Aerobic exercise is an important factor in heart health. The body needs to develop stamina, and aerobic exercises helps to develop stamina. But diet is also an important factor in maintaining, regaining, or improving heart health.

A daily assault on your system of trans fats and high-cholesterol foods can’t be “undone” with exercise, though. Dr. John Cooke, who is the head of Stanford Medical School’s vascular unit says that the goal is to consume nutrient-dense foods high in antioxidants, including Vitamins B, C, and E and folate. These foods have properties that improve nitrate acid levels, and thus, your cardiovascular health.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past ten years or so, you know that high-cholesterol food includes eggs, dairy products, and beef. It seems
to be a rule: the better food tastes, the higher the cholesterol. Potato chips, candy bars, cake, and ice cream are ALL high-cholesterol foods.

So how does one go about eating a heart-healthy diet without starving to death? It really isn’t quite as hard as it might appear on the surface.

You can have fresh fruit and fresh vegetables — and fruits and vegetables DO taste good. You should stick to fish and chicken, and indulge in beef steak only on a rare occasion, and then the steak should be very lean.

Whole-grain foods are the choice you should make when there is a choice. Stick to canola oil, olive oil, corn oil, walnut oil, and avocado oil, and avoid butter
and lard.

Eating a heart-healthy diet means that you might have to give up (or at least drastically cut back on) some of the foods that have dominated your diet. But the substitutions are tasty and the rewards are many. Take care of your heart. It’s the only one you’ve got.