Eating for Heart Health
Aside from the more general questions like, “What should I eat?” and “How can I lose weight?” most of the questions I get from customers revolve around heart health in some form or fashion. It seems like everyone either has or knows someone who needs to be on a heart-healthy diet. Quite frankly, we all should be incorporating foods into our diets that boost heart health.
Let’s take a stroll down Rouses aisles to find food you can add to your daily routine and give your heart some much-needed TLC.
Avocados
I tell almost every customer I meet with to eat more fruits and vegetables. Avocados are technically fruits — they’re berries — and full of heart healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Monounsaturated fats help lower cholesterol, while polyunsaturated fats can protect against heart disease. Use avocados for, guacamole, in place of butter, or even as “mayo” for a sandwich. Fat is higher in calories so do watch your portion sizes.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is also a good source of heart healthy fats. Swapping it out for less heart healthy fats like butter can make a huge difference. I prefer olive oil sold in a dark bottle, like our Rouses brand, or in tin like the Partanna brand because exposure to light, heat, or oxygen can cause rancidity. Canola oil is also a option. It is high in unsaturated fat and does better than olive oil when you’re cooking at high temperatures.
Dave’s Killer Bread
Fiber is essential to heart health. It helps lower cholesterol and keeps things moving. Bread can be a good source of fiber (no matter what loaf you choose, always make sure the first ingredient is whole wheat or whole grain.) What I love about Dave’s Killer Bread is that you can tell it has a lot of fiber just by picking up the loaf – it’s noticeably heavier and has tons of seeds and extra fiber mixed in.
Seafood
Seafood is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which can protect the heart from abnormal rhythm, lower blood pressure, improve vascular function, lower triglycerides, and reduce inflammation when ingested in higher doses. Fish like salmon, tuna, sardines, mussels, and rainbow trout are especially high in omega-3 fats.
LaCroix Sparkling Water
LaCroix Sparkling Water One way to help our hearts is to cut down on added sugar intake. If you like sodas (I do), try a LaCroix. The sparkling drink has tons of flavor, without the added sugars and syrups. If my soda-loving dad can drink these and like them, I have no doubt anyone can. You just have to find your flavor.
