Heart healthy foods | Treat your heart to good food

Heart disease is known to be significantly related to lifestyle. Other mammals are not known to get heart disease. So evidently heart problems stem from the foods we eat and the kind of lifestyle we adopt.

The following are some foods to include in your diet for a healthy heart:

Foods high in fiber - Whole wheat grains, whole wheat bread, oatmeal, grits

Blueberries, Cranberries, Raspberries

Green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale

Seafood like salmon

Dark chocolate

Avocados, guacamole

Soy products like tofu, edamame, soy milk

Lentils and beans

Nuts

Tomato

Garlic

Supplements containing Vitamin C, Vitamin B, Potassium and Magnesium

Herbs like Arjuna and Guggul

Foods to avoid in a heart healthy diet are:

Red meat and meat with high fat content

Processed foods

Trans fatty acids such as in margarine and hydrogenated oils. Check cereal boxes to avoid hydrogenated oils

Deep fried foods

Dairy with high fat content like whole milk and butter

Salt

Ice cream, sugar, pies, cakes which have high sugar content and may also have hydrogenated oils