By Pamela Bond


heart helpers 15 surprising


HOW HAPPINESS AND OTHER HABITS REDUCE YOUR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE RISK


W


hat if improving heart health could mean savoring dark chocolate,


hanging out with friends, sleeping more, and indulging in certain high-fat foods? Good news: Protecting your ticker can involve all the above. “You need to take pleasure in eating good foods and enjoying life,” says Martha Gulati, MD, director of preventive cardiology and women’s cardiovascular health at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and author of Saving Women’s Hearts (Wiley, 2011). Here are 15 effective actions that you’ll willingly take to heart.


1. Choose chia. Just 1½ cups of cooked oats serves up 3 grams of cholesterol- cutting soluble fiber—the most of any grain, according to Gulati. But every breakfast routine needs variety, so consider starting some days by mixing tiny, omega-3-rich chia seeds into a smoothie or yogurt. Every 1-ounce serving of chia has 10 grams of fiber, 2.5 grams of it soluble. A small study published in Diabetes Care showed eating chia seeds dampens inflammation, lowers blood pressure, and promotes healthy blood glucose levels. ➻


For 15 delicious, heart-healthy recipes go to deliciousliving.com.


february 2013 | deliciousliving .com 33


DARREN KEMPER / CORBIS


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