10 Heart-Healthy Foods

When we were young, we were told to eat healthy and get plenty of exercise. And as adults, we try to maintain a balanced diet and get in a few trips to the gym per week. Until there is a magic pill that will give us perfect health, we have to follow a healthy diet to keep our bodies strong and energized.

Click here to see the 10 Heart-Healthy Foods (Slideshow)

And what's good for your entire body will ultimately keep your ticker on track, according to healthy lifestyle expert Kim Daly. She recommends eating a variety of vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins on a regular basis, but there are some produce and grocery items that top the list for heart-healthy fare, and they should be included in a balanced diet.

There are several heart-healthy foods that can keep your heart beating strong. Foods like nuts and salmon are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for good health. Oatmeal is full of soluble fiber and beans are full of vitamins, which can reduce the risk of heart disease. One of the leading causes of heart disease and stoke is being overweight — and a heart-healthy diet can reduce these risks. 

When eaten as part of a balanced diet, these foods will also help you lose weight and lower cholesterol and blood pressure, which will aid in your heart health. According to a survey conducted for the American Heart Association, fewer than half of Americans know that the "better" fats (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) can help reduce their risk of heart disease. Follow these tips and find out what the good fats are and how you can eat more of them to improve your heart health. Daly has developed a list of heart-healthy foods that you should try to include in your diet. 

Emily Jacobs is the Recipe editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @EmilyRecipes.