TOP 5: Heart Healthy Foods
Heart disease is still the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. There is good news though! Heart disease is both preventable and controllable. By managing health conditions and making smart choices about the foods you eat, you can help protect yourself and your loved ones from this ever-present health threat. Eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables is a great start. Sprouts Nutritionist, Janet Little, recommends including some of these heart-healthy foods in your diet to further reduce cardiovascular risk.
Did you know that pineapple has been used for centuries in Central and South America to reduce inflammation? It contains bromelain, a mixture of enzymes that digest protein. The 
Back in the 1970s, scientists identified fat as a major risk toward heart disease. The idea was that fat turned into cholesterol and high cholesterol caused heart disease. In the 1990s, scientists realized that there are two types of cholesterol in the body: the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles, often called “good” cholesterol; and the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles, often referred to as the “bad” cholesterol. We were warned to avoid saturated fats like butter, cheese and meat because these foods contained the “bad” cholesterol which aggressively increases levels of LDLs, thus increasing our risk for cardiovascular disease.
Recently, scientists discovered two different kinds of bad cholesterol particles. One is large and fluffy and the other is small and dense. According to research, it’s the small and dense LDL particles—most likely caused by elevated insulin levels—that increase the risk of heart disease. In moderation, saturated fats like dairy, meat, bacon, butter and coconut oil may not increase the risk of heart disease.
sting fantastic, superfoods contain an exceptionally high nutrient content when compared to the amount of calories per serving of processed foods. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables is important for healthy weight management.
Fruits and vegetables provide most of the carotenoid compounds in your diet. Carotenoids are beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin which are sources of phytochemicals that function as antioxidants in your body. Scientific research indicates that consumption of plant-based foods is associated with lower rates of cardiovascular disease, cancer and other chronic diseases.1
During 2007–2010, half of the total U.S. population consumed less than one cup of fruit and less than one and a half cups of vegetables daily; 76 percent did not meet fruit intake recommendations, and 87 percent did not meet vegetable intake recommendations.4 Recommendations for fruit intake range from one to two and a half cups and vegetables from one and a half to three cups per day. Consuming a powdered green drink can help you achieve your RDAs of fruits and vegetables.
Salt is one of the oldest and most commonly used seasonings around the globe. It takes foods from bland to brilliant. It makes our bodies function and thrive. It’s abundant and inexpensive, but it’s also overused.
The recommended daily allowance (RDA) of sodium for the average adult is 2,360 milligrams, though the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends no more than 1,500 milligrams.
Sounds like a lot—but don’t be fooled. Those numbers equal about one teaspoon of salt (or less) for the entire day, and there is sodium in pretty much everything we eat. In fact, 80 percent of the sodium we get comes not from the shaker on the table, but from the foods we eat. Currently, American adults are consuming more than 4,000 milligrams per day, due in large part to the presence of so many processed foods in our diets. The second biggest culprit of sodium overload is the food served in restaurants.
Sodium, however, is vital for a healthy body. It helps maintain water balance and pH levels and enables cells to draw in nutrients. Excessive sweating can lead to salt cravings as an indication of a loss of sodium, dehydration, and/or an electrolyte imbalance. (Be sure to hydrate sufficiently before, during, and after rigorous workouts.)
In excessive amounts, salt can be dangerous to your health. It can contribute to hypertension, heart disease, and may cause the body to retain too much water. To help avoid excess sodium in your diet, dieticians and doctors suggest caution when adding salt to your foods. Instead use herbs and salt-free seasonings to flavor your foods. If you must add salt, do so sparingly; a little goes a long way.
At Sprouts, we offer many minimally processed foods, but even natural food products can go overboard with the sodium. So be sure to read labels and understand the terminology:
There are many reasons that you might seek a milk alternative. Perhaps you are lactose intolerant or vegan. You might be looking to add a unique flavor to a recipe. Or maybe you are just curious about all the different options. The task of choosing the right dairy substitute can be daunting: the shelves are filled with choices, and many are made from surprising sources. So we commandeered a recent staff meeting to help you discover some “udderly” different milk choices.
We kept things simple by sampling only shelf-stable products in plain or original flavors from a variety of different brands. Participants were asked to consider taste, color, consistency and versatility. We found the experience enlightening and some participants even discovered a new favorite beverage.