This is the start of the second week in our Good-Food-for-the-Heart series. For the benefit of those who missed our first week’s posts, this is a two-week long feature on foods which are beneficial for your heart’s health.
High blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels are some of the most common ailments that people are experiencing right now, which is why it is good to be informed about which foods would help us battle heart problems.
The first item on our list of heart-friendly foods is oatmeal. Eating a bowl of oatmeal with milk and fruits is a great way to start the day. All of the health benefits of oatmeal is geared towards having a healthy heart.
Let’s take one cup of cooked oats as an example. This will provide you with 20% of the daily value of thiamin or vitamin B1 that your body needs. It also has manganese, selenium, protein, magnesium and dietary fibers. What all these nutrients do is to lower your cholesterol level. The dietary fibers found in oatmeal help prevent stroke, coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease and blood clotting.
Oatmeal also helps enhance the body’s immune system, strengthens its response to any type of infection, stabilizes blood sugar levels, lowers the risks of diabetes and provides antioxidant benefits.
By making oatmeal your staple breakfast food, you will gain all the energy that you need for the day while maintaining your heart’s health.