Heart Care Diet

The heart is the most important organ of the body which pumps blood to all the other organs in order to keep them functioning. The heart has to work tirelessly for every living second of our life. It is no wonder then, that the heart is the organ that undergoes the highest degree of wear and tear in the human body. In Ayurveda, all heart diseases are collectively known as Hridaya Roga. Depending on their doshic cause, the heart diseases could be Vataka Hridaya Roga, Paittika Hridaya Roga and Kaphaja Hridaya Roga. Healthy heart care is an issue which could affect any of us especially as we grow older. The heart is one of the most talked about parts of your body. The heart used metaphorically describes love as a great hurt such as a broken heart. "My heart overflows with my love for you," says a young man to his sweetheart. The emotions that we express with our heart are only one element of the human makeup. The other portion consists of having a healthy heart.

Diet For Heart Care:

1.) Probably the easiest step to start with is cutting certain foods out of your diet. This doesn't mean you can no longer eat potato chips or other tasty snacks, it only means you have to become a little more educated about the TYPES of snacks you eat. Stay away from foods high in fat and cholesterol by checking the nutritional values on the labels. Many food producers today have come out with foods that are significantly lower in cholesterol, salt, and fat and a quick comparison of labels will help you find those. Try to use less butter and margarine and replace your cooking oil with canola or olive oil.

2.) Try to eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Some of the best sources for this are fish like salmon and tuna. Now if you are like me (and my children) you might not care much for fish! I have found a few recipes for lighter dishes like tuna salad, which my family enjoys. Since you probably don't want to eat tuna salad every day, here are a few other foods high in omega-3 fatty acids. Almonds are a great choice and very versatile. Stay away from the salted or sweetened almonds. Try almond slivers tossed into a salad! There are also a few fish oil supplements on the market that can provide these essential omega-3's in tablet form. I take a tablet with my daily vitamin.

3.) Fruits and vegetables should already be a major part of your healthy diet, but they are especially important for a healthy heart! Try to eat a variety of these, as each one can provide different benefits. For example, oranges are high in vitamin C which helps bolster the immune system and is an excellent anti-oxidant. Tomatoes and carrots contain magnesium and potassium which can help lower blood pressure. Fruits and vegetables are probably the easiest to implement into your daily diet since they can be used as a replacement for many unhealthy snack foods! My family enjoys fresh cut fruits like apple slices and equally enjoy carrot sticks and celery sticks for a snack.