February kicks off American Heart Month and right smack in the middle of the month is Valentine’s Day! In honor of both events, I wanted to share 3 of my favorite Heart Healthy Recipes that not only show your sweetheart that you love them, but that you also want to help keep them around for years to come!
Chicken Tikka Masala
Heart Healthy Ingredient: Tumeric
Tumeric is found in most Indian curries and is what gives American mustard that yellow hue. It has also been shown to be a powerful anti-inflammatory and a great addition to your heart healthy lifestyle. Moreover, tumeric’s absorption is greatly increased when paired with black pepper. Try the recipe below that contains both!
https://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/quick_chicken_tikka_masala.html
Grilled Salmon with Soy & Brown Sugar Glaze
Heart Healthy Ingredient: Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 Fatty Acids, found in salmon, have been show to lower blood triglycerides, reduce inflammation and decrease cardiac arrest. They can also help repair heart damage and strengthen heart muscles. Check out the recipe below where you can get all the benefits of salmon AND the sweet taste of brown sugar!
https://allrecipes.com/recipe/grilled-salmon-i/
Zesty Wheat Berry Black Bean Chili
Heart Healthy Ingredient: Fiber
The reason that high cholesterol is such a big deal is because it decreases the size of your arteries and puts more burden on your heart to push blood through your body. Increasing your fiber intake is the single best way to reduce cholesterol and make it so your heart doesn’t have to work as hard. Now, if you feel that the old adage “Beans, beans they’re good for your heart…” is a little less than romantic, feel free to try this recipe out on Super Bowl Sunday instead!
https://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/zesty_wheat_berry_black_bean_chili.html
Article first appeared on the blog.totalgym.com.
