The one snack cardiologists want you to eat for a healthier heart are nuts, fruits, and vegetables with healthy dips like some avocado or humus dip.
For heart healthy snacks you want to emphasize on fiber, healthy fats like omega-3s, protein and antioxidants that are found in whole foods for better heart health.
Even a small handful of unsalted nuts, like almonds or walnuts or even colorful fruit/veggie combos are also great for filling and nutrient dense snack choices for supporting blood pressure and cholesterol.
The top heart healthy snack choices are nuts and seeds, fruits, veggies and dips, avocado, Greek Yogurt and whole grains.
Nuts and seeds like almonds, walnuts, pecans and chia seeds provide protein, fiber and good fats, which help reduce heart disease risks.
Fruits, like apples, berries, oranges and pears are rich in fiber and antioxidants, which help to lower your cholesterol.
Veggies and dips like carrots, celery, bell peppers with guacamole, hummus or a nut butter are also good for the heart.
Avocados contain healthy fats and potassium and you can also make avocado toast.
Greek Yogurt that is plain, low fat yogurt provides calcium and protein.
And even plain air popped popcorn or whole grain crackers with nut butter are also good for the heart.
The three foods that cardiologists say not to eat are processed meats, fried and fast foods and foods high in added sugars refined grains.
These foods that cardiologists say not to eat are foods and drinks like sugary drinks, pastries, white bread as these foods can contribute to high cholesterol, high blood pressure, inflammation and heart disease risk.
These foods, including processed meats, fried and fast foods are also loaded with sodium, unhealthy fats, including saturated fats and trans fats as well as sugars that damage arteries and increase your risk of cardiovascular issues.
Cardiologists recommend that you avoid processed and cured meats like bacon, hot dogs, sausage and deli meats as they are packed with saturated fats and sodium, which raises blood pressure and bad cholesterol or LDL.
Cardiologists also recommend that you avoid fried foods and fast food like fried chicken, hamburgers, French fires and other deep fried foods as they contain unhealthy trans fats, salt and saturated fats, which increase your risk of heart disease and heart failure.
Cardiologists also recommend that you avoid sugary foods sugary drinks and refined grains, which include sodas, sweets, white bread and pastries as the excessive sugar and refined carbs, can lead to inflammation in the body as well as weight gain, which also harms the heart.
Even potato chips can be bad for your heart health and overall health as a result of the fat content and sodium in the potato chips.
These foods are a problem, as they increase your LDL or bad cholesterol, blood pressure and inflammation, and they provide little nutritional benefit, which ultimately raises your risk of heart attacks and strokes.