Boost Your Health With These 5 Fruits For Heart Patients!

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Medically reviewed by

Bajaj Finserv Health

Heart Health

5 min read

Key Takeaways

  • Having the right fruits for heart health reduces the risk of heart disease
  • Apples can lower the risk of stroke and heart diseases as well as obesity
  • Almonds and hazelnuts are some of the top dry fruits for heart patients

Just like some foods increase the risk of heart diseases, others lower these risks. Fruits belong to the latter group. Ensuring that your diet includes fruits good for the heart not only boosts your heart health, but also improve your overall well-being. The nutrition provided by such fruits helps in decreasing your cholesterol and blood pressure. Fruits are a rich source of fiber and potassium that help in reducing and preventing hypertension too.

Heart issues are not only caused by an imbalanced or unhealthy diet but also by a stressful lifestyle. In a time where nearly one-third of the deaths across the globe are caused by heart problems, it is essential to have a heart-healthy diet.

Read on to know the best fruits for heart patients and also learn why doctors suggest dry fruits for heart patients.

Additional read: 11 Lifestyle tips to maintain a healthy heart

Eat apples to lower your risk of heart disease

Turns out that if you actually eat one apple a day, you can keep the doctor away! Apples are the one of the most nutritious fruits because of the many benefits they offer. Their fiber and vitamin content help you lower:

  • Cholesterol

  • Blood pressure

  • Risk of obesity

  • Risk of heart disease and stroke

This is why apples are considered the best fruit for heart health. One of their most nutritious components, polyphenols, are located just below the skin of the apple. So, be sure to eat them with the skin on!

Have berries to improve heart health

Heart diseases develop because of stress and oxidative inflammation. Berries are rich in antioxidants that protect your heart from this. They are also low in calories, which reduces the risk of obesity. Strawberries, blueberries and blackberries also lower the risk of high blood pressure and cognitive decline. Having 17 grams of berries rich in antioxidants helps reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes by 5% as per a study [1]. All this makes berries some of the best fruits for heart patients.

Make bananas a part of your diet for natural sugar

Potassium is not the only thing that bananas have to offer. Natural sugar is a part of bananas and when you have them in moderate amount, they prove to be beneficial for your overall health. Bananas also offer some fiber content along with vitamin B6, C, and magnesium. These nutrients make them ideal as they control your sugar levels and improve your gut health. Their easily digestible carb content also makes them a great snack before you work out. This is why bananas are at the top of the list of fruits good for the heart.

food that lower heart disease risk

Consume apricots to increase your fiber intake

Despite their small size, apricots have a big amount of fiber in them. Their soluble fiber content encourages good bacteria to thrive in your digestive tract and help it retain enough water. This fiber is good for healthy gut bacteria too. Today, research proves such bacteria not only affect your mood, metabolism, and immune response, but also your heart health [2]. Apricots also offer plenty of vitamins (A, C, E, and K) which makes them good for your overall health.

Get a vitamin C boost with oranges

The citrus fruit gives you a vitamin C boost like no other! Like other fruits in this list, they also have fiber, potassium, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory properties. Consuming a whole orange rather than orange juice will give you more fiber. If you do go for orange juice, choose one that has pulp in it. A whole orange will also help reduce your level of inflammation, cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar. This is why they are great fruits for heart health.

Additional read: How is Olive oil good for heart health? Get ready to be surprised!

Lower your cholesterol by eating dry fruits

When you have a handful of nuts as part of your daily diet, you can manage your cholesterol better. They help decrease bad cholesterol levels while increasing good cholesterol levels. This happens because of their composition which contains:

  • Protein

  • Fiber

  • Vitamins

  • Antioxidants

Doctors often suggest dry fruits for heart patients as they help in reducing bad cholesterol. Pecans, almonds and hazelnuts are some of the dry fruits you should have regularly.

All these fruits and dry fruits can help your make your diet more heart friendly. However, keep other lifestyle habits in mind to reduce risks of heart issues. You may already know that smoking and heart disease are linked. Apart from this, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, a high-fat diet, obesity, diabetes can increase the risks of coronary heart disease. These are all leading causes of a heart attack [3].

A healthier lifestyle can really help you not only lower chances of heart ailments, but also other problems. As you try to do this, keep some early heart attack symptoms in mind. Shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, and cold sweats are all heart attack symptoms. When you notice such signs, consult a doctor immediately. You can book in-person or video appointments with specialists near you in seconds on Bajaj Finserv Health. You can also get tests to track your heart health in affordable packages here. So, use these resources to give your heart the attention and care it deserves!

Published on 1 Dec 2021Last updated on 15 Sep 2022
  1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27530472/
  2. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-power-of-gut-bacteria-and-probiotics-for-heart-health
  3. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heart-attack/causes/

Please note that this article is solely meant for informational purposes and Bajaj Finserv Health Limited (“BFHL”) does not shoulder any responsibility of the views/advice/information expressed/given by the writer/reviewer/originator. This article should not be considered as a substitute for any medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult with your trusted physician/qualified healthcare professional to evaluate your medical condition. The above article has been reviewed by a qualified doctor and BFHL is not responsible for any damages for any information or services provided by any third party.

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