Are you wondering which fruits are the healthiest for you when it comes to protecting your heart from inflammation and stress? If so, the answer is those that are high in antioxidants. Most types of berries are great, including blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries, as they all contain high levels of antioxidants. Other fruits that can work wonders for the heart include bananas, apples, apricots, oranges, and grapefruits.
What do we mean by antioxidants?
The primary role of antioxidants is to fight the free radicals that enter your body. Free radicals put your health at risk and are essentially any unstable atoms that have the potential to damage your cells. As a result, free radicals are behind lots of illnesses and the process of aging. Thankfully, your body has a system of antioxidants that are capable of keeping free radicals under control. Yet, it’s vital to help your body by topping up your antioxidant levels, which you can do by eating the right foods. Food and drinks that are high in Vitamins C & E, flavonoids (citrus fruit, red wine, and tea, for instance) are great, as are curcuminoids in turmeric and oleocanthal, which is abundant in extra virgin oil.
Why are antioxidants beneficial?
Research indicates that eating or drinking (our Berry-Go-Round, for example) sufficient amounts of berries can limit your risk of heart disease. For instance, a study involving 27 adults with metabolic syndrome – a precursor to heart disease – found evidence that making and consuming a drink consisting of freeze-dried strawberries for an eight-week period reduced ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol by up to 11%. Above all else, this study indicates the incredible benefits that berries can have on the health of your heart.
Blueberries and a healthy heart
A different study discovered that consuming blueberries every day increased the functioning of the cells within your blood cells. This better enabled them to prevent blood clotting and help control blood pressure levels. Our Blueberry Thrill packs a delicious punch and is hugely beneficial to the health of your heart and the functioning of your body.
What’s more, a review of 22 individual studies discovered a link between a reduction in ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol and eating berries. This was in addition to other reductions, including systolic blood pressure, BMI, and specific inflammation markers.
How much fruit and veg do you need on a daily basis to be healthy?
To slightly reduce your risk of heart attacks and strokes, you should eat five servings of fruit and veg a day, which equates to around two and a half cups. However, if you’re able to increase your fruit and veg intake to ten servings each day, you could lower your risk of cardiovascular disease by as much as 28%. A recently published review article also found that consuming more fruit can lower your risk of premature death by 31%. Enjoying one smoothie in the morning and one in the afternoon can really bolster your fruit and veg intake and will go a long way to improving your overall health and wellbeing.
Findings from 95 studies from around the world were published in the International Journal of Epidemiology on February 22, 2017, and provide us with excellent insight into the effects of consuming the right amount of fruits and vegetables. Fruit and veg contain multiple healthy nutrients – notably fibre – which is crucial when it comes to lowering bad cholesterol levels. Other benefits include the reduction of blood pressure and the improvement of the functioning of blood vessels.
Which are the best fruits for heart health?
Our research suggests that all fruits are good for your heart! Ensuring you eat sufficient amounts of fruits and veg in your daily diet increases the prevalence of antioxidants in your body. Ultimately, this helps your body to function better and boosts the health of your heart.
We suggest browsing through some of the impressive range of Love Struck smoothies today, and keep blending fruits and veggies to keep the doctor away!
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