THE FOODIST / THE YEAR OF EATING BETTER (YES, WE CAN, Part 1)

In a related repost, Farmizen.com extolls the spinach mask as a more utilitarian use for leafy veggies.

In a recent post on www.healthline.com Rachael Link (see bio below) researched and wrote that heart disease accounts for nearly one-third of all deaths worldwide.  In fact, certain foods can influence blood pressure, triglycerides, cholesterol levels and inflammation, all of which are risk factors for heart disease, said Ms. Link.

She lists foods that we all should be eating to maximize heart health because diet plays such a major role in lowering risks of heart disease.   PillartoPost.org will share her healthy and common sense findings weekly through Spring.

1. Leafy Green Vegetables

Leafy green vegetables like spinach, kale and collard greens are well-known for their wealth of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

In particular, they’re a great source of vitamin K, which helps protect your arteries and promote proper blood clotting.

They’re also high in dietary nitrates, which have been shown to reduce blood pressure, decrease arterial stiffness and improve the function of cells lining the blood vessels.

Some studies have also found a link between increasing your intake of leafy green vegetables and a lower risk of heart disease.

One analysis of eight studies found that increasing leafy green vegetable intake was associated with up to a 16% lower incidence of heart disease.

Another study in 29,689 women showed that a high intake of leafy green vegetables was linked to a significantly lower risk of coronary heart disease.

Summary

Leafy green vegetables are high in vitamin K and nitrates, which can help reduce blood pressure and improve arterial function. Studies show that a higher intake of leafy greens is associated with a lower risk of heart disease.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR. Rachael Link is a registered dietitian based in New York City. She earned her undergraduate degree in Missouri and completed her Master's degree at New York University. She is passionate about plant-based nutrition and achieving better health by balancing her time between the kitchen and the gym. She is a diet expert with Healthline.com and also enjoys sharing healthy recipes and nutrition tips on her excellent blog called Nutrimental.

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