Heart Healthy Foods That Really Satisfy!

Photo credit: bigstock.com

Photo credit: bigstock.com

2. Whole Grains

It’s a fact: People who eat whole grains are slimmer and have a lower risk of developing heart disease than those who go for the white bread option. This is because whole grains contain natural phytoestrogens, antioxidants, and phytosterols that protect the body from heart disease. Whole grains are also rich in fiber, which has also been shown in studies to have a 40 percent lower risk of developing heart disease than those who consume a low fiber diet. Fiber lowers cholesterol levels by flushing it out of the body as waste. Lower cholesterol means a healthier heart, so read food labels carefully and look for the words “whole grain” or at least “whole wheat.”

 

3. Beans

Oh yes, we know the tune, but this magical fruit that makes you toot is super good for your heart as well! The Journal of Nutrition published a study which found that eating just a half a cup of cooked pinto beans each day lowered cholesterol levels. Like whole grains, beans are full of fiber, which binds with bile acids and flushes cholesterol out of the body. All kinds of beans contain compounds that protect the heart, including flavonoids and phytosterols.

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