Top 25 Heart-Healthy Foods. . .

Reduce your risk of heart disease by adding some of these colorful “super foods” to your diet.

When we talk about “super-foods” and protecting the heart and blood vessels there are some technical terms that need explaining.

Antioxidants = substances that protect your cells against the damage of free radicals.

Flavonoids = a type of antioxidant in plants.

Carotenoids = the red, orange and yellow pigments in plant foods.

Free Radicals = molecules that cause cell damage. Free radicals are sometimes created by our bodies as natural by-products. They can also come from smoke, air pollution, and exposure to UV light, radiation, etc.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids = essential fatty acids that the body needs but must be obtained from the diet. Research has shown that omega-3 fatty acids may help to reduce inflammation and reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, and arthritis. Symptoms of deficiency include: fatigue, depression, poor memory, dry skin, heart problems, poor circulation.

Phytosterols = a plant based compound that works to slow or stop the absorption of cholesterol made by the liver and cholesterol from food.

1. Tomatoes

Why tomatoes? Tomatoes are loaded with carotenoids like lutein, lycopene and beta and alpha-carotene. Tomatoes are also an excellent source of vitamin C, folate, potassium, and fiber. Try adding a slice of tomato to a sandwich, have some salsa with tortilla chips, a bowl of tomato soup with a grilled cheese sandwich.

2. Red bell peppers

Why red peppers? Carotenoids, B vitamins, fiber, potassium, folate. Try sliced red peppers with hummus, diced red peppers on a salad or in a wrap.

3. Carrots

Why carrots? Carotenoids and fiber. Try carrots dipped in light ranch dressing, add shredded carrots to your tomato sauce, toss some diced carrots into a stir-fry.

4. Papaya

Why papaya? Antioxidants (vitamins C and E), carotenoids, calcium, potassium, magnesium. Papaya tastes great in a smoothie or diced up with Greek yogurt and a sprinkle of granola.

5. Sweet Potato

Why sweet potatoes? That beautiful bright color can mean only one thing…carotenoids! Beta-carotene, vitamins A, C, E, and also fiber. Baked stuffed sweet potatoes are scrumptious! Baked sweet potato fries are also a much healthier alternative to traditional fries.

6. Salmon

Why salmon? Omega-3 fatty acids. Salmon tastes great grilled with some lemon and garlic powder, on a salad, or as kabobs with fresh veggies.

7. Cantaloupe

Why cantaloupe? B-vitamins, vitamin C, folate, potassium, fiber, carotenoids. Cantaloupe is great diced up and eaten plain, mixed into a smoothie, or served with cottage cheese or yogurt.

8. Acorn Squash

Why acorn squash? Calcium, magnesium, potassium, fiber, folate, carotenoids. Acorn squash tastes great on pizza or baked and stuffed with cranberries and wild rice.

9. Asparagus

Why asparagus? B-vitamins, fiber, folate, carotenoids. Asparagus is delicious grilled, steamed, or in a pasta salad.

10. Broccoli

Why broccoli? Antioxidants, carotenoids, potassium, folate, calcium, and fiber. Broccoli is tasty raw with hummus, in a soup, stir-fry, or in a veggie lasagna!

11. Oranges

Why oranges? Oranges are loaded with vitamin C, carotenoids, flavonoids, potassium, folate, and fiber. Oranges make simple, healthy snacks. They also taste great in salads!

12. Spinach

Why spinach? Spinach rich in B-vitamins, carotenoids, antioxidants, fiber, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Try spinach on a pizza or in a veggie soup.

13. Blueberries

Why blueberries? flavonoids, carotenoids, polyphenols, folate, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, potassium, fiber. Blueberries are great just plain, in muffins, salads, or parfaits.

How can alcohol be good for your heart?

Alcohol is so bad for you in so many ways; it's surprising to learn that it could have a healthy effect on your heart. 

Since we are old enough to understand the word "alcoholic", we learn about the evils of alcohol. There are myriad: addiction, drunken driving, cirrhosis, hypertension, alcohol poisoning, kidney disease and more. The strange thing is that there are countless ways to die as a beverage. The strange thing is that this drink may actually be mortal good for you under certain circumstances.

The wine was considered for decades, bad for your heart. And 'linked to high blood pressure, diabetes obesity, and heart attacks, to begin with, and people with heart disease, especially heart disease associated with high blood pressure, is almost always advised to abstain completely. Recent evidence, however, suggests that people with heart disease can benefit greatly from certain types of drinking alcohol in certain doses.

So where does the power of alcohol in line with the reduction of risks associated with heart disease?

This is a perfect fit, for sure, but it involves finding is certainly there. The results have to do with a condition called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is also known as an obstruction or narrowing of the arteries, and the main cause of heart attacks. Cholesterol is an important factor in atherosclerosis.

Cholesterol is a sticky, fat, and when too much blood, it gets stuck on the walls of arteries. It ends up in a sticky plaque. The particles in the blood, called platelets, in turn, are it locked plate. Platelets cause blood clotting therefore not bleed to death every time it is cut. However, the ability to develop severe when it occurs in the heart. Blood clots in the arteries restrict blood flow, so oxygenated blood cannot reach the heart. That's when a heart attack happens.

In a strange twist to conventional wisdom, it appears that alcohol may reduce the chances of developing atherosclerosis and have a heart attack. Apparently it has something to do with cholesterol.

In this article, we will learn how the alcohol may be beneficial for the heart, exploring the circumstances that may lead to benefit and learn what the experts in the heart have to say about it.

First, some quick background: There are two types of cholesterol affects the heart, LDL and HDL. High levels of LDL ("bad" cholesterol) and low levels of HDL ("good" cholesterol) can lead to plaque buildup in the arteries of the heart. High levels of HDL cholesterol, on the other hand, it may prevent the accumulation of plaque. This is where the wine comes in.

While most medical professionals aren't ready to call happy hour a heart-healthy activity, some studies do suggest that regular, moderate drinking can have positive benefits to human’s body.

An Aspirin a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

Aspirin inhibits platelet (clotting factors high), and is used to treat angina (heart pain) to protect against heart attacks and prevent blood clots during heart surgery.

While there are many different anti-clotting agent, used alone or in combination, aspirin alone has been documented to reduce the risk of death, stroke or heart attack by 25 to 50 percent.

Also it has been shown to reduce nonfatal heart attack by 34 percent.

Low-dose aspirin, or 81-milligram baby aspirin, is usually the first choice for preventing heart attack or angina in people with risk factors for early heart attack.

People with allergies to aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, kidney or liver disease, gastritis, ulcers or bleeding problems should consult their doctor before taking aspirin.

To avoid potential bleeding complications from combining blood thinners, Coumadin or Plavix everyone should consult their doctor before taking aspirin therapy.

Why is aspirin good for your heart?

All the fancy prescription drugs available for heart disease, the idea that one of the best medicine, it will probably be in your house that seems too good to be true. This has been around since 1899 and pay a few cents a pill seems very absurd. But it is true: aspirin helps prevent heart attacks. It may also increase survival and reduce heart attack during a second heart attack.

The heart attack was caused by a condition called atherosclerosis, otherwise known as clogged arteries. Simply stated, the arteries become block when plaque accumulates on the walls of the arteries, caused by too much fat and LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream.

Artery walls are a kind of sticky, and certain fats and cholesterol are too sticky, so that accumulate there, forming a plate. The plate is crusty outside and soft inside, and tends to crack. When broken, the soft interior attracts the particles in the blood, called platelets. Platelets are the blood component that makes your blood clot when you cut yourself. When platelets accumulate on artery walls, it can cause blood clots. Clots cause severe narrowing of the arteries, which can cause a heart attack.

Aspirin prevents heart attacks by keeping these blood clots. The mechanism that makes aspirin for the heart is more or less the same as the one who does good for the pain.

In this article, we will see exactly what the aspirin to prevent heart attacks and discover the effectiveness of what it really is. We will also determine whether to talk to your doctor about starting a regimen of aspirin every day, or whether to avoid such use of aspirin.