Prevention is the first step in healthy living

Learn what super foods can jump start your heart and decrease your risk for heart disease. With proper dietary recommendations, you can give your body the extra boost it needs to serve you for a lifetime.

There are fives super foods that can jump start your heart, decrease your risk for heart disease, lead to weight loss, and benefit your health.

For your next menu, include these powerhouses:

1.  Blueberries – Rich with the Anthocyanin antioxidant, they work to reduce the buildup of “bad” LDL cholesterol in artery walls that contribute to heart disease and stroke. Anthocyanin can also be found in blackberries, black raspberries, black currants, and red grapes.

2.  Salmon – This readily available fish is a great source of omega-3’s and promote healthy living.  It and other oily fish such as sardines, mackerel and herring, lower the levels of triglycerides (blood fats linked to heart disease and diabetes) in the body.

3.  Soy Protein – A substitute for red meat, soy protein is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and protein.  It is also lower in fat and higher in fiber than many meat options.  Coupled with a healthy low-fat diet, soy protein lowers cholesterol.

4.  Oatmeal – Only a half-cup daily serving of oatmeal boasts of low calories and 5 grams of heart-healthy fiber!  This super food lowers cholesterol and maintains your weight at a healthy living level.  Along with other whole grains (whole wheat, barley, rye, millet, quinoa, brown rice, and wild rice), oatmeal helps to decrease the risk of diabetes.

5.  Spinach – Go for the green with this leafy vegetable and its cousins, kale, Swiss chard, broccoli, and collard greens!  They are high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that may ward off heart disease and are a source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Have fun incorporating these super foods in your weekly menu.  Eating healthy foods will help your body to maximize its potential, ward off heart disease and other conditions as well as sustain you for a lifetime of healthy living.