Healthy Heart Eating

I am sure you are tired of hearing and reading about heart healthy eating--but it is important. No one can force you to eat healthy and we all have the power of choice. However, if you choose to eat an improper diet for your heart, make sure you understand the risks, thoroughly.

Bad Cholesterol and plaque are akin to lard, solid shortening, or butter in your blood vessels. Clogging your blood vessels, causing them to narrow prevents blood from flowing smoothly. Your poor heart has to pump harder, work harder, to get that much needed blood to all your organs and every other part of the human body. Eventually you will have a heart attack or a brain attack (stroke).

Please do not let this happen to you. Do not become a statistic.

Here are some friendly reminders for healthy heart eating:

* Eat fish twice a week: Salmon, Rainbow Trout, sardines and herring. All are excellent sources of healthy Omega 3 essential fatty acids which help to reduce bad cholesterol, among other things.

* Your best carbs are the following: spinach, kale, broccoli, brussel sprouts, asparagus, collard greens, red peppers, tomatoes, yams & sweet potatoes, barley, oatmeal (old fashioned, unsweetened), beans, black eye peas, slow cooked brown rice, lentils.

* Your best fats: flaxseed oil, fish fat (salmon, trout, herring, sardines)

* Your next best carbs: white potatoes, red potatoes, carrots, quick brown rice, quick oatmeal (unsweetened) and all fresh fruits.

* Your next best proteins: Chicken breast, turkey breast, shellfish, egg whites, non-fat cottage cheese, top round steak, eye or round, whey protein.

* Your "good" carbs: 100% whole grain unsweetened boxed cereals, pastas, breads, cooked cereals, whole wheat pitas, whole grain unsweetened muffins, grits, cream of rice and white rice.

* Your "good" proteins and dairy products: Flank steak, extra lean top sirloin, low fat sliced turkey breast, nonfat sour cream, nonfat cheese, nonfat cream cheese, 1% low fat cottage cheese.

* Your "good" fats: olive oil, canola oil, natural peanut butter, nuts and seeds.

Here's a little tip to help you decide what food to eat: ask yourself if the food was made by man, is it processed or refined? If yes, skip it. Did this food come out of the ground or off a tree? If yes, go for it.

Unfortunately these foods would make your diet too restricted, therefore, the foods listed above include the best foods and good foods as well, for more variety.

Hope this helps.

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