How do heart-healthy foods help?
Components of heart-healthy foods have many benefits, including fighting diseases and lowering cholesterol. When you’re selecting heart-healthy foods, look for the following elements to determine the products advantages. • Phytoestrogens: found in plants, these may help lower bad cholesterol and blood pressure. Flaxseed, a phytoestrogen, may lower the risk of blood clots, stroke and cardiac arrhythmias. • Phytosterols: found in plants and reduce cholesterol. They are found in nuts and seeds. • Polyphenols: protect blood vessels, reduce LDL or “bad” cholesterol and lower blood pressure. • Niacin: increases HDL or “good” cholesterol. • Carotenoids: antioxidants found in fruits and veggies. Carotenoids include alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein and lycopene. • Vitamin C and E: antioxidants which protect cells from damage done by free radicals. • Flavonoid polyphenols: include flavonones, flavonois, catechins, isoflavones, reseratrol and anthocyanis. There are also non-flavonoid polyphe
