For the body, food acts as fuel that drives us, day in and day out. Whether we earn to eat food, or we eat food to get up the next morning and earn well, it is one of the basic requirements that cannot be ignored. Yet, the wrong kind of food can also lead to a slew of problems for the body as well as the mind. The heart is one such organ which depends on our lifestyle choices when it comes to the proper functioning of the same. Which is why, you need to include the best heart healthy foods in your diet plan to avoid falling prey to the various heart conditions. Also, to take care of our heart and fight the risk of fatalities in case we are already suffering from any cardiovascular condition or heart disease is vital as well.
There are a number of foods that we can have for heart health, but the mere sound of some ingredients may be off putting. But if you try different recipes to cook a particular ingredient, you might end up eating it. Let our list of recipes inspire you.
Roasted salmon
This is a delicious and lightweight recipe, which is great for your heart. Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and has other nutrients that makes it part of the best heart healthy foods. You can roast the salmon on a skillet using a drizzle of extra healthy extra virgin olive oil. Season the fish fillet with some salt, pepper and freshly chopped herbs and garlic as well. Garlic is a well known ingredient that is hailed as good food for heart health. You can then add some toasted beans, carrots and shallots to the side of the dish so that you have a wholesome meal ready with minimum preparation and cooking time.
Broccoli pesto
You can prepare pesto with broccoli, an iron-rich green vegetable that’s good for the heart health. This can be had with a rice salad as well as a risotto or even whole-wheat pasta–all of this makes for a healthy meal in a bowl. This is the perfect heart food as it has the goodness of iron which helps in strengthening the muscles of the heart.
Bean tostadas
You can combine crunchy tostadas with one of the best heart healthy foods, beans. Black beans and other legumes are known to be rich in many dietary fibers, much like fruit and vegetables. This can help in creating a metabolic rate so that the bad cholesterol does not get a chance to settle and choke the arteries. You can boil black beans and drizzle some salsa over it before putting a few spoonfuls over a tostada for your dinner. And the best part? The crunchy and fresh taste will make it a mouth watering meal.
Quinoa bowl
This is a heart healthy food which is rich in proteins. Combine this ingredient with plenty of fresh salad greens for a yum salad or a side-dish. A boring, dull and boring Monday can also be transformed into an awesome day with such recipes.
We are a coffee-drinking nation and every form of the beverage – decaf, regular, expresso, latte, cappuccino, macchiato and ristretto is consumed everyday by millions of us. It’s the first thing we need in the morning and the last (for some) after dessert. Black, with cream, with sugar, no sugar, flavored, each of us has a preference with regard to strength. Nespresso’s taken heed of this and given us a gift in a pod with the Nespresso capsules. Available in the regular Arabica and Robusta capsules, they have some amazing seasonal flavors as well.
Nespresso capsules are hermetically sealed in a capsule that holds 5-7 gms of coffee – enough for one serving of coffee. They offer five ranges in Ristretto (25ml), Espresso (40 ml), Lungo (110 ml), Decaffeinated (40 ml and 110 ml) or Flavored (40 ml).
The variations in Nespresso coffee capsules Ristretto range are:
Ristretto Origin – Made from South and Central American Arabicas, it has toasted flavors with cocoa notes and woody undertones.
Ristretto Origin India – A blend of the finest Arabicas with a smidgen of Robusta from Southern India, this full-bodied coffee has hints of spices.
Ristretto Intenso – A strong blend of South and Central American Robustas and Arabicas, the Ristretto Intenso is a full-bodied coffee with a creamy texture and peppery notes.
The variations in Nespresso coffee capsules Espresso range are:
Espresso Origin Brazil: A pure Arabica coffee, it has a mild sweet flavor.
Espresso Leggero: A blend of South American Arabicas and Robusta, it has smooth notes of cocoa and cereal.
Espresso Forte: Exclusively made from South and Central American Arabicas, it has an intensely roasted balance of espresso and fruity notes.
The variations of Nespresso coffee capsules Lungo range are:
Lungo Leggero: Lightly roasted East African, South and Central American Arabicas, with mild notes of jasmine is what makes up this delicious brew.
Lungo Forte: A complex mix of South and Central American Arabicas, this coffee has heavy roasted notes with a slight hint of fruit.
Lungo Origin Guatemala: A mix of Arabica and washed Gourmet Robusta coffee, Lungo Origin Guatemala is smooth and well balanced with dry and malty cereal notes.
The variations of Nespresso coffee capsules in the Decaffeinated range are:
Espresso Decaffeinato: Dark roasted South American Arabicas with a touch of Robusta enhances the cocoa flavors and roasted cereal undertones of this decaffeinated espresso.
Lungo Decaffeinato: This is a slightly more complex blend of separately roasted South American and East African Arabicas. It includes toasted cereal and sweet notes with subtle and floral hints of East African Arabicas.
The variations of Nespresso coffee capsules Flavored range are:
Espresso Vanilla: This silky-flavored coffee is the result of a base of Espresso Forte, which is a complex and heavily-roasted blend of South and Central American Arabicas and a slightly caramelized aroma of vanilla. Espresso Caramel: On a base of Espresso Forte, this complex and intensely roasted blend made from South and Central American Arabicas has the sweetness of caramel.
Here are a few easy and healthy recipe ideas that are both quick to make and light to digest on hot summer days. With very few ingredients, the preparation of these recipes is a breeze. So go on, enjoy these easy, healthy recipes that are brimming with nutrition and taste heavenly too!
Greek Cucumber Rolls
Ingredients (Serves 2)
Directions
This is popular among easy and healthy recipes. Slice cucumber into thin flat strips using a vegetable peeler and arrange them in slices of two on a clean tray. Smear the hummus on top of each slice, then toss some feta cheese, black olives and cut tomatoes on each of the cucumber strips. Squeeze a little lemon juice and sprinkle some finely chopped dill and cilantro. Finally, roll the strips, serve the Greek cucumber rolls and see them being gobbled up by the young and old alike!
Flavorful fettuccine pasta with vegetables
Ingredients (Serves 2)
Directions
Cook the fettuccine pasta according to the directions on the label. In a thick bottomed pan, heat the olive oil and sauté the chopped garlic and shallots. After about a minute or so, add the other vegetables along with salt and toss them gently for a few minutes. The vegetables must cook and be crunchy at the same time. When they are done, add the cooked pasta, Parmesan cheese, and some freshly ground black pepper to it and mix well. Serve this flavorful fettuccine pasta with vegetables for lunch or dinner as a filling, yet light meal.
Sunshine juice
Ingredients (Serves 2)
Direction
Squeeze juice from the oranges and blend the strawberries in a juicer. Then in a pitcher, take the orange juice, strawberry juice, and chilled water together and mix well. Refresh yourself with this yummy sunshine juice with ice cubes on a hot day.