In Honor of National Heart Disease Awareness Month - Heart Healthy Foods.

February is Heart Disease Awareness Month.  Heart Disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women.  Adding exercise to your daily routine as well as healthy eating can do wonders for reducing your risk of heart disease, not to mention reducing your waistline.

The key to reducing your risk is clean eating (eating whole, natural foods) along with eating heart healthy foods such as fish, whole grains, fruits & vegetables, an occasional glass of red wine or piece of dark chocolate (70% cocoa or more.)  Making incremental swaps in your diet could make big differences for you.  Here are a few heart healthy foods that contain Omega-3s, Carotenoids, B-complex vitamins, C&E vitamins, phytoestrogen and phytosterols (all known to protect the heart, lower blood pressure & cholesterol):

Fish high in Omega-3s:  salmon, tuna, mackerel & trout.

Healthy nuts:  almonds or walnuts.

Hummus & Veggies:  packed with vitamins & nutrients.

Spinach:  great as a substitute for lettuce.

Berries:  Such as blueberries, strawberries & raspberries are full of phytonutrients & fiber.

Red, Yellow & Orange Veggies:  Carrots, sweet potatoes, red peppers are full of vitamins & fiber.

Flax seed:  Contains omega-3 fatty acids.  Throw them in your daily shake!

These are just a few of the foods you can work into your diet to reduce your risk of heart disease.

Cheers to healthy eating!