Why Your Heart Needs You to Eat More Plants (And How to Start)

Heart healthy vegetables

Learn how fruits and vegetables support heart health, which plant foods matter most, and easy ways to eat more for a heart-healthy diet.

The post Why Your Heart Needs You to Eat More Plants (And How to Start) appeared first on MyFitnessPal Blog.

Heart healthy vegetables

Heart-healthy eating is having a moment and for good reason. The foods you choose today play a big role in how well your heart functions for years to come.(1) The good news? Supporting your heart doesn’t require a complicated or restrictive diet. In fact, many of the most heart-friendly foods are simple, colorful staples like fruits and vegetables.

Despite what flashy headlines suggest, heart health isn’t about a single “superfood.” It’s about consistent eating patterns that put more plants at the center of your plate. When you build that habit, the benefits show up not only long term in better cardiovascular health but also short term with improved nutrient intakes. (1,2)

Ready to add more heart-healthy plants to your plate? Read on for the low-down on what to prioritize and how to start today.

How To Improve Heart Health: 29 Things You Should Do

How to Improve Your Heart Health: 29 Things You Should Do

Why Plants Are Excellent for Your Cardiovascular Health

Fruits and vegetables that support heart health are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.(3) Think fruits, like berries, grapes, and watermelon, vegetables, like leafy greens and cruciferous veggies, and even protein-packed legumes, such as beans and lentils. Together, these foods can help improve symptoms that accompany poor heart health. For example, consuming more fruits and vegetables can help:

Lower blood pressure (2)
Manage blood cholesterol levels (2)
Reduce inflammation (2)
Improve blood glucose control (2)

Benefits of Eating a Variety of Colors of Fruits and Vegetables

Aiming for a variety of colors is an easy way to cover your nutrient bases and keep your heart happy, too. Each color of produce options at the market contains different phytonutrients, such as antioxidants.(4) These are those good guys that keep your body healthy and kick the free radicals (or those foreign invaders that can do damage to your heart over time) to the curb.(4)

Need some inspiration? Use this little cheat sheet to reap the colorful benefits different produce picks provide.