Heart Healthy Smoothies for Seniors
The things we eat and drink play a huge role in our health. We all know that – but it isn’t always easy to put into practice. When you’re looking to make changes to your diet, it’s all about achieving the right mix between smart nutrition and day-to-day convenience.
To help you get started, we put together this guide to heart healthy smoothies and the superfood ingredients that go in them.
Are Smoothies Really Good for Your Heart?
They can be! It’s all about choosing the right recipe. But if you combine the correct ingredients, delicious and healthful smoothies can be a great addition to your diet. They’re an incredible way to get extra servings of fruits and vegetables – and that means more vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that can help your health. With these ingredients, smoothies can help lower cholesterol and make you feel better day-to-day.
So which heart-healthy ingredients should you pick? Here are few of the experts’ favorites.
- Pomegranate. This quirky fruit is packed with punicic acid that’s proven to fight cholesterol. Plus, it’s shown to have some effect as a natural blood thinner or anticoagulant, which could make future health episodes less likely.
- Spinach and other leafy greens. Antioxidants, vitamin K and essential minerals are plentiful in hearty roughage. If spinach isn’t your speed, try kale, bok choi, collard greens or mustard greens. And they help you feel fuller faster, so there’s less room for salty or sugary treats.
- Whole grains. Unlike their processed white counterpart, whole grains are high in fiber and might help reduce ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol in your blood stream.
- Blackberries, blueberries and raspberries. They’re packed with antioxidants like anthocyanins, which fight off inflammation and cut cholesterol.
- Avocado. Bit of a weird ingredient for a smoothie, admittedly – but delicious when made well! And best of all, this superfood contains the kind of healthy fats your body needs to function while helping to reduce LDL cholesterol in your blood stream.
- Fish oil. We know – it’s a bit of a big flavor to be adding to a smoothie. But you don’t need much. And the little you do add is so rich in Omega-3s that it’s well worth any fishy flavor. Just maybe stick this in a more savory, vegetable-heavy smoothie.
- Walnuts. Assuming you aren’t allergic, tree nuts (and legumes like peanuts) make a good addition to any dish. But walnuts in particular are heavy in magnesium, copper and manganese and may help cut LDL cholesterol by more than 15%. Plus, they’re a great source of protein.
If you’re a little confused how you’re supposed to combine these ingredients, don’t worry. You can find some smoothie recipes to help with heart health here.
Eat Healthy At The Atriums
At The Atriums Senior Living, our team of experts know exactly what it takes to design a diet that offers great nutrition without compromising taste. Restaurant-style dining in our community means more delicious options and many meals enjoyed with great new friends.
When you add that to the rest of our offerings – like varied independent and assisted living lifestyles supported by higher levels of care – it’s no wonder that so many in the Kansas City area choose to live here. Find out what we can do for you when you contact us today.