You are advised to take diets comprising of food that has less fats, less sugar, more fruits and vegetables, more fish, and more fiber. You are also recommended to be extra careful of your calorie intake.

The foods that will help your cardiovascular system perform its function well are the following:

• Salmon and Tuna – Salmon and tuna are two sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 helps your heart by reducing its inflammation and the formation of blood clots. These also keep your cholesterol levels normal. It is best that you take omega-3 rich foods at least twice a week. Adding vegetables to your meal will make it a healthier diet.
• Oats – Beta glucan is a soluble fiber found in oats. It helps reduce both LDL and total cholesterol. It also maintains the health of your digestive system. Oatmeal is best served with fruits and nuts for breakfast.
• Whole Grains – Whole grains are great providers of fiber and vitamins that makes your heart healthy.
• Tomatoes – Tomatoes are one of the most common foods for a good heart. Tomatoes have lycopene that helps fight off risks of developing heart disease. It has been known that canned and cooked tomatoes have more lycopene than raw tomatoes do. Lycopene does not only help make your heart healthy, it also prevents the growth of certain cancers.
• Soy – Soy is a good source of protein that can act as substitute to lean meats. This helps you reduce the saturated fats in your body.
]]> http://www.wideworldoffood.com/food-diets-for-a-healthy-heart/feed 0 http://www.wideworldoffood.com/how-to-cook-low-calorie-foods http://www.wideworldoffood.com/how-to-cook-low-calorie-foods#comments Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:30:09 +0000 Food Blogger http://www.wideworldoffood.com/?p=374 Many people these days want to control their diets so they are eating low calorie foods, but low calorie foods that still taste great. The way to get low calorie foods that taste great is through light calorie cooking. There are a few tips to consider when embarking on light calorie cooking adventures where the calories are low but the taste is high.

Margarine As Opposed to Butter
When following recipes when preparing a meal, there are many recipes that now list a choice between using butter as an ingredient or margarine. By using margarine in the recipe instead of butter the cook cuts the caloric content significantly yet still keeps a good taste overall. It is very hard to tell the difference between margarine and butter that is used in cooked foods and since margarine is lower in calories it is a great substitute. So, the next time you are cooking and run across a choice between butter or margarine as an ingredient make the healthy and low calorie choice by using margarine. The taste will remain great and it won’t affect your waistline!

Splenda as Opposed to Sugar
Another great way in which to save on the caloric intake is to use Splenda in one’s recipes as opposed to sugar. Splenda consists of sucralose, which was approved for sale on the market in the late 1990s. Not only is this ingredient low in calories but it is great tasting as well. Splenda is also a wonderful ingredient to use in baked foods as it is heat stable and there is no real loss of the substance during cooking. For these reasons, Splenda is a great ingredient to use when cooking using those recipes which call for sugar. You won’t notice a difference, but you will enjoy great foods and beverages with considerably less calories!

These are two ways in which a calorie-conscious individual can make fantastic light calorie meals that are abundant in the taste department and easy on the waistline as well.

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