Happy Valentines Day!

What better time to talk about how you can use food to help protect your heart and the hearts of the people you love? One of the great things about nutrition is the power of food to make a difference in your health and the health of your family. What we know today is that if heart disease runs in your family, it may also affect you. So…prevention is key…

We now know terrific foods to include in the diet to help prevent high cholesterol or heart disease from becoming a problem and to help in the treatment protocol if you’re dealing with it already. There are many healthy foods but today we’re focusing on five superfoods for the heart -- The more you include per day, the bigger the benefit.

Nuts: contain heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, fiber, and vitamin E. Try almonds, walnuts, and peanuts. Munch on these in place of chips or pretzels

Beans and lentils: try black beans (soup, quesadillas), red beans and rice, kidney beans in chili, white beans, and green lentils for split pea soup. All of these help to bring down LDL cholesterol.

Soy protein: try soy sausage with pancakes, soy milk or cheese; soy nuts, or tofu. There is some controversy now about soy protein’s ability to lower cholesterol but, typically, if you include soy in your diet, you tend to cut saturated fat.
Cherries and blueberries: fight inflammation in the body which may increase the risk of plague buildup and heart attack; use frozen, fresh or dried.

Oats (cereal and oatmeal): work like a sponge to help soak up cholesterol and remove from the body. I make oatmeal or eat oat squares and add almonds or pecans, dried cherries or fresh blueberries. I also like vanilla soy milk and will use it on cereal or in smoothies.

Remember that these heart protective superfoods, eaten regularly, can lower your cholesterol level and help keep your heart healthy. Incorporating Acupuncture and Chinese herbs into your life is yet another way to help prevent or treat any imbalance in the body.

Please call Aiyana Acupuncture and Chinese herbs at 212-894-0767 for your free 15 minute phone consultaion with a licensed Acupuncturist.

Posted by Sharon Wyse L.Ac.