For Heart Health, Eat More of These

Amy Long Carrera, MS, RD, CNSC, CWCMS
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
02/24/17  8:55 AM PST
heart health

Should you eat a plant-based diet for heart health? Yes. Here’s the why and the how.

Hearts aren’t just for Valentines – February is also American Heart Month. Take care of yours by eating more plant foods. A plant-based diet lowers your risk of cardiovascular disease. Vegetarians enjoy a reduction in risk factors for heart disease, such as:

Here’s the recommendation:

Eat a variety of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes and nuts every day. Easier said than done, right? Most people find veggies the hardest to get in.

Here’s how to sneak in more veggies at every meal:

Breakfast

Amateur: Fold cooked sautéed mushrooms into your omelet.

Pro: Fill a warm tortilla with sautéed mushrooms, onion, tomato and bell pepper (add low fat cheese, scrambled egg whites, turkey sausage or black beans for protein).

heart health

Lunch

Amateur: Slip sliced tomato or bell pepper into your sandwich.

Pro: Munch on a side salad of chopped tomato, cucumber and basil or cilantro drizzled with olive oil.

heart health

Dinner

Amateur: Add pureed zucchini to your pasta sauce.

Pro: Swap our your pasta for spaghetti squash.

heart health

Snacks

Amateur: Dip corn chips in fresh salsa.

Pro: Serve veggie chips with fresh salsa and guacamole.

 

heart health

 

Reference: Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Vegetarian Diets J Acad Nutr Diet. 2016;116:1970-1980. 

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Comments

2 comments

  1. Thank you so much for sharing this informative nutrition topic. It is a big help in knowing and following by heart always matters. Your input in this topic is worth keeping and religiously implementing. More power to your page! May You Have A Continuous Good Health By God’s Grace.

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