With Valentines Day AND Heart Health month both falling within the month of February, we figured it was the perfect time to talk about some of our favorite fruits and veggies that are not only delicious, but heart-healthy as well! Although there are a long list of heart-healthy ingredients, these red and pink fruits are particularly festive.
Peppers: Red peppers in particular contain something called lycopene which has been shown to benefit heart health. They also contain cholesterol-lowering soluble fiber and powerful antioxidants in the form of vitamin A and C.[1]
Tomatoes: The powerful antioxidant of lycopene is also found in tomatoes, plus they have plenty of potassium and Vitamin C, which also have been shown to benefit heart health.[2]
Apples: In a recent study, eating apples daily appeared to lower levels of cholesterol and other two markers associated with heart health. Apples are rich in pectin and soluble fiber which helps to block cholesterol absorption and therefore aid in heart health.[2]
Berries: Berries are extremely high in antioxidants and anything from strawberries to blackberries, blueberries and raspberries have been shown to be beneficial for heart health. Eating berries as opposed to other higher-sugar fruits is also beneficial in lowering sugar intake and therefore managing blood sugar.[1]
Beets: Beets are not only extremely beneficial for detoxification, but they have also been shown to fight inflammation and lower blood pressure, both of which benefit our heart’s overall health.3]
[1]Dulan, Mitzi. “5 Red Foods to Eat for Your Heart”. US News. 5 February 2013. Web. 2 February 2017.
[2]Goodman, Brenda. “Apples Good for Your Heart”. WebMD. 12 April 2011. Web. 2 February 2017.
[3]Dr. Mercola. “Benefits of Beets” Mercola.com. 25 January 2014. Web. 2 February 2017.
