Everyone knows that eating healthy is necessary, but what diets are the best for your health? Here are this year’s top heart-friendly foods.
If you want to improve your blood pressure, heart health, and more, then you need to have a healthy diet. However, since there are plenty of diets out there, these are the ones that will boost your heart health.
The following diets have been recommended by a panel of experts and have been whittled down from 19 diets. Experts included physicians and registered dietitians that focused on diets that were effective at reducing heart disease risk. However, keep in mind that your individual circumstances may affect your needs, so consult your doctor for an individualized plan.
TLC Diet
The Therapeutic Lifestyle Change (TLC) program was developed by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute to reduce cholesterol. It emphasizes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and lean meats as a way to lower LDL cholesterol. It also limits the intake of margarine and shortenings, fatty cuts of meat, and whole-milk dairy products.
DASH Diet
The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet was specifically developed to improve blood pressure health and limit sodium intake. It emphasizes the consumption of fruits and vegetables, grains, ad lean meat like poultry and fish to lower blood pressure. Moreover, it limits the intake of sweets, added sugars, and foods that are high in saturated fats and sodium.
Ornish Diet
According to studies, the Ornish diet (created by Dean Ornish, M.D.) may improve cholesterol and blood pressure health. The diet focuses on the consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and soy to provide significant heart health benefits. Furthermore, it limits the consumption of refined carbs, sugar, white flour, white rice, and concentrated sweeteners.
Mediterranean Diet
According to one study, the Mediterranean diet may lower the chance of recurrent heart disease by 50% to 70%. Its emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, fish, and extra virgin olive oil provides various benefits. Moreover, it limits the consumption of foods such as red meat, processed meats, and sweets.
MIND Diet
As a plant-based diet, the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet specifically focuses on cognitive health. As a hybrid between the Mediterranean and DASH diets, it also provides heart benefits and improves cardiac function. It emphasizes green leafy vegetables, berries, whole grains, and fish while limiting red meats, butter and margarine, and sweets and pastries.
This Year’s Top Heart-Friendly Foods
Choosing what diet works best for you will depend on your specific needs and your doctor’s recommendation. However, partaking in any of these diets will start you off on the right path for your health.
In addition to these diets, you can give your heart health an extra boost by taking L-arginine Plus. As a daily heart supplement, it effectively promotes circulation, cholesterol health, energy levels, and more.
Try L-arginine Plus along with one of these diets to give your heart health the support it deserves.