Top 10 foods to cut risk of heart disease

1. Olive oil - High in monounsaturated fats, it helps reduce bad LDL while increasing HDL cholesterol. Results from the five countries taking part in the 2006 ‘Eurolive study suggest that virgin olive oil has the best effect.
2. Fresh tuna - This oily fish is a rich source of omega-3 essential fatty acids, which can help lower cholesterol and reduce artery inflammation.
3. Oats - They’re great for soluble fibre, which binds to cholesterol and ferries it out to the body. A study following nearly 10,000 Americans over 19 years found that those with diets richest in soluble fiber had a 15 percent reduced risk of CHD.
4. Green tea - All tea is rich in antioxidant flavonoids and polyphenols, which help reduce your risk of clogged arteries and research suggests that green tea’s effects go even further. A study at the Athens Medical School, Greece, found just one cup of green tea boosted circulation.

5. Garlic - Research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA, found that an active ingredient in garlic, called allicin, relaxes blood vessels, increasing blood flow and boosting heart health. Garlic is also thought to reduce the risk of dangerous blood clots.
6. Soya milk and meat Soya is a rich source of phytochemicals called iso flavones. A recent review of 11 randomised controlled trials found these can have a cholesterol-lowering effect.

7. Purple grapes - Scientist at the Universite Louis Pasteur de Strasbourg found that Concord purple grapes helped keep the coronary arteries relaxed and flexible, lowering blood pressure, probably due to the antioxidant polyphenols they contain.
8. Cocoa - The polyphenols and flavonols in cocoa can promote healthy blood vessels. A study from the Universities of Hyogo and Tokyo in Japan found that levels of a particularly harmful form of LDL were reduced, and HDL increased, in people who drank a daily cup of cocoa.
9. Green cabbage - This vegetable ha high levels of B vitamin folic acid, which lowers your blood level of homocysteine, a compound associated with increased risk of heart disease.
10. Pomegranates - Research suggests pomegranate juice could protect arteries. These fruits are richer in antioxidants than blueberries, cranberries and oranges