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Tips for a Healthy Heart Diet

Tips for a Healthy Heart Diet

Article Highlights

  • Tips on adapting to a healthy heart diet

  • Tips on what to eat on a daily basis

  • Tips on when to eat what type of food

What we eat plays a large role in preventing heart disease and other heart-related issues. Adapting to a healthy heart diet can often be difficult, whether you're changing from years of unhealthy eating or just wanting to tweak your current lifestyle. However, the health benefits of eating better will make themselves known probably quicker than you might have expected.

In this article, we will share some helpful tips on how you can maintain a healthy heart diet and keep it in as good a condition as is possible:

Food Portion Control

Many people, especially Americans, eat far larger portions than necessary. Whether you're going for seconds at home or getting a large order at a restaurant, you may be taking in too many calories, and it’s easier to do that than it sounds.

If you're cooking at home, start using measuring cups and spoons to try keeping track of how much you consume in order to eat a lower-calorie, nutrient-rich diet. A serving of beef, fish, or chicken is typically the size of a deck of cards, while starchy carbs like pasta and rice are about half a cup, or the size of a hockey puck. Investing in a portion control plate could really help in making you take a second look at the amount of food you are consuming in a single sitting.

Eat More Healthy Fruits and Vegetables

While you may be eating plenty of food, it is important to be sure to eat plenty of nutrient-dense foods for a healthy heart diet. These kinds of foods have fiber, vitamins, and minerals, as well as other important nutrients. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables which may help with controlling weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure.

A good rule of thumb for eating fruits and vegetables is choosing those with a variety of rich colors. Lots of orange, reds, and greens on your plate will not only look appealing, but they'll taste good too and will be incredibly versatile. The possibilities with fruit and vegetables are practically endless and the benefits are second-to-none.

Know the Difference: Good Fats and Bad Fats

It's important to limit how much saturated and trans fats you eat to reduce blood cholesterol and to lower your risk of coronary artery disease. High blood cholesterol can lead to plaque build-up in the arteries, increasing risk of heart attack and stroke.[1]

Begin by switching out the different less-healthy fats for the good ones. This could include cooking with olive or coconut oil instead of butter or lard. Seek out margarine that's free of trans-fats. Make your own salad dressing with olive oil, vinegar, and spices instead of store-bought dressings high in trans fats.

Increase your intake of Omega-3 fatty acids, too. Add them to your healthy heart diet by eating foods like salmon, leafy greens and nuts, or by taking an Omega-3 fatty acid supplement. At MegaRed®, we understand that because the body does not create Omega-3s on its own, we need to keep their levels topped up within the body. MegaRed® Advanced 3x Triple Absorption  provides Omega-3 fatty acid support for your body. * One small krill oil pill per day allows easy absorption and has no fishy aftertaste, unlike regular fish oil capsules. Always consult your doctor to see if you should take krill oil or fish oil supplements to get the Omega-3s you need.

Create Healthy Meal Plans

The most important part of any diet is to understand the foods that you have been eating, both good and that occasional treat. Creating a weekly meal planner can help track the food and the products you have been consuming, helping you take a closer look at what you eat. This can help you to avoid reaching for the processed foods like TV dinners or fast food.

Make big batches of dinners in the slow cooker for your family to eat throughout the week or find quick and easy recipes for breakfast on the go. You will not only create a healthy heart diet plan, but you may also save money on take-out, too.

[1] “High Blood Cholesterol” National Heart, Lung and Blood Institution, Undated https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/high-blood-cholesterol

* THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THESE PRODUCTS ARE NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE OR PREVENT DISEASE.
**SIMOPOULIS 2011/P204/A, B (SIMOPOULIS AP MOL. NEUROBIOL. 2011/44:203-215)

† Supportive, but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA Omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. ♦The MegaRed 3X formulation uses a self microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) technology to support high absorption. Studies show that applying the SMEDDS technology to highly concentrated fish oils dramatically improve the absorption of both EPA and DHA

 

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