Heart Supporting Foods

Supporting heart health often comes down to supporting the circulatory system, arteries, balanced cholesterol and blood pressure levels and a strong muscular system. Balancing cholesterol is something particularly important to me, not for my own health, but for those around me. My big mission for my parents right now is to help them lower cholesterol levels naturally and help them avoid side-effect ridden statins at all cost. A big part of healing witchery is being empowered to help those you love. And a big part of heart health can be influenced by what we eat… Here’s my list of cholesterol lowering, circulatory system stimulating, and general heart loving foods. Incorporating these foods into your rotation will also help support a healthy endocrine (hormone) system, brain health, digestive health and the high antioxydant count in these heart foods protect the entire organism.

High fibre foods that lower cholesterol

Soluble fibre is broken down in the digestive system and passes through arteries helping to “flush” them of bad cholesterol and the buildup of plaque. Clogged arteries and high cholesterol is a leading cause of heart disease. (1) (2) (3)

Chia seeds (over 34% fibre per serving compared to single digit %s for most foods!)

Oats

Popcorn (buy organic popcorn! Corn is sprayed with highly dangerous Monsanto pesticides)

Raspberries

Pears

Artichokes

Asparagus

Lentils, chickpeas, peas, kidney beans

Avocado

Dark chocolate

Red rice yeast (contains natural statins!)

Good fats that support healthy cholesterol levels

Healthy omega 3 and omega 6-fatty acid sources help boost good cholesterol levels, which in turn, reduces the amount of bad cholesterol in the body. The fats that we get from plant-based products are not the same as those from oily fish. It’s best to consume good fats from both groups. (4) (5) (6)

Fatty fish: wild salmon, cod, mackerel and sardines

Nuts: walnuts, almonds, macadamia, pistachios, peanuts (organic! Nuts are terribly sprayed)

Avocado

Olive oil, nut oils, grapeseed oil

Codfish liver oil

Seeds: pumpkin, sunflower, flaxseed, hemp seed

Heart protecting antioxidant sources

Certain antioxydants can help protect heart cells from damage and disease by combatting inflammation and protecting cells from damage (free radicals, chemicals in foods, pollution). (7) (8) (9)

Artichokes

Berries (goji berries, blueberries, raspberries, cherries)

Elderberries

Matcha tea

Beets

Asparagus

Brussel sprouts

Cauliflower

Red cabbage

Dark chocolate

Dark leafy greens: spinach, kale, mixed baby greens

Garlic (also lowers cholesterol. Try roasting garlic cloves in the oven! Caramelized minus the strong odor)

Blood pressure lowering foods

Certain foods high in potassium can help rebalance blood sodium ratios and lower blood pressure that can put strain on the heart. (10) (11) (12)

Bananas

Avocado

Coconut water

Berries

Beets

Kiwis

Watermelon

Chia seeds, oats, other high fibre sources

Garlic

Dark green leafy greens

Pomegranate

Pistachios