Staying healthy and keeping your heart strong as you age begins now with your daily eating habits. With fast and convenience foods being the most easily accessible options, it isn’t always easy to prioritize eating whole, nutrient-dense foods. Most people wait until it’s too late to start eating healthy, so don’t wait to focus on your heart health! A great way to start is by implementing the DASH diet to reduce risk factors such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure. So what is the DASH diet? Read on to learn more!
What Is The DASH Diet?
DASH stands for dietary approaches to stop hypertension. This diet is more lifestyle-based, focusing on creating long-lasting habits by eating heart-healthy foods the majority of the time. Being proactive with maintaining your heart health starts with the foods you eat. There are two main categories: foods to limit, meaning that you eat them in moderation and less frequently, and then foods to prioritize.
Foods to focus on: lean protein and fatty fish, healthy fats like olive oil, avocado, nuts, and seeds, whole grains, low-fat dairy, fruit, and vegetables, especially dark leafy greens.
Foods to limit: sugary sweets and beverages, fried and fatty foods such as full-fat dairy, fast food, processed meats, baked and packaged snacks, chips, cookies, etc.
Tips For Following The DASH Diet
- Season with herbs and spices instead of creamy sauces and salt
- Read food labels and watch for sneaky sugar and salt content
- Shop the outer perimeter of the grocery store
- Plan meals in advance and experiment with different vegetables
- Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables
- Eat lean chicken, turkey, and seafood more than red meat and processed meats such as sausage, hot dogs, and deli meat.
- Choose whole grains (brown rice, quinoa, oats, and whole wheat bread) instead of refined grains like traditional white rice, bread, and pasta.
Supplement A Heart-Healthy Diet With Products That Work
The DASH Diet is a great first step in taking care of your cardiovascular health, but another way you can take preventive steps in maintaining a healthy heart is with high-quality supplements. The products mentioned below are backed by science and contain key ingredients that are proven to improve heart health as well as provide a nutrition boost:
Blood Sugar Support: Berberine & Cinnamon/Chromium/ALA
Berberine is not only beneficial for regulating blood glucose metabolism but also blood lipid levels! The combination of cinnamon, chromium, and alpha lipoic acid (ALA) offers powerful antioxidant activity and helps with insulin sensitivity.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Cardiac Fish Oil
Omega-3s are anti-inflammatory and antioxidant powerhouses that support overall health and wellness, from cognitive function to blood pressure control. This EPA fish oil is sourced from the purest and freshest fish off the Chilean coast.
Inflammation: Curcumin
Curcumin is the main ingredient found in turmeric root extract and is another fantastic supplement to add to your heart health regimen, particularly for a healthy inflammatory response.
Now that you know what the DASH diet is, learn more about our cardiovascular supplements! We’d love to help you improve your heart health, so feel free to reach out if you have any questions about our products!
