Heart-healthy fruit (yes, fruit!) will improve your cardiovascular function and overall wellness. That's because it's loaded with nutrients that can help lower your cholesterol and blood pressure—which are good for your heart health. Plus, research shows that people who eat four or more servings of whole heart-healty fruit a day significantly lower their risk of developing high blood pressure. "Fruits are packed with fiber and are also a rich source of potassium. Both higher potassium and fiber intake help prevent hypertension and are associated with lower blood pressure among those with hypertension," says Donna Arnett, Ph.D., former Dean of the College of Public Health, University of Kentucky.
Fresh, frozen, canned, and dried are all great ways to add more fruit to your diet. Do aim, however, to eat whole fruit as much as possible to reap the most rewards.
The Best Heart-Healthy Fruits
These seven fruits are best for your heart and should be readily available at your local grocery stores.
Apples
It turns out an apple a day could actually keep the doctor away. Not only is an apple a heart-healthy fruit that's a good way to add fiber and good-for-you flavonoids to your diet, but a couple of studies also found that people who regularly eat apples are less likely to develop high blood pressure.
Seek out shiny-skinned apples that are firm and free of bruises. Then, store them in the refrigerator, in a fruit crisper, to extend their juiciness and crispness.
Apricots
Apricots deliver a handful of vitamins (A, C, E, and K) and fiber. Their orange hue comes from carotenoids, an antioxidant. Fresh apricots have a fleeting season from May to August (look for firm and plump fruits). Fortunately, dried apricots deliver the same nutrients.
Bananas
Bananas are a heart-healthy fruit that contains vitamins B6 and C. You'll also get fiber, potassium, and magnesium—all three of which are key nutrients that may help keep blood pressure in check. When shopping, look for firm bananas of any size, as size doesn't affect quality.
Berries
Whether it's blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, or strawberries that you're drawn to most, all berries are heart-healthy fruit loaded with vitamin C and fiber. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Eating a high-fiber diet can help lower cholesterol and your risk of heart disease. Don't forget: frozen berries are just as healthy as fresh, so you can enjoy berries year-round.
Grapefruit
Serve up grapefruit for a dose of vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. A single serving of grapefruit delivers 2.5 grams of fiber or about 7% of your daily quota. Plus, in a study of women (published in 2014 in the journal Food & Nutrition Research), those who regularly ate grapefruit or drank its juice had higher "good" HDL cholesterol and lower triglycerides.
When shopping, look for a grapefruit that's heavy for its size and springy to touch. At home, store it in the fridge, but for a juicier fruit, serve it at room temp or warm, not chilled. Remember that grapefruit (and its juice) interact with some prescriptions, so check with your doctor before adding it to your meal plan.
Oranges
This citrus favorite is a real winner in the heart-healthy fruits category: research shows that the flavonoids in oranges (naringenin and hesperidin, to name just two) have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory powers. They also may help improve blood pressure and can ward off your risk of developing atherosclerosis. Like the other fruits in this list, oranges also give you potassium and fiber. Look for oranges with small navels (yes, the indentation on the non-stem end of the orange is called a navel). A large navel means it's overripe.
Peaches
Pick up yellow peaches for a hit of beta-carotene (and these recipes). Men who have higher blood levels of beta-carotene were less likely to die of heart disease or stroke, per a study published in 2018 in the journal Circulation Research. Peaches also deliver fiber, potassium, and vitamins C, E, and K. Look for fruits with a strong, sweet smell that give ever so slightly when touched.
Fruit Recipes for Delicious Sweetness
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