Top Foods to Boost Your Heart Health

If you're trying to watch what you eat while also being heart conscious, you're not alone. More than 26.5 million adults have heart disease. You may think that if your family history doesn't have a long line of heart issues, you're in the clear.

You are wrong.

While your genetics do play a role in your health, a huge factor is your lifestyle.

According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death of both men and women. Every year 715,000 Americans have a heart attack.

Eating a heart-healthy diet can decrease those risks significantly. 

Your doctor will probably recommend to eat a diet that is low in salt, fat, saturated fats and to eat more fruits and veggies. However, that doesn't mean that your food has to be bland and boring.

One heart-healthy food that can be eaten to help lower your LDL (bad cholesterol) is oatmeal. Oatmeal is also full of omega-3 fatty acids, foliate, potassium and fiber.

What are some other foods that you can be eating?

Nationally known nutritionist and health journalist, Lisa Drayer, MA, RD, will discuss certain foods to help your heart stay healthy and strong.

Drayer's list of top heart-healthy foods includes:

• Oatmeal
• Salmon
• Berries
• Nuts
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Beans
• Fruits and veggies
• Broccoli
• Grains
• Milk
• Oranges
• Kale
• Garlic