Having a healthy heart isn’t as difficult as most people think. Yes, the temptations are everywhere—electronic gadgets that encourage sedentary lifestyle and convenient foods that promote unhealthy diets. But if you’re determined enough to keep your heart healthy, motivation would make it easy for you to do so. Eating your way to a healthier heart is simple with these heart-healthy food choices.

Blueberries

When it comes to the list of disease-fighting fruits, blueberries comes top. It’s packed with the powerful anthocyanins. These are the antioxidants that give these fruits the dark blue color. But that’s not all. Blueberries are also loaded with fiber and vitamin C. You don’t have to wait for these fruits to be in season as they are available all year long. You can add them to your whole-grain cereals as toppings, snack on dried blueberries, or mix them with fruit salad.

Salmon

Salmon is not only delicious, it’s also a wonderful source of protein and omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids are found in fish oil. They are heart-healthy because they reduce inflammation inside the body. According to the American Heart Association, it’s a must to eat salmon and other omega 3 rich foods at least twice a week. Prepare salmon on the grill, in the oven, or on the stove. You can add these to salads, soups, spreads, and pasta.

Soy Protein

What you’d love about soy protein is that this excellent source of protein is not only inexpensive but also packed with so many nutritional benefits that come in the form of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. If you have a diet that’s rich in soy protein, you can expect that your triglyceride levels will go down. When that happens, you can reduce the risk of heart disease. You can eat a soy protein bar or soy nuts for your snack. You can add tofu, which is made of soy beans, in just about any food that you cook. Moreover, you can drink soy milk which is also ideal for those who are lactose intolerant.

Oatmeal

There’s a good reason your mom always made you eat oatmeal in the morning. This breakfast staple contains a good amount of whole grains as well as vitamins, minerals, and fiber. A diet that’s rich in fiber can minimize the risk of cardiovascular disease. On top that, this lowers cholesterol levels and even help prevent cancer. Make your bowl of oatmeal even healthier with fruits like strawberries or banana. Add oats to your pastries. Instead of using flour, substitute it I pancakes, muffins, cookies, and so on. You may also use oats as a substitute to breadcrumbs when making meatloaf, meatballs, and fried poultry.

Spinach

Popeye couldn’t have beaten Brutus without a can of spinach. This ultra-healthy veggie comes with numerous phytochemicals, vitamins and minerals. It’s especially rich in folate and iron. Because of that, it can effectively protect against heart disease.

Protecting your heart is with these foods would be like protecting your head with a Roman helmet. It shields the heart from any threatening disease.

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