subject: A Healthy Diet: Little Steps Can Help Your Heart [print this page] A Healthy Diet: Little Steps Can Help Your Heart
You've probably thought about eating in the last few minutes if not right now. Food and eating preoccupies many people's minds. Often the goal is to lose weight, but sometimes it's difficult to know where to begin. Familiarizing yourself with "health food" is the best way to get over the intimidation and begin helping your heart and body. If nothing else you should remember this: natural foods are the best for you. The best foods are the ones that had the least steps from nature to your plate. Fresh fruits and vegetables are part of the foundation for a heart-healthy diet because they help eliminate free radicals in your bloodstream, which protects your blood vessels. You know the saying about having an apple a day, but also consider new fruits to spice things up. Papaya is full of calcium, potassium, magnesium and other healthy nutrients. Acorn squash has B-complex and C vitamins, and spinach is very healthful. In fact, baked squash served with sauteed spinach can make a great dish. When you're in a rut, consider looking at vegetarian cooking resources to learn some intriguing food ideas. I'm sure you also want to know about meat and protein. Often the negative aspects of meat and fish are reported more than the positives. There are plenty of healthy protein choices for you to eat and enjoy. Lean cuts of meat are okay for you, and fatty fish like salmon and tuna are actually very good for you. Beans and legumes are other good non-meat sources of protein as well as nuts like walnuts and almonds. Adding whole grains to these protein sources is a great way to consume vital heart-healthy nutrients. Lastly, you have permission to treat yourself. That's no trick or test. It is true that foods like red wine and dark chocolate can be good for you. Red wine and dark chocolate with cocoa content of 70% or higher both have flavonoids that can improve good cholesterol and help lower your blood pressure. So long as you practice moderation you can enjoy most desserts, snacks and foods that you crave. If you enjoy your food guilt-free, you're less like to overdo it. It's much easier to maintain a healthy diet when you make simple lifestyle changes. Heart health begins with eating a healthy diet, but exercise and finding time to enjoy yourself are just as meaningful.
