5 common foods that are healthy for the heart

The emergence and tremendous growth of heart diseases and the increased rate of deaths associated with them are evidence of a disturbed modern lifestyle and diet.

Heart diseases are no more a thing for old people. Today people from almost every age group are dealing with heart problems.

There are several risk factors which can cause heart diseases but the good part is certain risks can be changed and heart problems can be prevented.

Risk factors which cannot be changed are associated with age, gender, ethnic background, and family history and several other risk factors can be changed.

A healthy lifestyle is key to staying away from cardiovascular problems and reduces the risks of heart diseases to a large extent.

Here are some foods that can help you put your heart health in check:

Spinach

Vitamin C, beta-carotene, and other nutrients in spinach work together to prevent oxidized cholesterol from building in blood vessel walls. Spinach also has Folate, Vitamin B6, and betaine which lower the serum levels of the amino acid homocysteine. Homocysteine is associated with heart disease, stroke, and age-related cognitive decline.

Avocados

Avocados are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, which is a type of healthy “good fats”. Adding avocado to your daily diet can effectively reduce cholesterol according to many scientific studies.

Citrus fruits

Citrus fruits like oranges, lime, tangerine and grapefruits are excellent to reduce the ischemic load on the heart, thereby preventing blockages and plaque build-up.

Oats

Oats have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant phytonutrients which prevent atherosclerotic build-up and maintain arterial function. Oats also lower blood cholesterol levels so that less cholesterol struck in arteries which leads to an easy flow of blood and reduces the risk of heart disease

Tomatoes

Tomatoes have potassium that helps in lowering blood pressure by taking some of the sodium out of the body and relaxing the walls of the blood vessels.