Eating to benefit your heart isn’t about deprivation and doesn’t need to be difficult…it can be absolutely delicious! Registered Dietitian Annessa Chumbley says she likes to think of it as what you can ADD to your diet, rather than what you need to AVOID.  

Here is her list of HEART HELPERS! 

Apples: benefits of cholesterol-lowering soluble fiber; Enjoy slices on a almond-flour cracker from Simple Mills, spread with Brie Cheese straight from France and topped with apple slices. Pick all three up at Whole Foods!

Strawberries: a combination of vitamins & phytonutrients your heart needs;  Just 8 a day may improve heart health, manage diabetes, and reduce the risk of some cancers. Ellagic acid in them is their magic! It’s the antioxidant that’s efficiently absorbed 1 hour after eating, and goes to work fighting free radicals.

Cherry Juice and/or Beet Juice:  tart cherry juice (must be tart cherries…differ from sweet cherries in that you can get these year-round as dried, frozen, or juice). One 8 ounce glass of juice packs almost 100 cherries. Studies are showing us that tart cherry juice helps lower blood pressure and LDL or “bad” cholesterol.

Pecans: good source of protein and fiber and good fats. They are certified by the AHA as a heart-healthy food, and more than two decades of studies have shown that pecans help you maintain a healthy heart.

Salmon: possessor of DHA (a very specific kind of Omega-3) used in your brain, heart, and eyes. 

Facebook page: Annessa Chumbley, RD