Drinks for Heart Health

We consider what we eat in our daily diet by watching out for foods high in fats and bad cholesterol, while adding heart healthy foods such as nuts, leafy greens, and other vegetables. While these are great steps toward optimum heart health, we need to be mindful of what we are drinking. Recently, a court case involving the death of a teenage girl who is said to have died due to drinking energy drinks, shows that energy drinks are not a healthy choice, especially for people with heart disease or those on medication for high blood pressure. Knowing what heart-healthy drinks to add to your diet is very important, and there are a great variety to suit your tastes.

Coffee – Even though energy drinks are not recommended in a heart-healthy diet, the benefits of coffee outweigh the bad. When consumed in moderation, coffee provides the body with antioxidants that can help keep cholesterol levels in check. If coffee makes you jittery, however, you may need to switch to a low-caffeine or decaffeinated while still getting the benefit of antioxidants.

Fruit and Vegetable Juices – We’ve known for a while that grape juice is a powerful antioxidant, but it is also heart-healthy. The only precaution is that we should be careful of the amount we drink, as many fruit and vegetable drinks can be high in calories that can cause us to gain weight, which is not an added benefit for heart health.

Alcohol – Surprisingly, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services state in their guidelines that alcohol, in moderation, can lower your risk for heart disease. The guidelines state that we can consume one or two drinks per day. Three or more drinks per day may cause more issues, so moderation is key. Also be aware that people who are taking medications and those with diabetes should consult their physician before adding alcohol to their diet.

Green Tea – Green tea has many benefits, such as fighting off osteoporosis with flavonoids, but it is also a great choice for heart health. It is full of antioxidants that clean the blood vessels, and it will help reduce the chance of blood clots that cause heart attacks.