Heart disease is the leading cause of death in most countries. In Malaysia, heart disease has remained as the number one killer disease over the past 10 years. Most heart problems arise because of your lifestyle - what you eat, how much you move, even your daily emotions. Aside from having healthy lifestyle, here are some of the top health foods for your heart.

Fish Oil

Contradicting to common belief, avoiding fats and oils completely do more harm than good to your body. Omega 3, one of the essential fats that play a big role in heart health can’t be produced by our body. American Heart Association recommends everyone to have fish rich in Omega 3 at least twice a week. If fish is not readily available to you, or you simply do not enjoy eating fish, fish oil would be the best source of Omega 3. Fish oil can help to lower blood pressure, improve blood vessel function, may ease inflammation, which is an important factor in the development of atherosclerosis, and, at higher doses, lower triglyceride level as much as 30%.

coQ10

Coenzyme Q-10 (coQ10) is a substance that can be found in almost every cell in your body. CoQ10 helps convert food into energy, and functions as antioxidants protecting your body from damage caused by oxidation. CoQ10 is beneficial to your heart in many ways. It aids in maintaining LDL cholesterol oxidative state at normal and ensuring your heart muscle functions optimally. Research also found that having CoQ10 alongside the medical treatment for heart failure may help improve symptoms, and reduce major adverse cardiovascular events. 

Flaxseed

Flaxseed, the brown tiny seeds, are the richest plant based ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) Omega 3 fatty acids source. 1 tablespoon of whole flaxseed contains 2.35g of ALA which is approximately 150% of adequate intake for those above 20 years old. Flaxseeds may help reduce LDL cholesterol levels by trapping fats and cholesterol. It’s also safe for diabetic users, thanks to it’s low glycemic index (GI).

If you have concern over your heart health, or simply feel like supplementing your diet, try these super foods. They are quite affordable nowadays and are widely sold in pharmacies. Get your heart covered today!