Ongoing studies are showing more and more that foods we eat everyday can actually work to fight heart disease. This is great news for those wishing to skip taking medications like statins that have harmful side effects.  Through choosing the right foods, you can improve your hearth and enjoy some of your favorite meals at the same time.

Dark Chocolate Can Work Wonders!

A recent German study showed that people who ate just one piece of dark chocolate a week, reduced their risk of heart attack by almost 40%.  The antioxidants in chocolate can lower blood flow and blood pressure.  Always opt for dark chocolate with a high cacao content.  The higher, the better.  One of my favorites is Endangered Species.

Enjoy a bit of Alcohol

The good news is that alcohol isn’t always bad for us! When it comes to heart disease, a little bit of alcohol can work wonders.  For example, a recent study showed that people who drank moderately lowered their risk of death from heart problems by 38%.

Cranberries

The University of Scranton recently found that you could raise your good cholesterol by 10% if you drink 3 glasses of cranberry juice a day.  However, be careful of cranberry juice that contains refined sugars.  If your genes make you susceptible for heart disease, cranberries can also help.

Enjoy Fish Every Week

If you choose the best types of fish, like salmon, sardines and mackerel, you can get omega-3 fatty acids which have a wide variety of health benefits.  For example, they reduce blood pressure, decrease triglyceride levels and reduce atherosclerotic plaque.  The American Heart Association recommends eating fatty fish 2 times a week.

Nuts

The Mayo Clinic recommends walnuts, in particular, as a nut that has omega-3 fatty acids.  Nuts lower bad cholesterol and improve the linings of your arteries.  Some of the top nuts for heart health are almonds, pecans, hazelnuts and macadamia nuts.

Green Tea Lovers-Drink Up!

If you love drinking tea, you may already be doing something important for your heart.  A recent Greek study showed that green tea dilates the arteries in the heart, thereby, allowing blood to flow more freely.  Dr. Nikolaos Alexopoulos and colleagues in the cardiology department of Athens Medical School found that the arteries dilated right after green tea consumption.  In fact, the peak benefits were experienced about 30 minutes after the tea was consumed.

Sources
newsmaxhealth.com
americanheart.org
upi.com