Kristine Lilly is a legendary U.S. Soccer World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist and Steward’s Community Wellness Ambassador.
It is American Heart Month – a month that brings awareness to heart disease but more importantly that reminds us to take care of ourselves.
Since we are focusing on the heart, I conducted some research to determine if I am truly eating foods that help my heart to function better. I found the following list of 15 heart-healthy foods and outline for you what I eat now and where I can improve.
- Leafy Green Vegetables – spinach, kale, collard greens (I eat spinach regularly and will start adding some kale to my diet)
- Whole Grains – whole wheat, brown rice, oats, rye, barley, buckwheat and quinoa (I eat some of these and can add a few more to my daily intake)
- Berries – strawberries, blackberries, raspberries (I have these all covered)
- Avocados – a good source of potassium and good fats (I try to have one a day)
- Fatty fish and Fish Oil – salmon, mackerel, sardines and tuna (I eat fish twice a week)
- Walnuts – contain heart-healthy fats as well as a great source of fiber (I don’t eat them, but I may now that I know the benefits)
- Beans – black, kidney, pinto and the list goes on (Love beans!)
- Dark Chocolate – (Eat and love – maybe love it too much)
- Tomatoes – (I could probably have more of these in my diet)
- Almonds – (Always have a bag handy to take in the car for a snack)
- Seeds – chia, flax, hemp (I use these three in my morning smoothies, which is an easy way to include them in your diet)
- Garlic – (I do enjoy it when I cook with it)
- Olive oil – (The only oil I cook with)
- Edamame – (I don’t eat as many as my kids – they love it)
- Green Tea – (Going to try adding this to my diet)
After reading the list of heart-healthy foods, it opened my eyes to all the benefits of natural, unprocessed foods. My one suggestion, and one that I did for myself, is to adopt eating real food. “Real food” is what I call food that doesn’t come in a box or is processed.
Now, sometimes it isn’t easy but if you try and be more aware you will do a better job at eating real food. It does take some work and time to adjust one’s diet, but it is so important to try, especially for your heart.
Always Believe!
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