Heart Healthy Diet

It isn’t always easy to change your eating habits, but it is very important if you want to maintain a healthy heart. So what constitutes a heart healthy diet and what foods should you watch our for?

Heart Healthy Diet

A sensible diet that is rich in proteins and low in fats, cholesterol and carbohydrates will have a big impact on supporting cardiovascular health. One of the most important steps you can take is to reduce the amount of saturated fat and trans fat in your diet. This can lower your risk of heart disease and must be considered when thinking about a heart healthy diet.

High Protein, Low Carbohydrates, Cholesterol and Fats

When you eat a diet that is high in protein and low in carbohydrates and fats, you will maintain your muscle mass and energy, and this can result in significant weight loss, which will further promote a healthy heart.

If you do use fats in your diet, choose rather monounsaturated fats. These include canola oil or olive oil. The fats that are found in nuts and seeds are known as Polyunsaturated fats, and these are also good choices for a heart healthy diet. Since all types of fats are high in calories, it’s always important to take them in moderation.

Fruits and Vegetables

Something else to consider in order to maintain a heart healthy diet is to eat fruits and vegetables. This is a great source of vitamins and minerals and are high in fiber. A diet that is high in fiber can help lower cholesterol and reduce risk of heart disease. This goes a long way toward maintaining a healthy heart.

If you’re like me, the thought of eating fruits and vegetables sounds great, but it also sounds like too much hassle to keep it up every day. It doesn’t have to be. You can keep a few cut up carrots, broccoli or cauliflower in your fridge and ready for a quick snack. Always keep a bowl of apples and bananas or other fruits on your kitchen table. Grab one as you leave for work in the morning. Pretty simple.

Whole Grains

Another suggestion is to eat whole grains. These are a good source of fiber, nutrients, vitamins and minerals. The nutrients found in whole grains play an important part in a heart healthy diet.

Its easy to purchase whole grain bread in place of white bread. Choose whole grain pasta of standard pasts and go for the high-fiber breakfast cereals in place of the sugar-sweetened options.

Reduce Salt Intake

Too much salt in your diet can lead to high blood pressure. This is one of the risk factors when it comes to heart disease. Reducing the amount of salt in your diet is an important part of a heart healthy diet. According to The American Heart Association, adults should eat less than 2,300 ml. of sodium a day. That’s approximately a teaspoon.

Reducing salt intake doesn’t stop with the salt shaker. A lot of salt comes from processed and canned food. Lately there are healthy alternatives to some canned foods which promote low sodium in their ingredients. But be conscious of these types of foods.

Herbalife’s Heart Health Products

Herbalife has a range of products to maintain a healthy heart. These include Niteworks®, Core Complex, Tri-Shield®, Herbalifeline®, and Mega Garlic Plus. Using a combination of these programs along with the recommendations above for a heart healthy diet, you will go a long way toward maintaining a healthy heart.

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