Cereal can be a nutritious choice for a heart-healthy diet and lifestyle. Five large cohort studies cited in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that the consumption of wholegrain cereals significantly reduced the rates of coronary heart disease (CHD) in over 200,000 subjects. When selecting a heart-healthy cereal, look for those low in calories, fat and sugar, but high in fiber. The words "whole-grain," "whole-wheat" or "bran" should be first in the ingredients list. Also, avoid long ingredient lists with sugar listed near the top.
Kashi Heart to Heart Oat Flakes and Wild Blueberry Clusters
Choosing whole-grains with 3 g of fiber is important when selecting healthy foods, according to MayoClinic.com. Kashi Heart to Heart Oat Flakes and Wild Blueberry Clusters is a light, crunchy and sweet cereal that consists of dried blueberries, puffed rice, and honey as a natural sweetener and meets this criteria. A 1 1/4 cup serving has only 0.5 g of saturated fat and no trans fat. Its whole-grain oats provide 3 g of soluble fiber which may help in reducing heart disease risk. Fiber helps maintain a healthy digestive system and eliminate waste from the body.
Kellog's Frosted Mini-Wheats
Heart-healthy cereals don't have to taste bland or boring. Kristine Clark, Ph.D., R.D., and director of sports nutrition at Pennsylvania State University stated in a Women's Health article that Kellog's Frosted Mini-Wheats provides whole-grain goodness, with its frosted side appealing to the sweet tooth. Although higher in calories than most other cereals at 200 calories per serving, it's a bigger bowl at 24 biscuits. High in fiber, this cereal also boast 6 g of protein, which can help stave off hunger cravings and stabilize blood sugar levels.
Post Shredded Wheat
"Chatelaine" magazine recently cited Post Shredded Wheat cereal a favorite amongst cereals that are good for the heart since it consists of 100 percent whole-grain wheat. As a result, it has both 0 g of sugar and sodium, both of which can contribute to increased blood pressure. Combine it with low-fat milk or yogurt, fresh berries, and dried fruits for a nutritious, balanced meal or snack.
