Top Foods for Heart Health…and Which to Avoid

Do you know which foods are great to maintain a healthy heart?

Nuts: Eating 1 ounce of tree nuts per day such as almonds, walnuts, cashews, and hazelnuts can reduce the risk of heart disease by up to 20 percent!

Fish: Packed with omega-3s, fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines included in the diet can help reduce plaque build-up in the arteries, lower blood pressure, and reduce the risk of irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). A minimum of 3.5 ounces two times a week will do the trick!

Berries: Due to its antioxidant properties, daily intake of blueberries and strawberries can significantly lower LDL, or the bad cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, and other markers. And, adding berries can be easy, just add to a salad or smoothie, or even in your overnight oats.

And which foods should you simply avoid?

Table salt. Regular table salt raises blood pressure in an unhealthy way.

Processed sugars increase the risk of obesity, increasing the incidence of heart disease.

Trans fats are responsible for raising bad cholesterol and affecting good cholesterol.