This Valentine’s Day, forget fancy meals and beautiful blooms and instead spend a little on your own heart. Last week we shared author and lifestyle guru Pippa Middleton’s three simple recipes to promote heart health, but what about smaller hacks which boast a big impact? Enter Dr Hazel Wallace, a practising doctor, blogger (The Food Medic – check her out here) PT, and good food company Linwoods ambassador who definitely knows a thing or two about looking after your ticker. Want to boost your heart health? Try these five simple tips.
- Eat more flaxseed
- “Flaxseed is a heart health superfood,” says Hazel. “It’s full of fibre which helps lower cholesterol, and boasts a high percentage of omega 3 fatty acids which can help improve your good cholesterol.”
-
Enjoy some chocolate
- Yup, that’s right ladies, chocolate is good for you… well, to a certain extent anyway. “Cacao is one of the most nutrient dense foods in the world because of its rich source of nutrients known as polyphenols,” explains Hazel. “Cacao has also been shown to reduce the amount of both LDL (the bad type) and total cholesterol, which reduces the risk of heart disease.”
-
A sprinkle a day keeps the doctor away
- Top your porridge with a sprinkling of goodness to help keep your heart in fine tune. “Pack every meal full of heart-loving nutrition by adding a sprinkle of one of Linwoods’ blends,” Hazel recommends. “I love the brand’s Flaxseed and Goji berries blend – it more than doubles your daily intake of Omega 3.”
-
Don’t miss out on magnesium
- “A recent study has found that consuming the RDI (200mg) of dietary magnesium has been associated with a 22 percent lower risk of coronary heart disease,” says Hazel. To load up on your recommended daily allowance, why not try a supplement or a hemp powder?
-
Get moving
- “Just 30 minutes of moderate activity a day can reduce your risk of heart disease and high blood pressure as well as reducing stress, tension, depression and anxiety,” Hazel says. Not got time to go to the gym? Give this 30-minute at-home workout a try.
For a selection of heart-healthy foods, head to Linwoods.co.uk
