Health experts, such as GPs and nutritionists, have explained the benefits of some of the cheapest foods you can buy in supermarkets. There is a common misconception that eating healthier is automatically more expensive, but that need not be the case. While processed and high-calorie foods are available for cheap in supermarkets in the UK, so are healthy foods. You just have to know what you’re looking for. I asked experts for a budget-friendly, heart-healthy shopping list, and they offered a plethora of suggestions. And many of the items listed are under £1 at supermarkets like Aldi and Lidl.
“The good news is that despite the rising cost of living and potential food shortages due to extreme weather events across the globe, a heart-healthy diet is surprisingly cost-effective,” said GP and co-founder at Coyne Medical, Dr Hugh Coyne. “Many people assume that eating healthier is more expensive, but following a Mediterranean diet has been shown to reduce daily food costs by around twenty-five per cent. So it is definitely possible to eat a heart-healthy diet on a budget.
“People can also reduce their risk of heart disease by cutting back on expensive processed foods, which will also help to save money. Things to cut back on include processed meats like bacon and ham, sugar-sweetened drinks and fruit juices, refined grains such as sugary cereals and other ultra-processed, energy-dense foods like crisps and sweet treats.”
Meanwhile, Hira Malik, superintendent pharmacist and co-founder at Oushk Pharmacy, said: “Some of the most useful foods are also among the cheapest things in the supermarket.”
They are among the experts who recommend plenty of budget-friendly, healthy foods that can be easily incorporated into your diet. Here are nine foods for under £1 that experts recommend eating for heart health.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
