RIO Fitness Chicago® Exercise & Nutrition Blog

RIO Fitness Chicago® Tip:

February is American Heart Month. Heart disease is the number one killer in the U.S. Five heart-healthy foods are:

1) GARLIC benefits blood pressure, platelet aggregation, serum triglyceride level, and cholesterol levels.

2) SALMON. A cheeseburger has more than half a day worth of the artery clogging fat, which will increase your risk for a heart attack. The Omega-3s in salmon can prevent erratic heart rhythms, reduce likelihood of blood clots inside arteries, improve the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol, and prevent cholesterol from becoming damaged, at which point it clogs arteries.

3) BERRIES are high in polyphenols, which prevent cell damage that creates unhealthy blood vessels and heart.

4) QUINOA is an excellent source of magnesium, the mineral that relaxes blood vessels. Low dietary levels of magnesium lead to some scary health issues like increased rates of hypertension, ischemic heart disease and heart arrhythmias.

5) HOT COCOA is full of antioxidants – two-times more than red wine and three times more than green tea. Hot chocolate mixes are full of sugar, so use 100% cocoa.