Eat Your Fruits and Veggies for a Healthy Heart

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Friday, April 24th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed

You likely already know that you should eat a diet containing a lot of fruits and vegetables. Any kind of vegetables or fruits that you add will have health benefits. However, when it comes to heart health, some are more beneficial than others.

Two important categories of vegetables are dark, leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables. Instead of iceberg lettuce, choose a variety that has a darker green color. This means that it contains more heart healthy nutrition than lighter varieties. You should also include lots of broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and cabbage in your diet.

When it comes to fruit, citrus is the big winner. Fruits such as lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruits are the best choices for your heart. You’ll get the most benefit if you eat the whole fruit in its fresh form. But fruit juice also contains nutrients that are healthful.

Most people have between one and three servings of fruits and vegetables each day. This is nowhere near the recommended five servings that’s a bare minimum. Even better is to eat seven to nine servings. However, don’t try to go from one serving to nine all at once. Take it slow and add them into your diet gradually. Try these tips to help you effortlessly add some extra servings at mealtime.

If you like eggs for breakfast, add some tomatoes, onions, peppers and mushrooms. Drink some fruit juice with your toast and coffee. Whip up a smoothie using whole fruit to drink on the way to work or school. Or add some fruit to your cereal.

When you make your sandwich for lunch, add lots of vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers, in addition to the typical lettuce leaf. A bowl of vegetable soup counts as a serving. Eat a small salad along with your main course, or make the salad itself the entree. Try topping your salad with some fruit for extra flavor and nutrients.

If you already eat vegetables at dinnertime, double your portions. And if you’re not eating any vegetables at all, you need to change that habit. A tasty way to add more vegetables to your meal are by making hearty soups and stews. Or try having a salad right before the main course.

You don’t have to make major changes to incorporate more fruits and veggies into your diet. Just slip in an extra serving wherever you can. Before you know it, you’ll be eating enough to ensure that your heart wellness is at its peak.

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