Being American Heart Awareness Month and containing Valentine’s Day means February is all about hearts. Taking care of your heart both physically and emotionally is always a good idea and it is never too early to start. One of the best ways to care for your heart without starting medication is monitoring what you eat and adjusting your lifestyle. Diet is one of the first things a doctor will recommend changing if you are in danger of developing a heart problem. Changing your diet can drastically improve your heart health and two of the best diets for improving and maintaining heart health are the Mediterranean Diet and the Paleo Diet.
Below we have listed a variety of recipes that are generally heart healthy, Mediterranean diet focused, and Paleo diet centered. These recipes will prove that changing your diet and caring for your heart doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice flavor and taste.
If you have more questions about your heart, check out our heart health themed wellness page.
Foods for the Heart
Take some extra time this January and February to think about your heart health and the meats and vegetables that will improve your heart function. Meat is a hot-button topic when heart health is concerned because studies have shown that certain meats significantly worsen your heart. There are many meats that cause bodily harm, instigating blockages and build-up in your arteries. The front-runner of these harmful meats is red meat. There have been numerous studies done about the negative effects red meat has on the body and specifically on the heart. However, to prevent and even reduce blockages in your system, reduce and/or eliminate red meat from your diet and instead consume leaner, heart-healthy proteins instead, such as seafood, salmon, tuna, walnuts, almonds, tofu, and beans. You will notice that the Mediterranean and Paleo diets include minimal amounts of meat, and if they do, it is usually seafood, which is much better for your heart. You will find the recipes listed below adhere to the Mediterranean and Paleo diets while still tasting delicious.
Healthy Meals for the Heart
Baked Fresh Salmon and Asparagus
Mediterranean Tuna Antipasto Salad
Roasted Brussels Sprouts Recipe
Smoky Grilled Salmon with Avocado Salad
Turkey and Kale Meatballs with an Apple Tahini Sauce
Spinach Mushroom Breakfast Casserole
Spiced Roasted Potatoes and Cranberries
Loaded Smoked Salmon Rice Bowl
Cucumber Tomato Tahini Salad
