The United States has a bad reputation for high rates of obesity and laziness. While that stereotype shouldn’t define people of any weight, there is something to it. Due in part to those bad habits, heart disease is the top cause of death in this country.
Exercise and healthy eating are key to beating heart disease, but folks associate developing those habits with suffering. Believe it or not, the truth is that there are plenty of heart-healthy desserts you can make.
Take a look at this list of some tasty treats that are easy on your heart.
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1. Black Bean Brownies
Some people think of chocolate as bad for your heart. In reality, the chocolate we know and love is made unhealthy by heaps of sugar, hidden fats, and chemical additives. Cocoa, the source of chocolate’s signature taste, isn’t bad for you at all.
Cocoa contains flavanols, nutrients that make heart-healthy chocolate desserts possible. Dark chocolate with 70% or more cocoa is a popular treat for cardiac diets. You can also use it in versions of your favorite baked goods, such as black bean brownies.
When you add a sweetener and chocolate to black beans, they replace eggs and oil to make exceptional brownies. They contain high levels of fiber, antioxidants, magnesium, and folate. They’re no replacement for medication, but all of those nutrients help improve your heart condition.
2. Oatmeal Cookies With Walnuts and More
Walnuts and oatmeal are a couple of other MVPs for fiber intake, and they’re delicious together. Other walnut properties that are good for your heart health include high levels of omega-3 fatty acids and plant sterols.
When you’re careful with the other ingredients, any oatmeal cookie can be a heart-healthy dessert. Unsweetened raisins, cherries, and cranberries are among other healthy options. You could even take your oatmeal cookies to the next level with dark chocolate chips for another cardiac health boost.
3. Fresh Fruit for Dessert
Another nutritious way to treat yourself is having fresh fruit for dessert. Apples, bananas, berries, and a long list of other popular fruits are great for heart health.
One bit of bad news is that anyone taking medication for high blood pressure or high cholesterol should avoid grapefruit at all costs. It’s nutritious and good for your heart if you aren’t taking medications likely to react to the fruit. If you do use those medicines, the enzymes in grapefruit could block their effects.
4. Wine After Dinnertime
Not all heart-healthy dessert choices have to be sweet treats.
Red wine contains antioxidants that work against coronary artery disease. A glass after dinner can be a sophisticated part of your cardiac diet.
Nourish a Better Life With Heart-Healthy Desserts and Other Smart Tips
These heart-healthy desserts make following a cardiac diet easier and more pleasant. They’re a good way to incorporate healthy foods into your diet whether you’re at risk of cardiac disease or not.
If you want other smart tips and useful advice like this, take a look around our website. We have a collection of articles that’ll help you nourish a better life. Click on another blog and boost your knowledge today.