subject: Eat Well And Enjoy A Healthy Heart [print this page] Trying to eat well is one common concern among many people. Most want to lose weight and others want to keep it off or prevent themselves from gaining in the first place. One bit of helpful information is to become familiar with the foods that are best for you and can improve heart health, help you lose weight and more.
Go natural. That's the simplest piece of food advice. Fresh, whole foods are much healthier than food from a box. Fresh vegetables and fruits help keep your blood vessels strong and are essential to a heart-healthy diet. If you want variety in your fruit lineup, think about trying some tropical fruits. Berries are full of nutrients, and they're versatile enough to add to salads, muffins, trail mixes and more. Sweet potato is a good substitute for regular white potatoes because of its vitamins and fiber, and spinach is more nutrient-rich than Iceberg and other lettuces. Don't be afraid to try ethnic dishes to have a new and tasty way to eat your produce.
The next step is meat and protein. Fish, beef and poultry aren't all bad for you. There are plenty of healthy protein choices for you to eat and enjoy. You may know about eating fish with omega-3 fatty acids, but also consider tofu. Firm tofu is full of magnesium, potassium and other nutrients and is very good for grilling or stir-fry. In fact, black and kidney beans are good sources of these fats, and almonds and walnuts have plenty of plant omega-3s. Fish, nuts and beans provide phytonutrients and help fulfill you without filling your arteries and body with dangerous fat and cholesterol.
Lastly, you have permission to treat yourself. You read that correctly; you should treat yourself. Treats like dark chocolate and red wine are actually good for you. Red wine and dark chocolate have nutrients that are good for your heart and blood vessels, but with dark chocolate it's important that it has a cocoa content of 70% or more to get the best effect. So long as you practice moderation you can enjoy most desserts, snacks and foods that you crave. Allowing yourself to eat foods you enjoy helps you not to feel as if you're punishing yourself.
Having a healthy diet is a life choice rather than some meal plan or harsh regimen. There are three areas in life that you can work on to better how you live: balanced diet, active lifestyle and hobbies that strengthen your mind and body.
