When considering heart-healthy foods such as salmon, lean meats, and vegetables, keep in mind that the beverages you drink can play an important role in your heart’s health too.
Healthy drinks are essential for keeping your cardiovascular system strong and in top shape. Aside from water, there are beverages that can help make your heart happy.
Adding drinks that are good for your heart to your everyday life can be beneficial to preventing cardiovascular diseases. In general, staying hydrated may reduce the risk of developing heart failure and other severe heart problems in the future.
5 Beverages That are Good for Your Heart
- Coffee. Drinking plain black coffee every day may lower the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). A meta-analysis study shows that habitual coffee drinking was linked to a lower risk of CHD in women. However, you risk negating the benefits if you add sugar and cream to it.
- Tea. Black and green tea, are known to lower the risk of cholesterol and cardiovascular diseases if consumed without sugar. A 2018 study shows that consuming tea can slow the natural decrease of “good” cholesterol or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) as a person ages. Because green tea is a steamed tea leaf, it has a higher concentration that helps prevent plaque buildup in the arteries.
- Tomato juice. Tomato juice is an incredible source of lycopene and potassium. Lycopene is also an antioxidant that helps lower “bad” cholesterol and keeps the blood flowing. Potassium, on the other hand, can help remove extra sodium from the body, which lowers blood pressure.
- Green juice. Green juice is packed with so many nutrients such as potassium, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory factors to benefit your overall health and heart. Drinking kale daily can positively influence blood markers and even reduce the risk of coronary artery disease.
- Milk. People who drink at least two glasses of milk a day may lower the risk of heart disease and stroke compared to people who do not consume dairy products. The vitamins and nutrients milk and other dairy products contain are thought to be good for cardiovascular health.
3 Beverages That are Bad for Your Heart
- Soda. They are full of empty calories and sugar, which increases the risk of heart attack and heart failure.
- Energy drinks. Many energy drinks contain a high level of caffeine which may be detrimental and lead to a heart attack.
- Alcohol. Consuming too much alcohol can increase high blood pressure, stroke, arrhythmia, and heart failure, as well as lead to other issues.
The heart pushes millions of gallons of blood to every part of the body. If plaque builds up in the arteries, it disturbs the normal flow of oxygen, fuel, hormones, and essential cells the blood carries. Since your heart is working around the clock for you, why wouldn’t you want to take care of it better?
It is the most important muscle in your body and if your heart does not get the care it needs, serious problems can develop. Consuming heart-healthy foods and drinks and making lifestyle changes can control heart-harming problems such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol before they can cause severe damage.
Early heart disease often does not have symptoms, or the symptoms may be barely noticeable, so it is important to keep regular check-ups with your doctor. If you begin to show signs of heart disease, your doctor can send you to Dr. Corwin A. Thomas, a cardiologist near you in Lafayette, LA, to get an assessment done.
Read also: Are you at risk for heart disease?
CT Cardio serves patients within the Acadiana area who can help you understand the conditions that affect your heart and the habits you can change to help prevent heart diseases. Scheduling an appointment with Dr. Thomas with CT Cardio is the first step in taking action that may help you keep your heart in top shape. If you are not already properly caring for your heart, now is the time to start. Living a heart-healthy lifestyle and practicing self-care are vital to building a strong heart.
Let Dr. Thomas take care of your heart before it falls apart. Nothing beats a healthy heart.
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