Celebrating Heart Health Month

The human body is very complex, and the heart is integral to health and well-being. The heart is the most complex working muscle in the body; it pumps blood 24/7 without any break. Ancient philosophers considered the heart as the “seat” of the human body and the home of the soul. There are many aspects of heart health, and nutrition is part of it.

We have an abundance of whole foods that are excellent sources of polyphenols. These are compounds found in whole foods and have antioxidant properties; they scavenge the free radicals which are formed in our bodies. Red wine, green tea, and chocolate are only a few to mention. Red wine has the compound resveratrol, as having beneficial effects on cardiovascular health; however, it is essential to focus on moderate alcohol intake. Green tea has been shown to lower mortality risk as it is high in polyphenol ECGC. Dark chocolate, Theobroma (Greek for “foods for the gods”) cacao, has the same polyphenols found in red and green tea, fats in the form of stearic acid, thus does not raise cholesterol levels and other compounds called flavonoids that support heart health. Look for high-quality dark chocolate from France, Belgium, and Venezuela, and just because it is good for us, we need to be mindful and not overindulge. In addition, our body makes its antioxidants like CoQ10, one of the most potent antioxidants that support our heart muscles. Most of us know about the supplement, yet we also have foods high in CoQ10, like wild-caught salmon.

Finally, select whole foods with the most heart health benefits and support your heart and soul nutritionally, spiritually, and through self-care. Our heart never stops; we should never stop nurturing it, either.