7 Red Foods you must eat that

Fortunately, you can make simple lifestyle changes to keep your heart healthy, and one of them is eating more red foods. Sounds strange, right? What does the color of food have to do with your heart's health? In this article, we'll be exploring the red foods you need to eat for a healthy and strong heart. 

The answer lies in an antioxidant called lycopene, found in tomatoes. This antioxidant can help reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer if you're eating tomatoes for health benefits. Always ensure you eat the skin too. 

Tomatoes 

As a general rule, the highest amount of lycopene is found in the skin of tomatoes. The redder the tomato is, the more lycopene it will have. Sauces and ketchup are the most common tomato products in western diets in the United States. 

These items, along with tomato paste and juice, contain approximately 80% of the lycopene. What you get from these products is often more than what you get from fresh tomatoes. For instance, 100 grams of ketchup will give you around 10 to 14 milligrams of lycopene, but 100 grams of fresh tomatoes will only give you up to 8 grams. Of course, you won't be eating a bottle of ketchup in one sitting, but tomato products are still a great way to get this antioxidant. 

Experts credit lycopene with playing an important role in ensuring your heart's health. Research has shown low levels of lycopene in your blood can increase the chances of a heart attack or stroke. Another way lycopene helps your heart is by reducing LDL cholesterol in your blood. LDL is the bad cholesterol responsible for many heart issues.

Red bell peppers

Next on our list are roasted red bell peppers. Bell peppers come in various colors. If you want to keep your heart healthy and strong, eat more red bell peppers, which are high in vitamins A and C. The same amount of peppers provide 159 percent of your daily vitamin C requirements.

Vitamin C in red bell peppers works as a powerful antioxidant, preventing cell damage and having anti-inflammatory properties. Boosting your immune system and fighting off microbes like bacteria protects your body from infections. 

Vitamin C in this veggie helps your body absorb iron more efficiently. Pairing red bell peppers with iron-rich foods such as spinach and meat can help increase your iron intake.

Watermelon

Another way to get lycopene, the heart health-boosting antioxidant, is to start including watermelon in your diet. The best part is that this red fruit is a refreshing summer delight. It's juicy and sweet. You can eat it on its own, add it to your bowl of fruit salad, or make delicious watermelon smoothies. 

Research shows the lycopene in watermelon can help reduce your cholesterol levels, preventing oxidative damage to your cells caused by high cholesterol and lowering your blood pressure. Include watermelon in your diet as it's rich in an amino acid called citrulline. This amino acid can help raise your nitric oxide levels in the body. Higher nitric oxide can help expand your blood vessels. lowering your blood pressure levels. High blood pressure levels can lead to a heart attack. 

There are other nutrients in watermelon that can help your heart's health. These include magnesium, vitamin b6, and potassium. Watermelon also contains important nutrients such as vitamins A and C. The combination of vitamin C antioxidants and lycopene ensures lower oxidative damage to your cells. Reducing inflammation in your body.

Tart cherries

Tart cherry juice is another popular way to get all the nutrients from this superfood. Tart cherries owe all their incredible health benefits to their nutritional profile. You'll get lots of essential vitamins and minerals from just a handful if you're susceptible to infections. 

Tart cherries can be a great help because they have plant compounds to boost your immune system. Tart cherries are another reason you need them in your diet. Studies have shown the effects of tart cherries on marathon runners' upper respiratory tracts after a race. A group of runners was given tart cherry juice a few days before a race, and after completing the run, the cherry group was then compared to a group given a placebo. 

Around 50 of the placebo group suffered from upper respiratory tract issues, while the tart cherry group did not have any problems. Research also shows tart cherry juice can lower blood pressure levels in your body. It is also capable of minimizing the genes that cause cancer growth.

Strawberries

Build a strong heart with strawberries. Strawberry and cream are my favorite desserts. It's easy to make and is a sweet treat. You will be surprised to know how great strawberries are for your health. They are packed with essential nutrients like vitamin C, magnesium, folate, and potassium and are rich in antioxidants. 

Strawberries boost your heart health. Strawberries have over 25 anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are what give strawberries their bright red color, which offers a lot of health benefits. You'll get as much as 2 to 11 times the phenolic antioxidants compared to other fruits. 

Major studies have shown that berries like strawberries have a good amount of ellagitannins and ellagic acid, which are good for your heart health. Research has shown that anthocyanins and berries can help promote good heart health. They also improve the functionality of their blood platelets.

Red Kidney beans

Red kidney beans are another superfood packed with antioxidants that promote a healthy heart. Just make sure you eat them. Well-cooked, raw or improperly cooked kidney beans can be toxic, which makes kidney beans your heart's close friend. 

Red kidney beans contain folate and iron, giving them ample nutrients such as molybdenum, vitamin k1, and potassium. All these nutrients are great for your overall health. Just 100 grams of boiled kidney beans contain nearly 9 grams of protein, which accounts for more than 25% of the calories. It also contains starchy carbs, which account for more than 70% of the calories. 

The carbs you get from these beans are slowly released, meaning digestion takes longer. Slow digestion is beneficial for people who have type 2 diabetes as it can ensure blood sugar levels increase as a result of red kidney beans lowering blood sugar levels. This red food scores low on the GI scale and balanced sugar levels mean a happy heart.

Red grapes

Red grapes are another delicious fruit that's super good for your heart health. They are rich in antioxidants and fiber, which positively impact your heart. Wonder how these nutrients help lower your blood pressure? Inflammation and heart muscle damage caused by high salt diets can be reduced by eating more red grapes. 

Red grapes can improve your blood vessel function and positively impact your triglyceride and blood cholesterol levels. In short, eat more red grapes. Your heart will thank you. A healthy heart is a sign of a healthy body. Would you like to learn more about your heart health and the associated risk if you intend to include red-colored foods in your daily diet? Let us know in the comments below.

Conclusion

Every 36 seconds, someone dies from cardiovascular disease in the U.S. Every 100 grams of ketchup will give you around 10 to 14 milligrams of lycopene. The same amount of bell peppers provides 159 percent of your daily vitamin C requirement. The lycopene in watermelon can help reduce your cholesterol levels and lower your blood pressure. Tart cherry juice is another popular way to get all the nutrients from this superfood.

Pairing red bell peppers with iron-rich foods such as spinach and meat can help increase your iron intake. Strawberries are packed with essential nutrients like vitamin C, magnesium, folate, and potassium and are rich in antioxidants. Red kidney beans are another superfood packed with antioxidants that promote a healthy heart. Inflammation and heart muscle damage caused by high salt diets can be reduced by eating more red grapes.