic? Crush (don’t chop) the cloves before cooking with them.
Curry: You may not be the most pleasant-smelling person if you eat all the foods on this list, but your heart will be in tip-top shape. Turmeric, a spice used in traditional Chinese and Indian curries, may reduce the risk of heart failure. In fact, tests run on mice at Canada’s Toronto General Hospital found that turmeric helped heal their hearts and made them pump blood more efficiently.
Beans: Like oatmeal, beans are good for your heart because they are high in fiber, and fiber is known to help lower the bad low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. One of the best sources of fiber is red kidney beans—one cup contains more than 13 grams of fiber—more than half of the daily recommended amount for women (which is 20 grams a day. It’s 30 grams for men.)
