A healthy diet is one of the prerequisites for a healthy heart. Poor food choices can have an adverse effect on the heart, putting you at risk of several health concerns such as heart attack, heart failure, stroke, hypertension, etc. A health expert said that you could reduce your risk of heart diseases “by making heart-smart choices at home, at the grocery, and at your favourite restaurant”.
DO: Focus on fruits and vegetables. Eat a recommended minimum of 5 servings per day, but vegetables and fruits of all kinds and colours should take centre stage in a heart-healthy diet. This is because “they are rich in fibre, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that promote a healthy heart and body. Additionally, they are filling and low in calories, promoting weight management.
DON’T: Do not over-indulging in juice and processed fruit snacks. The fruit filling in a breakfast pastry is mostly sugar and not a real serving of fruit. And while small amounts of 100 per cent fruit juice can fit into a healthy diet, they’re also concentrated sources of sugar (naturally occurring), and calories are moderately high when compared to whole fruits, which also boast heart-healthy fibre while juice does not.
