10 Foods That Are Good For Your Heart

Sick Of Being Told What You Can't Eat? These 10 Foods Are Actually Good For Your Heart
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We're always hearing about the foods we should avoid to keep our hearts healthy - red meat and salt we're looking at you - but the good news is you don't have to abstain from all foodie fun. There are plenty of things you can eat that are actually good for your heart.

So what should be on your heart healthy shopping list? Watch the video above to see which 10 foods are nutritionist approved.

You will find them in the following supermarket aisles:

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Fresh fruit and veg

The more the merrier. Different coloured fruits and vegetables contain different nutrients, so try to eat a rainbow of colours for the widest mix. Pile your trolley high in this aisle as a recent study found that a diet which is 70% vegetarian can reduce the risk of dying from heart disease by a fifth, and a separate study found that eating fruit every day could reduce the risk of heart and artery disease by as much as 40%.

Poultry

Eating a lot of red meat can harm the heart but that doesn't mean you have to switch to an entirely vegetarian diet, leaner cuts of chicken and turkey are a more heart-friendly protein source than burgers and sausages.

Fish

Fish, especially oily fish such as salmon, sardines and fresh tuna, contain heart healthy Omega 3 fatty acids.

Snacks

Crisps and salted nuts may not be your heart's friends (eating too much salt leads to more than 1.6 million heart-disease related deaths each year), but you can still satisfy your craving for a savoury crunchy snack with a bag of unsalted peanuts or walnuts.

Canned goods

Beans are another heart friendly protein source, use canned kidney, haricot or even baked beans to bulk out dishes such as shepherd's pie, to reduce the amount of red meat in each serving.

Great Foods For Heart Health
Oranges (01 of10)
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"Most people don't think of them at first, but oranges are great for your heart! The pectin helps neutralize a protein called galectin-3, which causes scarring in heart tissue. Make sure to eat the whole orange so that you get the pulp." --Celebrity Fitness Trainer Joel Harper (credit:Getty )
Chia Seeds(02 of10)
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"These tiny seeds are truly a heart-health powerhouse! They contain both omega-3s and filling fiber (5 grams per tablespoon). Fiber helps to lower cholesterol by acting like a magnet -- latching onto circulating cholesterol and escorting it out of your body. Simply add a spoonful of these nutrition sprinkles to your morning yogurt, mix into oatmeal, or blend into a smoothie to start your day off right."--Health and Nutrition Expert Joy Bauer (credit:Getty )
Popcorn(03 of10)
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“Movie theaters would have you believe that popcorn is just a nosh food, but the truth is, popcorn is a whole grain and is especially rich in polyphenols: plant antioxidants that promote a healthy heart. Another perk: Air-popped popcorn has about 30 calories per cup, so it’s an excellent way to cure a case of 'snackitis.’”--Samantha Cassetty (M.S., R.D.) nutrition director for the Good Housekeeping Research Institute and author of "7 Years Younger: The Anti-Aging Breakthrough Diet" (credit:Getty )
Honey(04 of10)
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"While honey sometimes gets a bad rap in the sugar-busting movement, it’s actually nature's sweetener, and has has heart-health benefits. Studies show it can help lower cholesterol!" --Kirsten Helle, personal chef and nutrition consultant (credit:Getty )
Legumes (05 of10)
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“Legumes are great for your heart, because they are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, soluble fiber and calcium. Kidney, black and chickpeas are my favorite.” --Celebrity Fitness Trainer Joel Harper (credit:Getty )
Pasture Raised Eggs(06 of10)
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“Egg yolks are rich in Vitamin K2, which is like a traffic cop ushering calcium to your bones -- instead of calcifying them and, thus, hardening your arterial walls.” -- Ali Shapiro, Certified Holistic Health Counselor (credit:Getty )
Sardines(07 of10)
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“Salmon often gets all the kudos for it’s heart health benefits, but sardines are the ultimate underdog. They are ridiculously rich in omega-3s, which not only significantly reduce blood levels of artery-clogging triglycerides, but they’re also potent anti-inflammatories.”--Nutrition Expert Joy Bauer (credit:Getty )
Dark Chocolate (08 of10)
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"Good news for chocolate lovers -- dark chocolate contains flavonoids, which have been found to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Of course, consume in moderation." --Dr. Nancy Snyderman (credit:Getty)
Avocados (09 of10)
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“Sure, they’re rich in fat, but the monounsaturated fats in avocados can help lower unhealthy LDL cholesterol levels.”--Samantha Cassetty (M.S., R.D.) nutrition director for the Good Housekeeping Research Institute and author of "7 Years Younger: The Anti-Aging Breakthrough Diet" (credit:Getty )
Coffee(10 of10)
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"A moderate intake of coffee (up to 2 cups a day) has been shown to significantly decrease the risk of heart failure and increase vascular function." --Dr. Samantha Brody, Naturopathic Physician and founder of Portland's Evergreen Health Center (credit:Getty )