11 Superfoods for Heart Health

When it comes to heart health, you probably know what the American Heart Association (AHA) offers as its top diet advice: Eat a good balance of fresh, fiber-rich fruits and veggies; whole grains; and healthy proteins, such as nuts, skinless fish and poultry. But recent studies have also named specific cardiovascular all-stars that are worth adding to your rotation. Here are a few standouts to add to your grocery list.

1. Beets

Why: Beets deserve a badge of honor in the veggie family, says Jorge A. Brenes-Salazar, M.D., a geriatric cardiologist and assistant professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic. That’s due to their high doses of nitrates, which help keep blood vessels dilated and healthy. A 2018 review of a decade’s worth of studies identified beet juice consumption as an effective way to control blood pressure in both healthy and hypertensive adults.

Also know: When it comes to heart health, it pays to see red — or orange or yellow. “Fruits and veggies with those colors have carotenoids and flavonoids,” pigments known for their heart-healthy antioxidant properties, Brenes-Salazar explains. Try these other blushing nutrient-rich veggies and fruits: carrots, sweet potatoes, acorn squash, oranges, cantaloupe and papaya.

2. Pumpkin seeds and walnuts

Why: A study presented in 2019 at the AHA’s Hypertension Scientific Sessions found that eating pumpkin seeds may help lower blood pressure. According to the AHA, pumpkin seeds are rich in fiber and a variety of nutrients, particularly heart-healthy magnesium (a quarter cup contains 42 percent of the mineral’s RDA). As for walnuts, a 2022 research review found that consuming foods like walnuts that are rich in alpha-linolenic acid was linked to a 10 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease. And 2021 research published in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation found that eating a half-cup of walnuts a day for two years modestly lowered the subjects’ LDL cholesterol.

Also know:  “Any nuts are good sources of monounsaturated fats,” says Kate Patton, lead outpatient dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic. “For people who don’t eat fish, they are a good way to get in those omega-3 fats.” A 2019 study presented at the European Society of Cardiology showed that eating nuts two or more times a week was associated with a 17 percent lower risk of death from heart disease. But remember one word: moderation. These are calorie-dense foods, so keep portions modest and avoid added salt, sugars and oils. Penny Kris-Etherton, distinguished professor of nutrition at Pennsylvania State University, advises limiting yourself each day to “an amount that will fit in the palm of your hand.”

3. Tofu 

Why: Researchers at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital reported in 2020 that a study of more than 200,000 people found a link between consuming isoflavone-rich tofu more than once a week and an 18 percent lower risk of heart disease. Beyond that, tofu is a great source of plant protein, so it’s a smart substitute for red meat or pork. “It also has phytosterols — plant cholesterols that actually improve the cholesterol in our own bodies,” Brenes-Salazar says.

Also know: A 2021 Chinese study found that eating soy four or more days of the week was associated with a significantly lower risk of death from heart attacks. The USDA dietary guidelines recommend around 5 to 6 ounces of protein — from meat, chicken, eggs, fish, nuts or soy products — a day, Kris-Etherton says. “When people are heavy meat eaters, they need to slowly find ways to replace the meat with other healthy foods, and tofu is one.”

4. Olives and olive oils

Why: If you’ve heard of the Mediterranean diet (and who hasn’t?), then you know all about olive oil. It not only boosts good, heart-protective cholesterol but also staves off diabetes and strokes. Recent research confirms its salubrious effects: A 2020 European study found that patients who had had heart attacks and subsequently followed a Mediterranean diet high in olive oil had better repair of the arterial linings; a 2022 study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that consuming more than a half tablespoon of olive oil a day — or replacing about 10 grams a day of margarine, butter, mayonnaise or dairy fat with olive oil — is linked to a lower risk of death by heart disease.

Try to follow the USDA guidelines of 27 grams (about two tablespoons) a day. “Remember,” Kris-Etherton says, “olive oil is calorically dense.” As for olives, make sure to buy the low-sodium variety, available at many big-box stores. Speaking of oils, Brenes-Salazar warns against the recently voguish coconut oil; instead, he suggests using either olive or pecan oil, which is neutral in flavor, rich in monounsaturated fats and low in saturated ones.