What better time than Valentine’s to show your heart a little love? Our heart is the driving force in our cardiovascular system and is responsible for pumping blood around our body. This ensures that we are able to absorb nutrients and oxygen as well as get rid of waste.
Eating with heart health in mind does not need to be complicated. In fact, it is quite simple when you think about it. Eat more real food grown in gardens, on trees and raised in pastures and less factory food.
Eat More of This:
- Complex carbohydrates: vegetables – especially those leafy greens, fruit, and whole grains such as oats & brown rice
- Protein: beans and legumes, quinoa, chia seeds, eggs and lean meat such as chicken or turkey. Keep red meat to a minimum and try to find grass fed options.
- Healthy fat: avocado, olive oil, fatty fish like salmon, lake trout, sardines, mackerel, raw nuts & seeds
- Fibre: leafy greens, apples, pears, raw nuts & seeds, prunes
And Less of That:
- Unhealthy fats: hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils such as those in fast food, crackers and other packaged snacks
- Sugar: leads to weight gain and reduced immune function with white sugar and glucose-fructose the worst offenders. Hit the reset button on sweetness in general. Use honey or maple syrup sparingly. Avoid the use of artificial sweeteners – lets minimize the chemicals we are eating.
- Refined flours as found in white bread, crackers, cakes, pies and pastries. Stick to whole grains as much as possible.
Show yourself a little love and take care of your heart. Your family with thank you!
Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash
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