Healthy Eating - Four Power House Foods

There are many foods that we can consume on a regular basis that could possibly help reduce the risk of heart disease by 75 percent or more.  Since heart disease is the number 1 killer in women, it would benefit us to try and add more of these foods to our healthy eating life style.

• Almonds:  Almonds are packed with fiber and monounsaturated fat as well as vitamin E which are an antioxidant.  According to the Food and Drug Administration, 1.5 ounces of almonds per day may be enough to reduce the risk of heart disease.
• Vegetables:  Vegetables that are connected with heart health are lycopene-rich tomatoes and leafy greens such as kale or spinach.  These foods have powerful antioxidants and soluble and unsoluble fiber.  A serving of vegetables is equal to one cup of raw, leafy vegetables; a half  a cup of fresh, frozen or canned vegetables; or three fourths cup 100 percent vegetable juice.
• Fruit: It’s important to include a variety of fruits into your daily diet.  Bright colored berries are high in polyphenols, citrus fruits are packed with vitamin C, and apples have an antioxidant called quercetin.  A serving of fruit is equal to one medium size piece of fruit; a half a cup of fresh, frozen or canned fruit; three fourths cup of 100 percent fruit juice; or one quarter cup dried fruit.
• Garlic:  Garlic lowers total cholesterol and blood fat levels which help to prevent clogged arteries.

Cori Sachais Swidorsky resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as a  work at home mom/stay at home mom.  Owner of the Informing Women Newsletter and websitehttp://www.informingwomen.com  Writes an advice column for a community newsletter, has an inspirational piece being published in Chicken Soup For The Recovering Soul, and has articles published on many work at home, home based business, tips and hints, and parenting websites.