Heart-Healthy Superfoods for Men

Lists of must-have superfoods have been popping up all over the health and wellness world—and for good reason. Each year, experts learn more about the specific benefits a variety of foods offer the body. Supplementing your weekly menu with these powerhouses helps take your health to the next level! We've gathered some easy-to-access, well-known superfoods that greatly impact heart health, as well as some other common conditions. While all the foods below are excellent choices for either gender, these foods are particularly great for men.

Superfoods for Men

Men’s Health - Heart-Healthy Foods

Apples. This popular fruit keeps most of its health power in its skin. Quercetin, a flavonoid found in the skin, reduces inflammation and can decrease the risk of heart attack, Alzheimer’s and prostate and lung cancer. And that’s not all: a 2012 study by Harvard University found that flavonoids were linked to reducing the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.

Cruciferous and Leafy Green Vegetables. Cru-ci-fer-what?! Cruciferous veggies include broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. Some top leafy greens are: kale, cabbage, Swiss chard and bok choy. These two green groups are huge producers of folate—one of the super B vitamins that helps fight obesity, heart disease, stroke, cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s and depression, as well as reduce the risk of cancer.

Pecans and Brazil Nuts. These two nuts are both linked to prostate health. Brazil nuts contain selenium, a prostate cancer-fighting mineral, and pecans help relieve enlarged prostates with beta-sitosterol.

Fish. Omega-3 fatty acids are powerful allies in reducing risk of heart attack. Studies have shown that fish rich in Omega-3s could reduce heart attacks in men by a third or more. Choose fish low in toxins like herring, mackerel, sardines, Wild Alaskan salmon, Pacific Halibut, Rainbow Trout and Yellowfin tuna.

Avocados. You may know that avocados contain the healthy fats the body loves, but did you know this fruit (yes, fruit!) decreases the risk of stroke and may decrease bad cholesterol (LDLs) and increase healthy sperm production?

Tomatoes. When cooked, this versatile fruit doles out high doses of lycopene which studies have revealed may prevent stroke in men. Lycopene is also a rich antioxidant that has been linked to a reduction in macular degeneration, cataracts and prostate cancer.

Berries. Beyond the antioxidant boost berries offer, strawberries, raspberries and blueberries all deliver the heart disease-fighting salicylic acid.

https://www.chiroone.net/bewell/superfoods-for-men

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Heart Disease #1 Cause of Death in US - Chiropractic Care Can Help!

Heart disease tops the list for leading causes of death in the United States.

Without a doubt, this stat is alarming, but there are a lot of things you can do improve your heart health and decrease your chances of disease—starting today.

Cut out the soda habit. You may have heard that sugar is linked to high blood pressure and triglyceride levels, but you’re not safe choosing diet soda either. Artificial sweeteners like aspartame or sucralose can increase your risk of weight gain, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Schedule regular adjustments. The University of Chicago Hypertension Center performed a study involving 50 individuals and found that after just one chiropractic adjustment to a misaligned atlas bone (a vertebra that helps support the head), patients experienced a significant decrease in blood pressure.

Choose your fats wisely. Contrary to popular belief, the amount of fats in your diet isn’t the culprit of heart disease, instead it’s the kind of fats. Avoid trans fats like the plague—this is an unnatural fat created through hydrogenation. Instead opt for healthy fats in moderation, like monounsaturated fats (organic avocado, walnuts), omega-3 fatty acids (wild-caught Alaskan salmon) and saturated fats (insect and seed-fed eggs, coconut oil).

Decrease wheat products. Many medical doctors are beginning to band together in support of decreasing wheat in the diet. We know two slices of whole-wheat bread raise your blood sugar as much as two tablespoons of sugar (remember: sugar is linked to high blood pressure). Plus, gluten (the sticky protein that causes bread to rise) can cause inflammation in the body—and inflammation is common in patients who’ve had a stroke or have heart disease.

Ditch the nonstick cookware. While nonstick cookware is certainly convenient, it might not be worth it. These surfaces contain polyfluoralkyl chemicals which have been linked to high cholesterol—and they also sit on the Environmental Protection Agency’s list as a “chemical of concern.”

Give HIIT a try. Consisting of short bursts of exercise and frequent, short rest periods, high intensity interval training (HIIT) has been shown to lower blood pressure and increase cardiovascular and muscle strength.

Cook with coconut oil. You might not realize, but certain oils can produce toxic fumes and harmful free radicals when they reach certain temperatures (known as the smoke or flash point). Coconut oil has a great tolerance to heat, and has also been shown to promote heart health.

Get giggling. It feels great to get in a big, belly-shaking laugh—and it’s good for you, too. The University of Maryland Medical Center found evidence that laughter can diminish the stress that harms the endothelium, a thin layer of cells that make up the lining of blood vessels and support blood flow.

Enjoy fish twice a week. Studies have shown adding fish to your diet twice a week could lower your risk of heart disease by 30 percent. Opt for wild-caught Alaskan salmon, freshwater Coho salmon, Atlantic mackerel, sardines or anchovies—which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids without the high mercury risks.

https://www.chiroone.net/bewell/9-heart-healthy-tips-you-must-follow

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