Last Updated on November 7, 2022 by


Heart-healthy foods are any foods that can help lower your risk of heart disease. Some heart-healthy foods include vegetables and fruits, whole grains, legumes (beans), fish and nuts.
Food for Heart Failure
Heart Healthy Foods for Seniors
Heart Healthy Lifestyle
Heart Healthy Snacks
To get the most benefit from your diet, make sure you eat a variety of foods from all five food groups. The American Heart Association recommends eating nine to 13 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. In addition to being good sources of vitamins and minerals, fruits and vegetables provide fiber, which helps keep you feeling full longer.
You should also eat whole grains daily in place of refined grains like white breads, pastas and rice. Whole grains provide fiber as well as vitamins and minerals. And be sure to include plenty of low-fat dairy products such as milk or yogurt in your diet every day because these foods are good sources of calcium and protein — both important nutrients for healthy bones.
A healthy heart is the foundation for a healthy lifestyle. Make sure to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, which are good sources of vitamins, minerals and fiber. Here’s a list of some fruits that promote heart health:
Apples
Blueberries
Cherries
Oranges and grapefruit
Pomegranates
Raspberries
The best heart-healthy diet is one that is low in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol. It can be high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and low-fat dairy products.
The American Heart Association recommends the following fruit choices for heart health:
Apples
Blueberries
Raspberries
Strawberries
Grapes (red or green)
Heart health is an important part of overall health. Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death in the United States, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Heart disease refers to a group of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. Stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, depriving brain cells of oxygen and nutrients.
Heart failure occurs when your heart cannot pump enough blood through your body. This can be caused by coronary artery disease, which narrows the arteries or blocks them; high blood pressure; or other disorders such as cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias or valvular heart disease.
To help prevent heart failure, you need a healthy diet that includes fruits and vegetables. These foods are available year-round and provide essential vitamins and minerals your body needs to function properly. Here are some healthy fruits you should incorporate into your diet if you’re trying to lower your risk of developing heart disease:
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Healthy eating can help prevent heart disease and other cardiometabolic disorders.
Fruits and vegetables are key components of a healthy diet. They’re rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants that help lower cholesterol levels and reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.
Below are some of the most heart-healthy fruits:
Apples
Berries
Cherries
Pomegranates
Oranges
The heart is the most important muscle in your body. It pumps blood throughout the circulatory system, delivering oxygen and nutrients to cells and removing waste products from the body.
Heart failure occurs when the heart isn’t able to pump enough blood to meet the needs of the body. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including coronary artery disease or congenital heart disease.
It’s important to eat a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables for heart health.
Heart healthy foods for seniors
While it’s important for everyone to eat a healthy diet, seniors are especially susceptible to heart disease because they tend to have more risk factors than younger people. The good news is that by eating plenty of nutritious foods, seniors can reduce their risk of developing cardiovascular problems.
Heart healthy snacks
Snacking on fruits and vegetables throughout the day can help you reach your daily fruit and vegetable intake goals while also supplying essential vitamins, minerals and fiber in one convenient package. Fruits offer valuable antioxidants, which may help prevent cell damage caused by free radicals that can lead to cancer and other diseases, according to Harvard Medical School (HMS). Vegetables are rich in vitamins A, C and K; folate; potassium; magnesium; iron; calcium; folic acid; zinc
There are many reasons why a person may be unable to eat. Some people have difficulty chewing or swallowing, while others may have allergies or sensitivities to certain foods.
The good news is that there are many healthy options available for people who need specialized diets. These are some of the most important nutrients you can eat to help keep your heart healthy:
Omega-3 fatty acids: Omega-3s reduce inflammation and lower triglycerides, which can help lower your risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. They also keep blood pressure in check and help prevent irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). Fish and seafood are the best sources of omega-3s; other sources include nuts, seeds, flaxseed oil and walnuts.
Fiber: Fiber helps control blood sugar levels by slowing down how quickly food moves through your digestive tract. This means less insulin is needed after meals so blood sugar levels remain stable throughout the day. Fiber also helps keep cholesterol levels low and promotes regular bowel movements that prevent constipation. Whole grains are a good source of fiber; however, whole fruits, vegetables and beans are even better options because they contain additional nutrients along with dietary fiber that help protect against chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer.
Fatty acids: Omega-
Foods that are good for your heart and blood vessels include:
Oatmeal, whole-grain breads and other whole grains. These slow-burning carbohydrates are rich in fiber. They help stabilize blood sugar levels and reduce cholesterol levels by lowering LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and triglycerides while raising HDL (“good”) cholesterol.
Fish. Fish is an excellent source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering blood pressure, improving cholesterol profiles and reducing inflammation. A variety of types of fish can be eaten regularly; the most nutritious include salmon, tuna, mackerel and herring.
Vegetables such as broccoli, spinach and carrots contain antioxidants that help prevent damage to cells throughout the body. These vegetables also contain potassium, which helps lower blood pressure; magnesium, which helps prevent irregular heartbeat; folate or folic acid (vitamin B9), which reduces levels of homocysteine — a chemical associated with plaque buildup in arteries — in people with high homocysteine; and vitamins C and K, both associated with reduced risk of stroke.
Whole fruits such as apples, pears and berries provide fiber as well as antioxidants such as vitamin C that protect against cell damage caused by free
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. By eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly, you can reduce your risk for heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases. Including the following fruits in your diet can help reduce your risk of heart disease:
Berries. Berries contain antioxidants which may help reduce inflammation, prevent blood clots and lower bad cholesterol levels. Blueberries in particular have been shown to improve blood vessel function, lower blood pressure and increase good cholesterol (HDL).
Apples. Apples are rich in fiber, antioxidants and flavonoids which can help protect against heart disease by lowering bad cholesterol levels while increasing good cholesterol (HDL).
Oranges. Oranges contain vitamin C that helps protect against free radical damage which can lead to atherosclerosis (clogging of arteries) and heart disease. Oranges also contain folate which helps prevent blood clots from forming within arteries which can lead to heart attacks or strokes.
Pears. Pears are high in fiber and vitamin C which help lower bad cholesterol (LDL) while increasing good cholesterol (HDL). Pears also contain pectin fiber which may help reduce inflammation within your arteries reducing your risk for heart attack or stroke.
The foods you eat can have a major impact on your heart health, especially if you have heart disease or are at risk for it. Heart-healthy diets are rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats, while limiting saturated fats and added sugars.
Eating a variety of fruits is important because they’re good sources of vitamins and minerals, fiber and other nutrients. They also can help you feel full so you eat less overall.
You may be thinking that all fruits are good for your heart — but there are some that are better than others when it comes to protecting your ticker. Here’s what the experts say:

