Potatoes. As long as you don't deep fry them or load them with unhealthy toppings, a couple of servings of potatoes a week is great for your heart health. Potatoes are high in potassium, which helps lower blood pressure. They are also loaded with fiber, which has been shown to help lower the risk of heart disease.
As long as they're not deep-fried, potatoes can be good for your heart. They're rich in potassium, which can help lower blood pressure, and they're high in fiber, which can lower the risk for heart disease.
Potatoes are a good source of fiber, which can help you lose weight by keeping you full longer. Fiber can help prevent heart disease by keeping cholesterol and blood sugar levels in check. Potatoes are also full of antioxidants that work to prevent diseases and vitamins that help your body function properly.
Potatoes are a natural source of fiber, protein and starchy carbohydrates and these are certified as heart-healthy food by American Heart Association.
Potatoes are cholesterol-free and have zero saturated fat
Consuming foods that are low in cholesterol and saturated fat help reduce risk of suffering from heart diseases to some extent. So if you have a heart problem, adding some slices of boiled potatoes as a side can help in giving your heart the much needed TLC.
According to Macrobiotic nutritionists and health practitioner Shilpa Arora says, "high potassium food items should be encouraged for high BP. Potatoes, beets, carrots, oranges and bananas are excellent food choices."
1. Sweet Potatoes. Sweet potatoes are not only delicious; it turns out they're a major source of soluble fiber, which is bad cholesterol's worst nightmare. Soluble fiber helps the body excrete cholesterol by binding to bile acids.
The Heart Foundation recommends: Plenty of vegetables, fruits and wholegrains. A variety of healthy protein sources (especially fish and seafood), legumes (such as beans and lentils), nuts and seeds. Smaller amounts of eggs and lean poultry can also be included in a heart healthy diet.
Idaho® Potato Nutrition Facts
One medium Idaho® potato (5.3 ounces) contains 110 calories, 0 fat and 0 cholesterol. In addition to its heart health benefits, Idaho® potatoes contain 45% of the daily value of vitamin C and almost twice the potassium found in a banana along with 2 grams of fiber.
Help be heart healthy: Tomatoes contain lycopene, which may help lower your “bad” cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Lowering these numbers helps lower your chances of heart disease.
Whole-grain breads are good sources of nutrients that help maintain a healthy immune system. They also provide dietary fiber that can help improve cholesterol levels and lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
Regularly eating fried foods is associated with a higher risk of developing heart problems. Fried foods are high in saturated fat and trans fat, so they promote plaque buildup in arteries that can put you at risk for coronary artery disease, heart failure, heart attack, and stroke.
A recent study found that diets high in refined grains, which include white rice, white flour, and white bread, are associated with an increased risk for premature coronary artery disease. In contrast, they found, diets high in whole grains were associated with a decreased risk for premature coronary artery disease.
Most healthy people can eat up to seven eggs a week without increasing their risk of heart disease. Some studies have shown that this level of egg consumption might even help prevent certain types of stroke and a serious eye condition called macular degeneration that can lead to blindness.
Water is the drink of choice for heart health. If you're thirsty, drink water. When the weather is warm or we're exercising, our bodies need more water than usual. Unflavoured milk, tea and coffee can be enjoyed in moderation.
Aerobic Exercise
How much: Ideally, at least 30 minutes a day, at least five days a week. Examples: Brisk walking, running, swimming, cycling, playing tennis and jumping rope. Heart-pumping aerobic exercise is the kind that doctors have in mind when they recommend at least 150 minutes per week of moderate activity.
Drinking coffee—particularly two to three cups a day—is not only associated with a lower risk of heart disease and dangerous heart rhythms but also with living longer, according to studies being presented at the American College of Cardiology's 71st Annual Scientific Session.
Tomatoes are a significant source of a plant compound called lycopene, which reduces levels of LDL cholesterol. Research shows that the body absorbs more lycopene if the tomatoes are processed or cooked, so drink tomato juice and add tomatoes to your minestrone soup as well.
Broccoli
Studies have demonstrated a connection between consuming vegetables and reducing the risk of heart disease. Broccoli in particular is plentiful in soluble fiber, which does wonders for high cholesterol. Other cholesterol-busting vegetables to consider include spinach, Brussels sprouts and collard greens.
A recent study indicates that in addition to promoting good eye health, carrots may help to reduce blood cholesterol and, thus, reduce the incidence of plaque in arteries.