When it comes to optimum heart health, your diet is a crucial consideration. What you eat and drink directly impacts your cardiac condition, and it is key to understand which foods affect heart health. Below, learn how to optimize your diet to benefit your heart. 

How to Maintain a Heart-Healthy Diet 

1. Try to Avoid Caffeine

It’s common for people to enjoy a daily cup or two of coffee in the morning. However, if you’re at risk or have a history of strokes or heart attacks, this can be a dangerous habit. The caffeine in coffee can cause a short-term increase in blood pressure, raising your heart rate to dangerous levels. To wean yourself off, try to slowly decrease your intake from two cups to one. Then, slowly try to incorporate decaf substitutions instead.

2. Incorporate Healthy Fats

There’s a common misperception that all fats can cause cardiac stress and heart disease. However, this isn’t true. There are some fats that are actually beneficial to your heart health. For example, omega-3 fatty acids help lower bad cholesterol levels while increasing beneficial cholesterol. Healthy fats also increase your body’s blood flow to the lungs and heart. To incorporate more of these positive fats, increase your intake of seeds, nuts, and seafood.

3. Eat More Fruits & Vegetables

Everyone knows fruits and vegetables are crucial to maintain a healthy diet. But when it comes to cardiac health, they’re especially important. These natural foods are full of minerals and vitamins, such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, fiber, and potassium. A healthy diet includes hearty helpings of leafy greens, apples, bananas, beets, carrots, and berries.

If you need help creating a diet that prioritizes heart health, turn to the professionals at Lexington Family Physicians. These doctors are proud to help residents throughout Davidson County, NC, maintain healthy lifestyles by providing a broad range of services. Visit them online or call (336) 249-3329 to schedule an appointment and discuss your needs today.