Five Heart-friendly Diet Tips
Posted by Paul on 02 February 2010 in Nutrition and Diet | 0 Comments
When people follow a diet, they somehow expect to feel weaker because the body no longer takes the same amount and type of food that it used to. But that should not happen with effective at home weight loss plans. When you decide to stay on a healthy diet, the body is given only foods that will make it leaner and stronger. In fact, by including healthy foods in the diet, each of the organs, including the heart, is expected to function even better.
Weight loss foods that also make your heart healthier
1. Fresh fruits and vegetables
Fresh fruits and vegetables are better than eating processed ones. Processing can strip off nutrients that are also important to your diet.
Some fruits and vegetables that you should include in your diet are apples, legumes, onions, and walnuts.
2. Healthy sources of protein
Proteins are needed for muscle buildup and repair. Meat and fish products are still the best sources of protein. However, when eating meat, consume only the lean portions. This means opting for skinless chicken breast cuts and low-fat dairy products.
3. Oats
A cup of cooked oatmeal can reduce the amount of bad cholesterol in the body. Oats contain the soluble fiber beta glucan, which helps decrease the levels of cholesterol.
4. Sources of good cholesterol
HDLs (high-density lipoproteins) are cholesterols that are good for the body. These are found in olive oil and canola oil. These oils also contain antioxidants that help fight LDLs (low-density lipoproteins) or bad cholesterols.
Foods that you should take away from your diet:
Stay away or reduce your intake of saturated fats and trans fats. These are found in fatty meat portions and other animal products. It is always best to choose fat free varieties. Also, choose steamed foods over fried or processed baked ones.
Other fitness tips for a healthy heart:
1. Quit smoking
Smoking increases your risk of having cardiovascular diseases. As part of your move toward losing weight, take steps towards eliminating cigarettes from your life.
2. Have good oral health.
Unknown to many, good dental hygiene also decreases the risk of heart diseases. Many studies show a relationship between gum disease and heart attack. Brushing and flossing your teeth and routine dental checkups can do more good to your body than what is generally known.
Losing weight should not mean neglecting the health of internal organs. Moreover, if weight loss is done the right way, it should make the heart and internal organs feel healthier and younger.