
7 of the best foods to help boost your heart health
By Abi Jackson. Published 2020-08-02
BOLD-WellbeingEating your way to a healthier ticker might be a lot easier – and tastier – than you think
We don’t like to sound morbid, but heart disease is among one of the biggest killers in the UK – and it can affect anybody. The good news is, there’s TONS of evidence that a healthy lifestyle can really help cut the risk of heart disease, heart attacks and stroke; and alongside maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular exercise, not smoking and being sensible with your alcohol intake, this means a healthy, balanced diet. And no, that doesn’t mean boring, bland and overpriced ‘health foods’.Don’t believe us? Check out these seven heart-boosting foods – all super-good for your ticker, and super-tasty…
It’s often claimed that the Mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest going – particularly in terms of lowering the risk of heart disease (and there’s plenty of science backing this up). Along with cholesterol-lowering olive oil and lots of oily fish, tomatoes are a key feature of this sun-drenched region’s fare – and they’re packed with antioxidants and vitamins A and C. But it’s their high contents of lycopene – the substance that gives them their bright red colour – that gives them an extra edge in the heart-health boosting stakes. Research has associated lycopene with a range of benefits, including lowering ‘bad’ cholesterol, and reducing inflammation and blood pressure – all things linked with protecting your ticker.
1. Tomatoes
