subject: Eat What's Right For Your Heart: A Healthy Diet [print this page] Health and wellness begins with the food you put into your body. It can be daunting to even consider how to go about losing weight or changing your habits. From heart-healthy foods to food that improve your eyesight or skin, there's a wide world full of the best nature has to offer.
It may be a no-brainer but sometimes we forget: natural food is good, healthy food. That tip about not eating ingredients that you can't pronounce is pretty accurate. Whole and fresh foods are best. When you eat unprocessed fruits and veggies, you help your body get rid of free radicals that can damage your blood vessels and heart. Most people regularly eat apples, bananas and oranges, but sometimes you need some delicious variety. Berries are full of nutrients, and they're versatile enough to add to salads, muffins, trail mixes and more. For vegetables, consider the beta-carotene and fiber of sweet potato and asparagus. When you're in a rut, consider looking at vegetarian cooking resources to learn some intriguing food ideas.
You want to know about protein, right? 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. In fact, black and kidney beans are good sources of these fats, and almonds and walnuts have plenty of plant omega-3s. Adding whole grains to these protein sources is a great way to consume vital heart-healthy nutrients.
If you think you have to skip dessert to be healthy, think again. You read that correctly; you should treat yourself. Rich dark chocolate and a bit of red wine can be healthy. 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. Even with less healthy desserts and snacks, the key is to enjoy them in moderation or sparingly. Allowing yourself to eat foods you enjoy helps you not to feel as if you're punishing yourself.
Its much easier to maintain a healthy diet when you make simple lifestyle changes. That includes a healthy balance of different foods as well as exercise and other activities that help you enjoy life.
