Common conditions of heart disease include coronary artery disease and arrhythmias, MayoClinic.com states. It is often interchangeable with cardiovascular diseases that can lead to stroke, heart attack and angina. Heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the United States. Eating functional foods to promote and protect your heart can help reduce the risk of heart disease or its associated complications.
Bran
Bran is an excellent source of soluble fiber, which can help reduce your risk of heart disease, Roberta Duyff writes in "American Dietetic Association Complete Food and Nutrition Guide." This is due to the soluble fiber's ability to lower low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, cholesterol levels that clog arteries. Bran is considered a whole-grain food, which include cereals like oat, wheat, rice and corn.
Soy Protein
According to Duyff, 25 g of soy protein a day in conjunction with a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet can reduce the risk of heart disease. Although sufficient data is lacking, the American Heart Association, or AHA, recognizes that consuming soy protein may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Elisabeth Von der Lohe in her "Coronary Heart Disease in Women" notes that the isoflavones present in soy protein, primarily genistein and daidzein, are the compounds responsible for lowering LDL levels. Miso, edamame and soymilk are excellent sources of soy protein.
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Perhaps the most simple and effective functional foods for heart disease are fresh fruits and vegetables, which are naturally low in fat, high in dietary fiber and full of vitamins A and C, Duyff states. Items like broccoli, green leafy vegetables and green peppers aren't only abundant sources for the antioxidant vitamins A and C, but they also move quickly through the digestive tract eliminating accumulated food. Eating watermelon, pomegranate and citrus fruits are also beneficial to the heart. Watermelon, in particular, is a diuretic that helps flush out the body.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Heart Disease
- American Heart Association: Whole Grains and Fiber
- American Heart Association: AHA Comments to FDA on Soy Protein and Coronary Heart Disease Health Claim
- "American Dietetic Association Complete Food and Nutrition Guide"; Roberta Duyff; 2006
- "Coronary Heart Disease in Women"; Elisabeth Von der Lohe; 2003
