Indulge in These Superfoods This Summer

salmonSummer is a time of hot weather, vacations, and lazy nights, but it can also be the perfect opportunity to improve your eating habits and help your body feel healthier than it has in years. Heart disease is deadly, but that doesn’t mean it’s inevitable. In addition to exercising regularly, cutting out poor lifestyle choices, and seeing your doctor every year, you can work these superfoods into your diet to nourish and protect your heart.

Salmon

Salmon is very rich in omega-3 fatty acids, an essential unsaturated fat that reduces inflammation in the body, specifically in the blood vessels. Omega-3s are also known to decrease dangerous triglycerides, lower blood pressure, and lower cholesterol, all of which culminates to minimize the risk of heart disease and stroke. Those are powerful results gained simply by eating fish two or three times per week!

Oatmeal with Berries

Not sure what to eat for breakfast? Whip up some oatmeal with blueberries. Not instant oatmeal that is laced with artificial sugar, but old-fashioned oatmeal that is high in soluble fiber. Oatmeal acts like a sponge in the digestive tract to soak up dangerous cholesterol and eliminate it from the body before it hits the bloodstream. Adding berries on top is a simple and delicious way to nourish the body with antioxidants that dilate blood vessels and fight off free radicals.

Almonds and Other Nuts

Nuts often earn a bad reputation because they are high in fat, but nuts like almonds and walnuts are high in the good fats that your body needs to stay healthy, like omega-3 fatty acids. This makes nuts the perfect snack, as long as they don’t have too much added salt. In fact, it is said that former President Obama ate a handful of almonds every time he felt fatigued.

Other excellent and heart-healthy choices include pomegranate, beans, and even dark chocolate and red wine! By swapping your burger for a salmon filet, opting for string beans sauteed in extra virgin olive oil instead of fries, and reaching for the red wine instead of beer, you can enjoy any summer barbeque this season, and so can your heart!

To answer any of your other question or concerns about heart health, contact Cardiovascular Solutions Institute in Bradenton, Florida. Dr. Gino Sedillo and his team provide high quality, state of the art, comprehensive cardiovascular care to all patients, so call (941) 747-8789 to schedule your appointment now.