As Valentine’s Day draws near, you might be preparing how to impress your significant other with grand, romantic gestures. There's nothing wrong with trying to offer these gestures but we hope you don't forget that to be able to give your full selves to your loved ones, you need to keep yourselves in optimum health. One way to ensure good health is to take care of the heart. Here are the top 5 foods that support heart health:

  1. Fatty Fish. Fatty fish such as salmon, seabass, and tuna are just some of the examples of fish that are loaded with Omega-3s. Omega-3 helps decrease the risks of high blood pressure and triglycerides.
  2. Yellow, red, and orange-colored fruits and vegetables. Fruits and veggies in those colors are high in carotenoids. Carotenoids are potent antioxidants that combat oxidative stress, which may result in poorer heart health. So load up on oranges, bell peppers, watermelon, carrots, and red beets, to enjoy the benefits for your heart.
  3. Red Wine. Yes, you read that right! Red wine contains a substance called Resveratrol, a polyphenol in red wine that helps protect the lining of the heart blood vessels. It also helps lower LDL cholesterol (also known as bad cholesterol). However, this does not mean you should finish a bottle of red wine every night. It may be wise to drink red wine instead of other alcoholic beverages, though, during social events.
  4. Whole Grains. Whole grains are a great source of dietary fiber, which can help regulate blood pressure. Swapping out white rice for unpolished rice such as brown, red, or black rice immediately helps increase your dietary fiber. Adding plain steel-cut or rolled oats to your daily consumption is also another great way to increase fiber.
  5. Good fats. Good fats help keep your blood cholesterol levels at normal range. Choosing grass-fed butter over margarine, incorporating avocados into your meals, eating raw nuts and seeds, choosing healthy oils such as virgin coconut oil are just some of the many ways to incorporate good fats into your daily intake.