coronary heart disease is

coronary heart disease is
heart disease remains the number one killer in the U.S. for men and women. Traditionally, a low-fat diet is a recipe for health, cardiovascular causes many people to shrink away. Not anymore! The good news is there are many things that you can add to your diet, which greatly improve your risk factors for heart disease. Here are 6 power foods you can start adding to your diet to keep your heart healthy!

Nuts Nuts are not just low in calories and fat, they contain high levels of unsaturated fatty acids that are known to lower "bad" LDL cholesterol in the blood and reduce the risk of heart disease. Studies have shown eating about one ounces of nuts each day will reduce the risk of heart disease in the long term by 30% after Frank Hu, MD, PhD, associate professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health.

Soy Soy has also been shown to reduce cholesterol levels. With soy on a weekly basis is a big step towards protecting your heart. If you are not a tofu fan, try soy milk or yogurt, garden burgers, edamme (soy beans), soy sausage or pâté. There are all kinds of possibilities, soy into your diet!

Hot Cocoa-Yes you read correctly! Cocoa contains high levels of flavonoids, a class of phytochemicals known to prevent heart disease. Researchers have found that hot cocoa has more disease fighting antioxidants than tea or red wine and the heat can help drive them into the bloodstream. Hot cocoa is also much lower in saturated fatty acids than other sources, such as chocolate bars.

Beans and lentils, such as beans, peas, black beans, etc. --- are high in both soluble fiber and folic acid to lower cholesterol and decrease homocysteine levels (high homocysteine levels with an increased risk of cardiovascular disorders).

Broccoli-A powerful antioxidant in broccoli and broccoli sprouts May protect the heart from high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. A new study shows the connection, called glucoraphanin, contributed to heart health, fight inflammation, and the natural defenses against oxidative stress.

Grape juice-The flavonoids in grape juice, as in wine, have shown to prevent the oxidation of so-called bad cholesterol (LDLs, or low-density lipoproteins) leads to the formation of plaque in artery walls. Grape juice is also the risk of developing blood clots leading to heart attack.

To begin, these foods today and begin your journey to better heart health.

© Meri Raffetto, 2004

About the Author

Owner of Real Living Nutrition Services, Meri Raffetto is a Registered Dietitian and a recognized expert in the field of nutrition and wellness. She has two online weight management programs, the Mini Diet Makeover and The Ultimate Diet Makeover, which is based on a healthy, non-diet approach to weight loss. For more information or to sign up for our free newsletter to find http://www.reallivingnutrition.com.