Eating a heart healthy diet is often the goal of patients who have discovered they have coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, or another of the heart conditions.

Unfortunately, although a heart healthy diet will help to delay the inevitable, if they had begun earlier they may be eliminated the condition in the first place.

Sometimes combining weight loss and a healthy heart diet will accomplish several goals at once. The patient will gain more energy, increase the ability to remain active, decrease the risk of high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and stroke and decrease the risk of stress related illnesses.

The American Heart Association believes that weight loss and a healthy heart diet is so important that they have guidelines for selecting a weight loss and weight maintenance programs. Continue reading →

There are many different foods that protect against heart disease and others that have the opposite effect. Foods that protect against heart disease range from nuts and seeds to vegetables, specific vitamins or organically grown produce.

Foods that have the opposite effect have been well documented. Foods that contain trans fatty acids, highly processed or high amounts of white flour all contribute to poor nutritional habits and increased risks of diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.

Although scientists have pinpointed several different foods that protect against heart disease the real protection comes from some of the different natural chemicals in the foods.

For instance, flavonoids are a substance that scientists believe protect against heart disease. They are found in tomatoes, red wine, and dark chocolate. Continue reading →