Luxor Nursing and Rehab at Mills Pond with 5 of the Best Foods for Your Heart

Heart disease is one of the leading killers of Americans, and according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half of men and 40 percent of women have a “heart age” that’s at least five years older than their actual age. Factors for this include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, and lack of physical activity.

While it may sound simple to exercise more and stop smoking, millions are puzzled on how to adopt healthy eating habits. It’s not about fad diets but rather about consistently eating food that’s good for you. 

Luxor Nursing and Rehab at Mills Pond has five of the best foods for good heart health.

• Dark Chocolate

A study spanning nine years found that women who had one to two servings of high-quality chocolate (dark chocolate made from at least 70 percent cacao) dropped their risk of developing heart failure by nearly one-third. That’s because the high amount of cacao has been found to be loaded with antioxidants that protect the heart.

• Edamame

These soybean snacks are a great source of magnesium, folate, and potassium, which are all nutrients that lower blood pressure. Beans are also high in fiber, which helps “pull” bad cholesterol (LDL) out of your blood. 

• Tomatoes

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, which has been found to widen blood vessels and lead to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, skin damage, and certain types of cancer. This antioxidant is found in the skin of the tomato, so that makes grape and cherry tomatoes an even better source.

• Walnuts

One clinical trial on walnuts found that eating just one ounce five times per week can cut your heart disease risk by 40 percent. That’s due to the antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids contained in them, so if you don’t like the nuts themselves, try a bottle of walnut oil to cook with or use as a part of salad dressing.

• Yogurt

Research found that eating around 12 to 15 ounces of yogurt per week can cut your hypertension (high blood pressure) risk by nearly a third. That’s mainly due to vitamin D, calcium, and potassium that’s in yogurt. But be careful with flavored yogurts, as there could be enough sugar in those to counteract the benefits you’ll receive. 

To learn more about Luxor Nursing and Rehab at Mills Pond and all of the services they offer, visit http://www.millspondluxor.com/.