Becoming Heart Smart: Foods that heal. (Video)

February is known as the heart health awareness month. Diet and exercise play pivotal roles in improving one’s overall heart health. Basic changes in your diet can yield great overall benefit. Eat a heart healthy diet. Enjoy a daily diet that includes fresh fruits and vegetables, and limit your intake of fat and sodium. These simple changes in your diet can help lower blood pressure and heart disease.

The following list of foods, readily available in most markets at low cost, can greatly improve heart health.

Some heart healthy foods include:

• Beets-beets produce nitric acid that can help increase blood flow throughout the body. They also contain antioxidants which can help reduce the risk of cancer.
• Cranberries-cranberries may help reduce the risk of heart disease. They contain flavonols and plant chemicals that keep LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol from adhering to the artery walls.
• Eggs- eggs contain iron and zinc and lecithin, which help support hair and nail growth. They also contain choline, which may help repair neurological injury.
• Mustard-mustard is a source of selenium, which is thought to boost immunity. It also contains selenium, thought to protest against cancer and some types of cardiovascular disease.
• Kiwi- kiwi contains lutein, an antioxidant that may maintain eye health.
• Chilis- chilis contain capsaicin, thought to help prevent heart attack and stroke.

For more information on a healthy diet, check out the American Heart Association website for tips on a heart healthy diet and lifestyle.