3/27/2010

Heart-Smart Eating

My dad has a hypertension and we keep on telling him to keep his heart healthy. Every now and then we are giving him different tips such as eating a healthier diet and exercising regularly. Upon reading my favorite healthy magazine, I came across with an interesting topic about which foods to avoid and which are friends of the heart. And I like to share this with you:

Food friends
  • Fruit and vegetables – can help lower blood pressure and reduce risk of heart disease and stroke.
  • Tomatoes – contain lycopene, which may help maintain a healthy heart.
  • Garlic – contains allicin, which helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels.
  • Home-made fruit smoothies – using skimmed or semi-skimmed milk. The vitamins, antioxidants and fibre in fruit can help protect your heart.
Diet Don’ts
  • Don’t consume too  much salt as it can increase the risk of high blood pressure
  • Avoid foods high in saturated fats, which raise blood cholesterol.
  • Keep an eye on your alcohol intake, too.

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