Eating handful of nuts daily reduces heart disease risk 25{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f}

Including some crunch to your menu could save your ticker.

Scandinavian scientists located that ingesting a little amount of money of nuts and seeds every single working day can cut down the danger of a heart assault and strokes, according to a new study posted in the Food stuff Nourishment Investigate journal.

“If you eat a handful of nuts just about every working day — that is close to 30 grams — you will have a 20{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f} to 25{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f} reduce threat of suffering from cardiovascular disease,” explained examine co-author Erik Kristoffer Arnesen, of the University of Oslo’s Division of Diet, in a statement.

“In comparison, grownups in the Nordic international locations only try to eat on regular about 4 grams of nuts a day. Quite a few do not consume nuts or seeds at all.”

Scientists claimed they never have a particular nut which is sure to reduce the possibility — but observed that almonds, pistachios and walnuts appeared to be the ideal for decreasing cholesterol.

While the workforce of scientists guiding the research mentioned “the more the better,” taking in just a few nuts is better than none — and can improve your coronary heart overall health noticeably.

“Nuts have a effective result on cholesterol levels in the blood, which is significant to retain lower in order to prevent the buildup of extra fat in the arteries,” Arnesen defined. “This atherosclerosis, as it is referred to as, is one particular of the finest danger factors for coronary heart attacks.”


Eating handful of nuts daily reduces heart disease risk 25{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f}
The investigate implies ingesting a serving of nuts a working day can lower the risk of coronary heart disease.
Getty Images

The composition of fatty acids in nuts is beneficial for aiding overall health, according to the study's authors.
The composition of fatty acids in nuts is beneficial for aiding over-all well being, according to the study’s authors.
Getty Illustrations or photos/iStockphoto

About 1.8 million individuals had been involved in the review, with researchers searching at the relative possibility to getting coronary heart ailment or strokes in comparison to how quite a few nuts they ate in a day.

Researchers discovered that nuts decreased blood lipids — or excess fat in the blood — really do not feel to affect blood stress, and have been unable to identify if they influence blood sugar.

It was also unclear if having nuts diminished the threat of strokes and Sort 2 diabetic issues, with the review authors expressing far more exploration is needed.

The co-authors prompt the composition of fatty acids in nuts is valuable for aiding total well being.

“Even however nuts can’t be employed to treat significant cholesterol, we believe that that the result is sizeable ample to be utilized as a preventive evaluate amongst the normal populace,” Arnesen reported.

In accordance to the Mayo Clinic, unsalted nuts are a fantastic supply of protein and have at least some of these heart-healthy substances, around four to six servings of unsalted nuts a week as component of a healthy diet plan for grown ups.

The results align with study discovering the popular Mediterranean diet regime — which was named the greatest general diet for 2023 — is identified to decreased the danger of cardiovascular disease and other chronic problems, in accordance to former investigation.

The Mediterranean diet plan consists of having a great deal of refreshing greens, fruits, fish, nuts and olives.

Alert Banners Dramatically Increase Prescribing Rates of Lifesaving Heart Failure Medication

An automated procedure that flags the patients who could most gain from an underused however lifesaving cardiology drug extra than doubled new prescriptions, according to a pilot software take a look at by scientists at NYU Grossman School of Drugs.

“Our findings recommend that tailor-made electronic notifications can raise the prescription of lifesaving medicines,” stated examine lead creator and cardiologist Amrita Mukhopadhyay, MD, a medical instructor in the Office of Medication. “By compiling important data in one particular position, the program could support vendors spend considerably less time looking via healthcare documents all through a stop by and far more time talking with their clients.”

The demo used the new software to heart failure, in the course of which the heart is more and more not able to pump enough blood. Prescription drugs referred to as mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) can greatly raise survival prices, but earlier reports had demonstrated that almost two-thirds of suitable individuals are not recommended these drugs. Other exploration has blamed this treatment method gap for more than 20,000 preventable fatalities every single 12 months in the United States.

In accordance to the research group, element of the obstacle in prescribing MRAs is that the clinical facts required to identify a patient’s eligibility is scattered during their electronic well being document. As a consequence, industry experts have been exploring the use of electronic messaging equipment that immediately evaluate standard scientific tips and applicable medical knowledge to make therapy conclusions less difficult.

The study was offered at the once-a-year conference of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) on March 5 and was at the same time revealed in the association’s journal, JACC. In accordance to its authors, the analyze is the 1st to immediately review the efficiency of warn concept forms that deal with heart failure.

In a pilot program made to find the most successful variety of electronic warn, researchers at NYU Grossman College of Medication examined two automated technologies around 6 months. 1st, the documents of extra than 2,220 adult males and girls in procedure for heart failure were screened. The benefits confirmed that cardiologists who gained a banner-like alert on their computer system display approved MRA remedy for about 30 percent of their individuals more than the training course of the demo. All those who have been in its place sent month-to-month email-like messages did so around 16 per cent of the time. By contrast, these who acquired neither type of concept approved the therapy for 12 per cent of their patients.

Concerning April and Oct 2022, the analysis staff analyzed the notification systems at much more than 60 cardiology outpatient clinics that had been aspect of NYU Langone. Adults with coronary heart failure were being randomly divided into a few groups, determined by the form of assistance resource made use of by their cardiologist.

In the 1st group, alerts appeared on the top corner of affected person healthcare charts, which are routinely reviewed through visits. They integrated details that could tell choices about MRA therapy, such as blood tension, estimated glomerular filtration level (a measure of kidney functionality), and potassium concentrations in the blood.

Dr. Mukhopadhyay notes that the researchers wished to keep away from frustrating medical professionals with much too quite a few prompts. To avert alarm exhaustion, the inform was developed to exclude anybody who could be harmed by MRA remedy, this kind of as these with selected kidney conditions or those who were being already getting the medicines.

For the next team of patients, cardiologists received a month-to-month concept within the healthcare system’s inner messaging platform that involved a record of these eligible for MRAs. By way of this “email,” healthcare companies could open professional medical charts and study facts appropriate for prescribing MRAs.

“Even while regular ‘emails’ restrict interruptions for the duration of a consultation, alerts may well be more successful for the reason that they allow for doctors to explore a suggested treatment method in real time,” explained analyze senior creator Saul B. Blecker, MD.

Dr. Blecker, an affiliate professor in the Departments of Medication and Population Wellness, cautions that the technologies were being only analyzed in cardiology techniques inside of a huge city healthcare system. As a end result, Dr. Blecker said the team upcoming designs to examine the effectiveness of these instruments in other settings, such as major treatment techniques and lesser clinics.

Funding for the analyze was supplied by Countrywide Institutes of Overall health grants UL1TR001445 and 2T32HL098129-11. Even further funding was provided by Allen Thorpe.

In addition to Dr. Mukhopadhyay and Dr. Blecker, other NYU Langone investigators included in the research had been Harmony R. Reynolds, MD Lawrence Phillips, MD Arielle R. Nagler, MD William King, MS Adam C. Szerencsy, DO Archana Saxena, MD Rod Aminian, MPH Nathan Klapheke, BS Leora Horwitz, MD and Stuart D. Katz, MD.

Media Inquiries

Katie Ullman
Mobile phone: 212-404-3511
kathryn.ullman@nyulangone.org

Poor sleep linked to increased heart disease risk: Study

Poor sleep is associated with up to seven years’ worth of increased heart disease risk and even premature death, according to a study.

The research, published in the journal BMC Medicine, analysed data from more than 300,000 middle-aged adults from the UK Biobank.

Researchers from the University of Sydney in collaboration with Southern Denmark University found that different disturbances to sleep are associated with different durations of compromised cardiovascular health later in life compared to healthy sleepers.

In particular, men with clinical sleep-related breathing disorders lost nearly seven years of cardiovascular disease-free life compared to those without these conditions, and women lost over seven years, they said.

The study found that even general poor sleep, such as insufficient sleep, insomnia, snoring, going to bed late, and daytime sleepiness is associated with a loss of around two years of normal heart health in men and women.

“Our research shows that, over time, regular poor sleep can lead to significantly compromised cardiovascular health in middle and old age,” said Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis from the University of Sydney, and senior author of the study.

“Sleep apnea is well known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions, but these findings are a wake-up call that poor sleep in general can pose significant risk to heart health,” Stamatakis said in a statement.

The team came up with three sleep categories: poor, intermediate, and healthy at age 40, and compared this with their overall cardiovascular disease-free health expectancy.
By combining the study participants’ self-reported data with clinical data from their doctors in the two years preceding the study, the researchers were able to compare health outcomes for self-reported sleep patterns and clinically diagnosed conditions such as sleep-related breathing disorders.

The team categorised participants as poor, intermediate, and healthy sleepers at age 40, and compared their health outcomes at old age.

Women with poor sleep were likely to experience two years more of compromised cardiovascular health compared to healthy sleepers, while men experienced more than two years. Intermediate sleepers lost almost one year of heart disease-free life among women, and men lost slightly more.

This means that snoring and trouble falling asleep or staying asleep can be a warning sign of potential health issues in the future.

“While the average life expectancy of the UK study participants is around 80 years, people with clinically diagnosed sleep-related breathing disorders like sleep apnea lost over seven years of cardiovascular-disease free life,” said the study’s lead author Bo-Huei Huang, an epidemiologist recently graduating from the University of Sydney.

📣 For more lifestyle news, follow us on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook and don’t miss out on the latest updates!

Cardiologist Said Heart Disease Among Young People Due to Lifestyle

  • Jim Liu, a cardiologist at Ohio State University, explains why heart disease is on the rise among young people.
  • Several studies have indicated young people are dying from heart attacks at higher rates than in the past.
  • Sedentary lifestyles, vaping, poor sleep, and chronic health conditions might be behind the trend.

Heart problems are on the rise among an unlikely demographic: young people. 

People between 25 and 44 have experienced a nearly 30{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f} increase in heart attack deaths since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a 2022 study conducted by Cedars Sinai hospital in Los Angeles suggested.

Another study from Johns Hopkins, published in 2018 that reviewed 28,000 hospitalizations for heart attacks over a 20-year period, found the rate of heart attacks for women aged 35 to 54 increased, even as the overall mortality rate for heart disease decreased. 

Heart disease is an umbrella term that encompasses heart health problems including heart attacks, irregular heartbeats, or other damage to different parts of the organ. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking cigarettes are typically the root causes of many types of heart disease, but lifestyle changes and national trends could be behind the increase in heart disease among young people, according to Dr. Jim Liu, a cardiologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

Liu told Insider he’s seen more young people with heart disease come into his care over the last five to ten years. Perhaps surprisingly, the cardiologist said many of his new, younger patients do not have any of the traditional risk factors, and might be more susceptible to other issues and indicators that could increase overall risk. 

Plus, data from a survey by Ohio State found 47{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f} of people under 45 did not believe they were at risk for heart disease — a trend that may also be behind the rise in heart attacks, Liu said. 

One cause could be the recent rise in obesity, said Liu. The prevalence of obesity rose from 3{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f} pre-pandemic to 4.4{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f} between 2020 to 2021, per federal data, as more people increased their alcohol intake. Young people are already prone to more sedentary lifestyles, and Liu said the pandemic may have led to even lower rates of exercise.

“Because of the pandemic, people may be a little bit less active, maybe eating worse,” Liu said. “So that could possibly translate into worsened blood pressure, increased weight, and long-term healthcare problems, specifically cardiovascular.”

Liu said young people may also be unaware of some of the less talked about risk factors for heart disease. For instance, the doctor said vapes and e-cigarettes can stress your heart just as much as regular cigarettes can. Other risk factors that might put young people in particular at risk for heart disease are illicit drug use, poor sleep, and chronic conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and HIV, the doctor said. 

Overall, Liu said more research is needed to fully understand why Americans are getting heart disease at younger ages than in the past. In the meantime, the doctor encouraged young people to make themselves aware of lifestyle factors that contribute to poor heart health, and the importance of exercise and diet to prevent this issue to lower risk factors.

“If they have a specific condition already, for example, blood pressure, diabetes, or [high] cholesterol, making sure that those are controlled by getting routine healthcare,” Liu said. “And making sure you’re sticking to a healthy lifestyle is important, also.”

15 items to add to your grocery list to prevent heart disease, other health concerns

Before you go on your next grocery shopping trip, consider heart-healthy options for your meals.

February is National Heart Month — so what better time to put a little extra effort into changing your diet and focusing more on the health of your heart?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

ADD THESE HEART-HEALTHY FOODS RECOMMENDED BY EXPERTS TO YOUR GROCERY LIST

Spend time learning more about your heart and begin habits to continue throughout the year for an overall healthier lifestyle.

Here are a list of heart healthy foods to keep in your fridge or pantry.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Dark leafy greens include veggies like spinach, kale and collard greens.

Isa Kujawski, MPH, RDN, founder of Mea Nutrition LLC, says consuming these vegetables helps to protect you against cardiovascular disease because they’re packed with nutrients.

Dark leafy greens are high in fiber and micronutrients, which help to keep your heart healthy.

15 items to add to your grocery list to prevent heart disease, other health concerns

Spinach, kale and collard greens are all examples of dark leafy greens that have a positive impact on your heart health.

Incorporate olive oil into your recipes when you’re able to in order to keep your heart strong.

Erin Kenney, MS, RD, registered dietitian and CEO of Nutrition Rewired, recommends putting olive oil into your salads or adding to homemade hummus as opposed to just heating it and using it to cook.

Olive oil is full of antioxidants, polyphenols and vitamins, all of which are good for your heart, says Kenney.

SURPRISINGLY HEART-HEALTHY FOODS

No matter how you eat your avocados, they assist in improving your heart health.

Mash them for your favorite homemade guacamole recipe or spread them over your morning toast and receive the same nutritional benefits.

Amy Adams, RDN, LDN, says that avocados are a great source of monounsaturated fats plus potassium and magnesium.

All of these things, Adams said, are good for keeping a healthy blood pressure.

Berries are sweet, refreshing and contain lots of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Though eating more fruit in general has a positive impact on heart health, according to Kristi Ruth, RD, LDN, blueberries are at the top of the list when it comes to heart healthy fruits. Blueberries are high in antioxidants, including anthocyanin, which is very good for the heart.

Blueberries on the vine

There are many fruits that are good for heart health, but blueberries are one of the best.

What food lowers cholesterol, blood pressure, inflammation and helps with digestive wellness? Beans.

Beans, according to Kujawaski, are great for the heart, mainly because of the high fiber content. They also contain plenty of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals.

Did you know that high-fat fish such as salmon can decrease your risk of death by cardiac arrhythmias? Cardiac arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat that can lead to death.

The omega-3 fats that are found in fish reduce inflammation, says Kenney. She recommended eating two to three servings of high-fat fish per week, which includes salmon, but also herring, anchovies or mackerel.

If fish isn’t your cup of tea, fish oil supplements are also a good option that can provide similar benefits.

EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT HEART DISEASE AND PARTICIPATE IN WEAR RED DAY DURING FEBRUARY, AMERICAN HEART MONTH

Whole grains are great for heart heath. Whole grains are also fairly easy to incorporate into your diet since they can be consumed so many different ways.

You can do so by switching to whole grain pasta, brown rice or wheat bread.

Kristin Gillespie, MS, RD, LD, adviser for Exercisewithstyle.com, said whole grains have the opposite impact on your body that refined carbohydrates do.

Refined carbohydrates increase the risk of heart disease, while whole grains protect the heart.

Whole wheat pasta in bowl

Making some switches to whole grain products, like whole grain pasta and wheat bread, can help protect your heart.

What makes walnuts stand out among other nuts in terms of heart health is their high percent of omega 6, omega 3 and polyunsaturated fats, according to Adams.

Whether you eat these on their own, or mixed with other nuts, trying to incorporate walnuts into your daily food intake can have a good impact on your heart health.

THE WORST FOODS FOR HEART HEALTH, ACCORDING TO EXPERTS

Flaxseed is a great source of omega-3, according to Ruth, who also said it is high in fiber and lignans. Both lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

If you are stumped on how you can incorporate flaxseed into your diet, mix it into your oatmeal or blend it into a smoothie.

The Concord grape used for 100{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f} grape juice has polyphenols, which has been associated with improved blood flow.

Purple grapes on the stems

You can get lots of health benefits through sipping on some grape juice.

Simply drinking grape juice with breakfast is an easy, juicy way to assist in a healthy heart.

Papayas could have a major positive impact on health.

They are high in lycopene which shows protective activity against the risk of heart attacks, among other things.

Papaya can be added to smoothies, on top of salad or on a yogurt parfait.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

Chocolate can be very good for you when enjoyed in moderation, of course.

Dark chocolate, specifically, contains numerous health benefits, including lowering your risk of both heart disease and diabetes, according to Mayo Clinic. Dark chocolate also helps prevent blood clots, improves memory and lowers cholesterol, according to the site.

PUMPKIN BREAD WITH DARK CHOCOLATE CHIPS AND ALMOMDS: TRY THE RECIPE

Almonds are filled with monounsaturated fats and fiber, which help protect against heart disease, according to Healthline.

Pile of almonds

Almonds are high in monounsaturated fats and fiber, which help lower your risk of getting heart disease.

While almonds are great for your health, consume in moderation if you are trying to lose weight, as they are also very high in calories.

Potassium helps to lower your blood pressure and potatoes are full of it, according to health.com.

Potatoes are also high in fiber, so including them in your diet could lower your risk of heart disease.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Pomegranates have lots of polyphenols and anthocyanins that assist in keeping a healthy heart, according to health.com.

Stack of pomegranates

Pomegranate seeds can be added to smoothies, salad or even in an alcoholic drink.

Some ways to add pomegranate seeds to your diet are by mixing them into smoothies or even in cocktails like sangria.

Add them to your salad or use them to top off your yogurt.

Of course, you can also eat the seeds as is when removed from the peel.

Heart-healthy foods: 15 items to add to your grocery list to prevent heart disease, other health concerns

Before you go on your next grocery shopping trip, consider heart-healthy options for your meals.

February is National Heart Month — so what better time to put a little extra effort into changing your diet and focusing more on the health of your heart?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

ADD THESE HEART-HEALTHY FOODS RECOMMENDED BY EXPERTS TO YOUR GROCERY LIST

Spend time learning more about your heart and begin habits to continue throughout the year for an overall healthier lifestyle.

Here are a list of heart healthy foods to keep in your fridge or pantry.

  1. Dark leafy greens
  2. Olive oil
  3. Avocados
  4. Berries
  5. Beans
  6. Salmon
  7. Whole grains
  8. Walnuts
  9. Flaxseed
  10. Grapes/grape juice
  11. Papaya
  12. Dark chocolate
  13. Almonds
  14. Potatoes
  15. Pomegranates

1. Dark leafy greens 

Dark leafy greens include veggies like spinach, kale and collard greens. 

Isa Kujawski, MPH, RDN, founder of Mea Nutrition LLC, says consuming these vegetables helps to protect you against cardiovascular disease because they’re packed with nutrients. 

Dark leafy greens are high in fiber and micronutrients, which help to keep your heart healthy.

Heart-healthy foods: 15 items to add to your grocery list to prevent heart disease, other health concerns

Spinach, kale and collard greens are all examples of dark leafy greens that have a positive impact on your heart health. (iStock )

2. Olive oil 

Incorporate olive oil into your recipes when you’re able to in order to keep your heart strong.

Erin Kenney, MS, RD, registered dietitian and CEO of Nutrition Rewired, recommends putting olive oil into your salads or adding to homemade hummus as opposed to just heating it and using it to cook.

Olive oil is full of antioxidants, polyphenols and vitamins, all of which are good for your heart, says Kenney.

SURPRISINGLY HEART-HEALTHY FOODS

3. Avocados

No matter how you eat your avocados, they assist in improving your heart health. 

Mash them for your favorite homemade guacamole recipe or spread them over your morning toast and receive the same nutritional benefits.

Amy Adams, RDN, LDN, says that avocados are a great source of monounsaturated fats plus potassium and magnesium. 

All of these things, Adams said, are good for keeping a healthy blood pressure.

4. Berries

Berries are sweet, refreshing and contain lots of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. 

Though eating more fruit in general has a positive impact on heart health, according to Kristi Ruth, RD, LDN, blueberries are at the top of the list when it comes to heart healthy fruits. Blueberries are high in antioxidants, including anthocyanin, which is very good for the heart.

There are many fruits that are good for heart health, but blueberries are one of the best.

There are many fruits that are good for heart health, but blueberries are one of the best. (Fabian Sommer/picture alliance via Getty Images)

5. Beans 

What food lowers cholesterol, blood pressure, inflammation and helps with digestive wellness? Beans. 

Beans, according to Kujawaski, are great for the heart, mainly because of the high fiber content. They also contain plenty of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals.

6. Salmon 

Did you know that high-fat fish such as salmon can decrease your risk of death by cardiac arrhythmias? Cardiac arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat that can lead to death.

The omega-3 fats that are found in fish reduce inflammation, says Kenney. She recommended eating two to three servings of high-fat fish per week, which includes salmon, but also herring, anchovies or mackerel.

If fish isn’t your cup of tea, fish oil supplements are also a good option that can provide similar benefits.

EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT HEART DISEASE AND PARTICIPATE IN WEAR RED DAY DURING FEBRUARY, AMERICAN HEART MONTH

7. Whole grains 

Whole grains are great for heart heath. Whole grains are also fairly easy to incorporate into your diet since they can be consumed so many different ways. 

You can do so by switching to whole grain pasta, brown rice or wheat bread.

Kristin Gillespie, MS, RD, LD, adviser for Exercisewithstyle.com, said whole grains have the opposite impact on your body that refined carbohydrates do. 

Refined carbohydrates increase the risk of heart disease, while whole grains protect the heart.

Making some switches to whole grain products, like whole grain pasta and wheat bread, can help protect your heart. 

Making some switches to whole grain products, like whole grain pasta and wheat bread, can help protect your heart.  (Chapeaux Marc/AGF/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

8. Walnuts 

What makes walnuts stand out among other nuts in terms of heart health is their high percent of omega 6, omega 3 and polyunsaturated fats, according to Adams. 

Whether you eat these on their own, or mixed with other nuts, trying to incorporate walnuts into your daily food intake can have a good impact on your heart health. 

THE WORST FOODS FOR HEART HEALTH, ACCORDING TO EXPERTS

9. Flaxseed 

Flaxseed is a great source of omega-3, according to Ruth, who also said it is high in fiber and lignans. Both lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

If you are stumped on how you can incorporate flaxseed into your diet, mix it into your oatmeal or blend it into a smoothie.

10. Grapes and grape juice

The Concord grape used for 100{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f} grape juice has polyphenols, which has been associated with improved blood flow.

You can get lots of health benefits through sipping on some grape juice.

You can get lots of health benefits through sipping on some grape juice. (Anne Cusack/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Simply drinking grape juice with breakfast is an easy, juicy way to assist in a healthy heart. 

11. Papaya 

Papayas could have a major positive impact on health. 

They are high in lycopene which shows protective activity against the risk of heart attacks, among other things.

Papaya can be added to smoothies, on top of salad or on a yogurt parfait.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

12. Dark chocolate 

Chocolate can be very good for you when enjoyed in moderation, of course. 

Dark chocolate, specifically, contains numerous health benefits, including lowering your risk of both heart disease and diabetes, according to Mayo Clinic. Dark chocolate also helps prevent blood clots, improves memory and lowers cholesterol, according to the site.

PUMPKIN BREAD WITH DARK CHOCOLATE CHIPS AND ALMOMDS: TRY THE RECIPE

13. Almonds 

Almonds are filled with monounsaturated fats and fiber, which help protect against heart disease, according to Healthline.

Almonds are high in monounsaturated fats and fiber, which help lower your risk of getting heart disease.

Almonds are high in monounsaturated fats and fiber, which help lower your risk of getting heart disease. (Lorenzo Di Cola/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

While almonds are great for your health, consume in moderation if you are trying to lose weight, as they are also very high in calories.

14. Potatoes 

Potassium helps to lower your blood pressure and potatoes are full of it, according to health.com.

Potatoes are also high in fiber, so including them in your diet could lower your risk of heart disease.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

15. Pomegranate 

Pomegranates have lots of polyphenols and anthocyanins that assist in keeping a healthy heart, according to health.com.

Pomegranate seeds can be added to smoothies, salad or even in an alcoholic drink.

Pomegranate seeds can be added to smoothies, salad or even in an alcoholic drink. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Some ways to add pomegranate seeds to your diet are by mixing them into smoothies or even in cocktails like sangria. 

Add them to your salad or use them to top off your yogurt. 

Of course, you can also eat the seeds as is when removed from the peel.