Improve Your Health: 3 Foods That Are Packed With Heart-Healthy Fiber

Health & Medical Blog

Did you know that adding fiber to your daily diet is one of the best things that you can do for the health of your heart? This is particularly true for younger and middle-aged adults, according to one study. The study found that the individuals (between 20 and 59 years of age) who had the highest intakes of fiber enjoyed a much lower lifetime risk for heart disease compared to those at the lower end of the fiber intake spectrum. High-fiber diets will also help you shed those last few pounds that you've been dying to get rid of, improve hypertension and lower your cholesterol levels – all of which are important to do to remain heart-healthy and reduce your overall risk of cardiovascular disease. So, here are a few foods that are high in fiber content:

1. Split Peas

Most peas, legumes, lentils and related foods are high in protein as well as fiber, but split peas probably trump them all. They offer more than 16 grams of protein per cup of cooked peas. Just as importantly, they are packed full of fiber – over 16 grams per cooked cup! Split peas are used in a number of dishes, including hummus, curry and soup.

2. Artichokes

When cooked with no salt and drained, artichokes contain over 10 grams of fiber per one cup. These vegetables contain a significant amount of fiber, yet it is probably one of the most under-used and under-rated vegetables in the kitchen. Maybe it is because of the way they look. Whatever the case may be, there are numerous recipes to put to good use, including pot-roasted artichokes and grilled artichokes with a special sauce made from yogurt and dill.

3. Raspberries

Raspberries are a sweet and very edible fruit. For many, it doesn't take much twisting of the arm – if any – to get them to eat a raspberry every now and again. When you consider the fact that one cup of raspberries contains eight grams of heart-healthy fiber, raspberries become much more enticing. Raspberries are a great topping to your morning cereal or porridge. Alternatively, you can create delicious chocolate-raspberry brownies for an evening dessert.

If you're looking to improve your heart health and reduce your risk of developing heart disease, adding more fiber to your diet may be an easy, effective way to do it. Consult with your physician before making any drastic changes and see if there are any other heart-disease-reducing methods that you can put to work in your life. 

For more information, contact Alpert Zales & Castro Pediatric Cardiology or a similar location.

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21 September 2015

Help Others Make Health Decisions when They Cannot

One day I was playing a game of basketball with a friend, and the friend I was playing ball with tripped and took a hard fall to the ground. He hit his head hard, but he insisted he was okay and just wanted to go home and take a nap. I knew in my heart that he was not thinking clearly, and I didn't feel right letting him go home. I talked him into letting me take him to the hospital, and after some tests, it was determined he had a bad concussion. The doctors told me that if I had let him go home and sleep, things could have taken a turn for the worse. I created this blog to remind everyone to look out for each other after injuries. Not everyone thinks clearly after a head injury, and just being a good friend could save a life.