In 2022, cardiologists have shared tons of valuable information about the heart with us. And as we prepare to welcome 2023, we’re rounding up some of the best cooking tips and heart-healthy recipes we want to keep until the new year. This includes recommendations for cardiovascular-supporting foods that should be on your grocery list, the best heart-boosting drinks to sip on first thing in the day, and the best breakfast nutrients for a well-rounded meal that can help reduce cholesterol. Seriously, they’re so good they could make your heart skip a beat.
6 Best Heart-Healthy Cooking Tips and Recipes This Year
1. Compile a heart-healthy grocery list before shopping
Have you ever walked into a grocery store and were immediately overwhelmed by the selection of 20 different types of canned tuna? Even. If this also means you totally erase what you add to your cart and forget to buy the A thing you came for, making a detailed shopping list before you leave can definitely help solve the problem. Fortunately, this year, the The AHA has released a handy grocery list which contains hundreds of foods that meet the requirements of the Heart-Check certification program. This includes foods high in healthy fats, fiber and antioxidants like Hass avocados, Quaker oatmeal and blueberries.
2. Include these two important heart-healthy nutrients at breakfast
By now you probably know the benefits of eating a healthy breakfast and the importance of not skipping this important meal of the day. However, this year, cardiologists also taught us that making sure your breakfast contains fiber and protein…two essential nutrients for heart health– is highly recommended. In fact, fiber can help lower cholesterol and blood pressure, both of which are associated with managing heart disease. Meanwhile, protein can help improve your muscle, brain, and cardiovascular health. Basically, a breakfast filled with ingredients like eggs, fish, spinach, and broccoli can do wonders for your heart.
3. Approach heart-healthy cooking holistically
When it comes to heart health, most cardiologists agree that it’s important to approach it holistically, meaning diet, exercise, sleep, and stress levels can all play a role. an important role. Cardiologist Mona Shah, MDan expert in holistic and integrative medicine, previously shared with Well+Good a few heart-healthy holistic activities to stimulate your cardiovascular system, including walking daily and practicing mindfulness in the morning. On top of that, she also recommended choosing meals that minimize simple carbs, processed foods, and sugars, which can (in some cases) lead to inflammation, which can negatively impact the heart.
4. Drink heart-healthy drinks recommended by cardiologists in the morning
If you can’t function until you’ve had at least the first sip of caffeine early in the day, you’ll be happy to know that coffee hits the spot. drinks recommended by cardiologists have early in the morning. Cardiologists say that one to two cups of java is associated with a reduced risk of heart failure and is considered safe for most adults. In addition to coffee, doctors recommend drinking other hydrating drinks like heart-healthy smoothies, green tea, and plain water.
5. Make these delicious heart-healthy smoothie recipes to fuel your day
A quick smoothie to sip on your commute to work can be one of the easiest ways to ensure you don’t skip one of the most important meals of the day. This year, we discovered several heart-friendly smoothie recipes is full of cardiovascular benefits. Some of our all-time favorites include a four-ingredient banana-turmeric smoothie that has longevity-enhancing properties and a berry-spinach smoothie that provides plenty of antioxidants and gut-friendly fiber. These delicious drinks also help fight inflammation and support your immune system.
6. Try our favorite two-ingredient, heart-healthy breakfast recipe to start your day.
You only need two ingredients to make this delicious, heart-healthy dish. avocado hash brown recipe it’s basically avocado toast 2.0 (it went entirely viral this year – it’s easy to see why). While we can’t endorse every trend we’ve come across on TikTok, this is definitely one we’ve created, tested, and completely approved. And for additional heart-healthy protein benefits, topping your creamy, crunchy avocado hash brown with a runny sunny side up is sure to fill your heart with unprecedented joy.
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