Eat these 5 heart-healthy foods

Eat these 5 heart-healthy foods to keep your ticker happy well into old age. You might not think you have to worry about heart health until you’re older, but looking after your heart now can actually help to safeguard against cardiovascular conditions in years to come. According to the NHS, women are three times more likely to die of heart disease than breast cancer, but taking simple steps – such as getting your cholesterol level checked regularly, managing stress levels and doing at least two hours and 30 minutes of exercise per week – can massively help to cut the risk of heart-related health problems.

Six in every 10 women in the UK are overweight, and storing excess pounds puts a big strain on your heart. As a result, you’re more likely to have high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, so show your heart some love with these top five heart-helping foods.

1 Tomatoes

This salad staple could help to cut heart disease by a quarter, according to a study by scientists at Tufts University in Boston. The findings showed that the key antioxidant lycopene, which is found in tomatoes, could have heart-protective benefits – helping to lower the risk of heart attack when eaten over a period of years. Cooking tomatoes releases the health benefits, so try to incorporate tomatoes into stews, sauces and soups on a regular basis.

2 Beetroot

This purple powerhouse is high in the antioxidant betaine, which is responsible for beetroot’s vibrant hue. Betaine is a source of a special gas called nitric oxide that allows blood to flow better through the arteries and helps to lower blood pressure. Add beetroot to salads to get the benefits and drink a glass of fresh beetroot juice daily. Research shows that drinking 250ml of beetroot juice each day could help to safeguard heart health.

3 Spinach

Chomp on dark green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, as much as possible. These are rich in magnesium, a mineral that not only helps to keep stress levels in check, but also works as a blood pressure aid by relaxing your arteries so blood flows more freely.

4 Salmon

Oily fish like salmon is a wonder food on so many different levels. Salmon provides omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, which help to maintain blood pressure and reduce triglycerides – a type of fat in the blood that’s been linked to heart issues when levels are elevated. Try to eat oily fish twice a week to maximise its health benefits.

5 Strawberries

This delicious red fruit is high in vitamin C, a super-nutrient that helps arteries to maintain their elasticity, which helps to keep blood pressure levels in the normal range. Vitamin C is involved in the production of collagen, an essential component that keeps arteries supple, and a Danish study showed that people who ate lots of fruit and veg had significantly reduced rates of heart disease.