Nothing is more important than taking good care of your heart. Try these five foods to give your heart some extra nutritional strength. Heart Healthy Foods to Work into Your Diet Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic. A healthy diet can be good for your heart as well as your waistline. Cleveland Clinic is a non profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non Cleveland Clinic products or services. PolicyYou can definitely reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease by eating certain foods every day, says Julie Zumpano, RD, LD, a dietitian in the Preventive Cardiology and Nutrition Program at Cleveland Clinic. There is a great variety of fruits and vegetables that are good for your heart. Try to eat foods that are in their natural form, as they come from the ground, Ms. Zumpano says, recommending what she calls the whole foods diet. That diet includes, of course, heart healthy foods such as fish, whole grains, vegetables and fruits, but dont be afraid to treat yourself occasionally with a glass of red wine or a piece of dark chocolate, Ms. Zumpano says. She suggests using this list as a guide to create meals and snacks with a healthy focus. Just a few simple swaps could make a big difference for your cardiovascular health. Eat fish high in omega 3s, such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring and trout. A handful of healthynuts such as almonds or walnuts will satisfy your hunger and help your heart. Berries are chock full of heart healthy phytonutrients and soluble fiber. Try blueberries, strawberries, cranberries or raspberries in cereal or yogurt. Flaxseeds contain omega 3 fatty acids, fiber and phytoestogens to boost heart health. Take them in ground or milled form to reap the greatest benefit. Oatmeal the comfort food nutrient powerhouse. Dark beans,such as kidney or black beans, are high in fiber, B vitamins, minerals and other good stuff. Veggie chili, anyoneA 4 ounce glass of red wine up to two for men and one for women per day can help improve good HDL cholesterol levels. Try marinated tofu in a stir fry with fresh veggies for a heart healthy lunch or dinner. Cheap Diet Plans on this page. Heart Healthy Foods' title='Heart Healthy Foods' />Red, yellow and orange veggies such as carrots, sweet potatoes, red peppers and acorn squash are packed with carotenoids, fiber and vitamins to help your heart. Popeye was right spinach packs a punch Use it in sandwiches and salads instead of lettuce. Fruits such as oranges, cantaloupes and papaya are rich in beta carotene, potassium, magnesium and fiber. Tender, sweet asparagus is filled with mighty nutrients such as beta carotene, folate and fiber, and only provide 2. Tomatoes even sun dried varieties in winter months provide lycopene, vitamin C and alpha and beta carotene. A hearthealthy diet doesnt have to mean nibbling on bland fare. With strategic substitutions, you can still enjoy a helping of macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes. Preventing heart attacks isnt just about avoiding unhealthy foodyou should also eat foods rich in nutrients, fiber, and healthy fats. Here are 18. Eating for a healthy heart means filling your plate with hearthealthy foods like fruits and vegetables, paying attention to fiber, eating fish a couple times a week. Dark chocolate is good for your heart health, but just be sure that its at least 7. Crisp, fresh broccoli florets dipped in hummus are a terrific heart healthy snack with a whopping list of nutrients, including vitamins C and E, potassium, folate, calcium and fiber. Top 2. 0 Foods For Heart Health. AvocadoInstead of using a whopping dollop of mayonnaise on your sandwich, try using thin slices of avocado, suggests Megan Madden, a registered dietitian in New York, NY. A 1. 99. 6 study done by researchers in Mexico found that people who ate avocado every day for one week experienced an average 1. Whats more, their levels of LDL bad cholesterol decreased and HDL good cholesterol increased. Flickrlt a lt a hrefhttp www. N0. 38. 19. 27. 06. Heart-Heathy-Foods-You-Should-Include-In-Your-Diet.jpg' alt='Heart Healthy Foods' title='Heart Healthy Foods' />Jonesemyrlt a.