6 Unusual Foods that Improve Your Heart Health

You’ve probably seen tens if not hundreds of lists of heart-healthy foods. The only problem is these lists tediously share the same foods. You can probably list them off the top of your head. The usual suspects include olive oil, vegetables, fish, and so on.

While these foods are incredibly healthy, you need to try other unpopular heart-healthy foods. In fact, you may be surprised to see some foods on this list because some nutritionists say they’re unhealthy yet studies show they can tremendously improve your heart health.

1. Beer

You may know that drinking a glass of wine a day is good for your heart. However, wine isn’t the only heart-healthy alcoholic beverage.

Research shows that beer, wine, and spirits can improve your heart health when consumed in moderation. According to various studies, one beer a day is all it takes to improve your heart health.

Beware that more isn’t better. Drinking more than one beer a day can dramatically increase your risk of heart disease.

2. Coffee

Some people believe strongly that coffee is bad for the heart. If you’re one of those people, the two studies below change your mind.

According to this study, coffee increases HDL (good) cholesterol and lowers inflammation. These changes keep your heart healthy and even lower your risk of diabetes.

A review of various studies that was investigating the link between coffee and heart failure also found that drinking coffee was actually good for the heart. The report found that four servings a day offered optimal benefits.

3. Eggs

Eggs were vilified for so long that some people are still scared of them. But you need not fear them anymore. Eggs offer amazing science-backed benefits.

Many studies have proven that eggs don’t raise blood cholesterol. Interestingly, this study found that people who ate 3 eggs a day increased HDL cholesterol but LDL (bad) cholesterol didn’t increase after 12 weeks.

It’s also worth noting that eggs offer B vitamins and vitamin D, which are vital for heart health.

4. Peanut Butter

We’ve been led to believe that tasty and delicious food is unhealthy but that’s not the case with peanut butter.

Yes, it has high-fat content but research shows it’s great for your heart. It can even help you curb hunger thanks to the high-fat content. But consume it in moderation if you’re trying to lose weight because one tablespoon has 94 calories.

According to this study, eating peanut butter helps protect your heart as much as eating nuts. I’d recommend pairing it with fruits such as apples for a massive health boost.

5. Chili Peppers

Spicing your meals up with chili peppers can improve your heart health in various ways.

For one, capsaicin, a compound in chili peppers has been shown to lower cholesterol levels by reducing the formation of plaque, research shows. Capsaicin can also improve circulation by blocking a gene that interferes with the flow of blood to your heart and other organs.

6. Dark Chocolate

Chances are you’ve heard nutritionists recommend dark chocolate due to the strong antioxidant properties.

Well, the flavonols in dark chocolate can improve your cardiovascular health by improving circulation and preventing blood clots. When buying, make sure it contains more than 70 percent cocoa.