Nothing Says Love like Superfoods for the Heart

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We’re almost two weeks into the New Year. Diet and nutrition are topics on many of your minds. Instead of talking about what NOT to eat, let’s focus on foods that are good for you and your body.

February is heart month. If you want to get a head start and protect your heart and the hearts of those you love, take note. Today I have a list of heart-protective superfoods. You’ll want to add these foods to your diet if they’re not a part of it already.

You already know the standard drill for heart healthy foods such as oatmeal, salmon, and peanuts but there are many others.

1. Trout: if you’ve been eating salmon frequently and want to branch out, give trout a try. Omega-3 fats are found in trout at very close to the same level as in salmon. Try trout in fish tacos or grill it and top your salad with it instead of salmon. You can find trout in the frozen section and the fresh seafood section of your grocery.

2. Avocado: while you’re grilling trout for your fish tacos, slice an avocado for a topping. Hey wait a minute. You’re thinking “avocados are high in fat, I can’t eat that…I’m on a diet”. Yes you can in reasonable amounts. Why? Because avocados contain the same heart healthy fat, called monounsaturated fat, that you find in olive oil. Plus you benefit from a nice serving of fiber, about 5 grams for half of an avocado. I love avocado and use it on quesadillas. I either spread guacamole on the tortillas or add slices on top of the black beans and salsa.

3. Almonds: nuts are consistently in the news but mainly you hear about peanuts and walnuts. Listen to almonds’ credentials. They contain arginine, an amino acid that your body uses to produce nitric oxide, a chemical necessary to keep your blood vessels flexible. How about magnesium and vitamin E? When you eat almonds, you get nice doses of both of these.

When I make oatmeal or cereal, I toss the sliced almonds in the oatmeal before I cook it or on top of dry cereal along with dried cherries or raisins. I just recently bought a jar of almond butter which I LOVE. Have you tried it? It’s more expensive than peanut butter and a little more difficult to find but worth the hunt. Spread a little almond butter on a slice of your favorite toasted whole grain bread, add a couple of slices of apple and drizzle with a touch of honey. This makes a great breakfast.

You can find the full article on SuperFoods for the Heart in the February issue of Family Circle magazine.