Healthy You: 5 Foods for a Heart Healthy Diet

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Nothing matters more than taking good care of your heart. Getting regular exercise, not smoking and controlling stress are just a few things health experts recommend, along with eating a variety of nutritious, heart-healthy foods that make up a healthy diet.

Here are the 5 foods that boost nutritional goodness to a healthier heart:

BLUEBERRIES:
Blueberries top the list as one of the most powerful disease-fighting foods. That's because they contain Anthocyanins, the antioxidant responsible for their dark blue color. These delicious jewels are packed with fiber. Vitamin C, and are available all year long. Boost heart health by adding them into your diet regularly.

SALMON:
This cold-water fish is a great source of protein and is also packed with heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. The American Heart Association advices eating salmon and other omega-3 rich foods twice a week for benefits that go beyond heart health.

SOY PROTEIN:
This inexpensive, high-quality, and minerals- all the ingredients for a heart healthy meal. Also a diet rich in soy protein can lower triglycerides, which help prevent cardiovascular disease and keep your heart strong and healthy. In those with high cholesterol levels, the benefits of soy foods are due to their high levels of polyunsaturated fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

OATMEAL:
Grandma called it roughage and we need plenty of it. Oats are nourishing whole grains and a great source of vitamins, minerals and cholesterol-lowing fiber.

The FDA allows manufacturers of oats to make health claims about the grain on their products, suggesting that a diet high in oats can reduce the risk for heart disease. Research shows oats lower cholesterol levels, keep you regular, and may help prevent certain cancers.

SPINACH:
Popeye knew firsthand the value of eating spinach. Hands down, spinach is powerhouse of the vegetable kingdom. Its rich, dark color comes from the multiple phytochemicals, vitamins, and minerals (especially folate and iron) that also fight disease, protect against heart disease, and pressure your eyesight.