Expert reveals 1 superfood to add to your diet – improves heart health

Keeping your heart healthy is crucial for long-term health – and your diet is arguably the best place to start. In day-to-day life, it can be tricky to make sure you’re eating healthily, but adding one superfood item to your diet could benefit your heart.

Dr Luke Pratsides, NHS GP has revealed which superfoods could make a real difference – and he says there’s one food he wants people to eat more of. He tells Express.co.uk: “Oily fish, such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and trout, is the richest dietary source of the omega-3 fats EPA and DHA. These have been linked to lower blood pressure, healthier triglyceride levels and a reduced risk of dangerous blood clots, and current UK guidance recommends at least one 140g portion of oily fish a week as part of a balanced diet.”

But, if oily fish is not something you want to eat more of, he also recommends another superfood that he says is a “standout” – oats.

Dr Pratsides, who is also Chief Medical Officer at preventative health clinic, Get A Drip, says: “They contain a soluble fibre called beta-glucan, which forms a gel in the gut that can bind to cholesterol and reduce how much is absorbed into the bloodstream.

“Oats also release energy slowly, which helps keep blood sugar and appetite steadier through the morning.”

The expert concludes: “Neither is a silver bullet on its own, and both work best as part of a wider heart healthy pattern of eating.

“But porridge with a scattering of walnuts, or tinned mackerel on wholegrain toast, are two simple, inexpensive ways to build both into a normal week.”

Cardiovascular disease is the name for a group of conditions that affect your heart and blood vessels. The NHS has provided a list of tips on how to help reduce your risk:

A balanced diet is crucial to heart health and by adding these items to your diet, you can feel assured that you’re doing everything you can to take care of your heart.