Protecting Heart Health

Support Your Heart with Fresh Nutritious Vegetables

The food you eat can decrease your risk of heart disease and eating four to five servings of fruits and veggies per day has been shown to keep your heart healthy. Plus, veggies are packed full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber which all help you maintain a healthy system. Let’s take a deep dive into how three of our greenhouse grown vegetables support heart health:

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are high in two key heart healthy nutrients, lycopene and potassium, which can help you maintain a healthy blood pressure which, in turn, may lower your chances of heart disease. Lycopene is the natural compound that gives tomatoes their gorgeous red color and is also a powerful antioxidant. Research shows that lycopene’s antioxidant properties can help protect your body against heart problems. Lycopene can also reduce bad cholesterol while increasing good cholesterol which is important as having high cholesterol can result in blood clots which may lead to a heart attack. The mineral potassium is also heavily present in tomatoes which can help lower blood pressure by removing some of the sodium from your body and relaxing the walls of your blood vessels.

The benefits of potassium include helping to keep your heart rhythm steady and reducing the risk of cardiac arrest. So, stock up on some of our juicy and nutritious tomatoes this month to keep your heart strong and healthy.

Bell Peppers

Bell peppers are loaded with various vitamins and minerals, contain over 30 carotenoids, and are also a good source of potassium which supports heart health by lowering blood pressure. Red bell peppers, in particular, are great for heart health as they also contain the antioxidant lycopene that we discussed in our tomato section. They are also a good source of soluble fiber and the powerful antioxidant vitamins A and C, which are all good for your heart. So, chop up some of our sweet and crunchy bell peppers and add them to everything from macaroni and cheese to salads or just enjoy with some hummus.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers contain dozens of antioxidants that may help slow or even stop heart-related diseases.  According to the American Heart Association, since cucumbers are high in the electrolyte potassium, they may reduce sodium-induced water retention thus lowering blood pressure. Also, as cucumbers are over 90% water, they help keep you hydrated, and dehydration can cause strain on your heart. So, there are plenty of reasons to munch on some “cukes.” Add them to your salads, dunk in your favorite dip, or just enjoy their crunchy goodness all on their own. These three vegetables are some of the best at supporting heart health, and they can be an easy and nutritious addition to any meal. Delicious on their own or by adding to your favorite meals, regular consumption of the vegetables can ensure your heart health is protected for years to come.