22 Easy Heart-Healthy Snacks You'll Want to Make Forever (2024)

FAQs

What are heart healthy snacks with protein? ›

What snacks are high in protein? High-protein snacks include nuts like pistachios, lean meats and poultry like turkey or chicken, beans and legumes like chickpeas or edamame and dairy products such as greek yogurt or hard cheeses.

Instead of snacking on chips or sweets, eat unsalted pretzels or nuts, raisins, low-fat and fat-free yogurt, frozen yogurt, unsalted plain popcorn with no butter, and raw vegetables. Read food labels to choose low-sodium products.

The best vegetables and fruits for heart patients are bananas, avocados, oranges, grapes, tomatoes, and spinach. These fruits contain potassium, magnesium, and vitamin C which are good for the heart. Research shows that eating a diet rich in these nutrients can help lower blood pressure levels.

Consider part-skim ricotta cheese for a creamy and delicious addition to your heart-healthy diet. According to the USDA, 1 ounce of part-skim ricotta provides 1 gram of saturated fat and 28 milligrams of sodium, significantly less than full-fat dairy options.

Yes, SunChips^® meet criteria for heart healthy food!

The top fruits for lowering blood pressure include bananas, apples, pears, apricots, grapes, raisins, kiwis, mangoes, watermelon, pomegranate, plums, prunes, avocado, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, tomatoes, citrus fruit, berries, and more.

Yogurt or Cottage Cheese and Fruit

Pair it with a fruit of your choice. Some ideas: oranges, apples, kiwis and berries, as these are all rich in potassium, vitamins and antioxidants, which help reduce blood pressure and inflammation.

What is the number one food that causes high blood pressure? ›

Foods high in salt or added sugars — such as soda and caffeinated drinks, baked goods, and many packaged foods — can contribute to high blood pressure. Limiting or replacing these foods in the diet can help people manage or lower their blood pressure.

“Stick to baked things like chicken or deep-sea fish like salmon and tuna, and avoid rich cream sauces,” Dr. DeVane says. “Think about the Mediterranean style of eating—minimal red meat, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, and olive oil and nuts [which contain the good fats], plus a glass of wine, if you enjoy that.”

Helps heart health

Due to its high amount of unsaturated fats, peanut butter may help reduce a person's LDL cholesterol levels. Having optimal LDL levels is linked with a lower risk of heart disease. A 2015 study found that people who had a high intake of nuts may have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease mortality.