Eat Your Heart Out! 40 Heart Smart Foods

Have you ever been mistaken for someone else? On a recent visit to my doctor’s office I was mistaken for a pharmaceutical sales rep. The receptionist hurriedly said to me “The doctors are not seeing any sales reps today.” When I didn’t move she repeated it again. I was sure she was talking to someone else. When our eyes met I said, I’m a patient and I have an appointment. Her mouth dropped open. She apologized and said “I thought you were our rep. you don’t look like a cardiac patient.”   

That’s the problem with heart disease. Many people think of heart disease as a man’s problem or something that affects only older women. While it is true that older women die faster from heart disease all women should be concerned about the silent killer. American women of all ages are 4 to 6 times more likely to die of heart disease than of breast cancer. It is the number one killer of women.

In my case, I was a previously healthy woman who never had heart disease. During pregnancy I developed Peripartum Cardiomyopathy which essentially is congestive heart failure that causes a weakened heart to not pump sufficiently for the needs of the body.

I went from healthy to sick in a heart beat. This condition was not caused by my eating, lifestyle or exercise habits. In fact, doctors don’t know why some women get it and others do not. Although my diet didn’t cause it to happen it is now critical that I adhere to a heart health diet.

I found out that a heart healthy diet can be delicious and has numerous benefits that can keep not only our heart healthy but can ward off cancer and keep us in shape. A heart healthy diet is one that limits saturated fat, trans fat and dietary cholesterol.

I devoted myself to learning more about a heart healthy diet speaking to health care professionals and doctors such as Dr. Lindsey Duncan a man after my own heart and yours. Dr. Lindsey is the founder of Genesis Today nutritional products.  He has appeared on CNBC his line of superfood products has been featured in People Magazine, 60 Minutes, Good Morning America and more. I’ve also teamed up with the American Heart Association.

I have incorporated many of the following items into my diet and with good success. I am feeling and looking better. Let’s hope the next time I get mistaken for someone it’s Halle Berry.

Here’s a list of foods you can eat to your heart’s content:

Resveratrol

• You can drink Resveratrol Juice from Genesis Today, toast to your health with a glass of Red Wine and even indulge in some Dark Chocolate but look for a high cocoa content.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

• Fatty fish is rich in omega-3s like Salmon, Lake Trout, Herring and Albacore Tuna.If fish is not your thing you can find Omega-3s in Canola Oil, Oatmeal and Ground Flaxseed  which can be found in cereal, muffins, yogurt parfaits and even some cookies.

Whole Grains and Fiber

• Go nuts with heart favorable mono and polyunsaturated fats found in Almonds and Walnuts. You can also enjoy Whole-Wheat Breads, Wheat Cereals, Wheat Bran, Rye, Barley, Cabbage, Beets, Brussels Sprouts, Turnips, Cauliflower and Apple skin. 

B Complex Vitamins

• You can get your B complex vitamins in a variety of foods including Black or Kidney Beans, Brown Rice, Red Bell Peppers, Soy Milk, Asparagus, Spinach, Acorn Squash and Cantaloupe.

Beta-carotene

• Colorful fruits and vegetables like Blueberries, Carrots, Broccoli, Sweet Potato, Oranges, Tomato, and Papaya are a good source of beta-carotene.

Antioxidant, Vitamins A&C

• Garlic has been known to ward off all kinds of things including heart disease with its rich antioxidant content in the form of allicin, plus vitamins A and C.