My Healthy Eating Favorites - Heart Disease Awarness

Hello Everyone!

You guys know I'm all about my vegetables and gym sessions, but I'm here to tell you about one very important reason why I have made this my lifestyle. The lovely people at Bankers Healthcare Group  brought to my attention that it is currently Heart Disease Awareness Month, and since it's quite personal to me I wanted to share some personal reasons as to why living healthy is so important.

I was born with a heart murmur, which is pretty harmless and just makes my heart beat have an odd rhythm. However, when I wasn't doing any exercise and had a bit more weight on than I should have, I started having heart palpitations from time to time. It can be pretty scary and feels like your heart literally wants to jump out of your chest. My Mum, who also has heart murmur, was having the same problem and so the two of us made a few changes for the sake of our health.

The first step towards having a healthy heart is definitely food choices. I love my food, I really do. I've found that once I slowly cut out certain foods and replaced them with cleaner, healthier choices, I stopped having cravings and I don't miss them at all now. My only weakness: Pizza. It's my ideal cheat meal and don't be surprised if I endeavor to finish the whole thing myself, because I will. 

There is nothing that beats how you feel when you eat clean and know that you're doing your best to fuel yourself for the day. I think the best way to be consistent is to find healthy ingredients that you love and incorporate them into your daily diet.

Here are some of my favorites I have everyday:

Oats
The thought of breakfast is definitely something that never fails to get me out of bed in the morning. Considering I used to hate porridge as a kid, I have been having it for breakfast most mornings for about a year. It's the oats that keep you feeling full and stop you doing a bit of late-morning snacking. They're great for your heart and help control your blood sugar levels too. I can't start my morning right without them now.

Blueberries
I always feel like this is cheating because they taste so good, but I still have them every morning on top of my porridge. Not only do they reduce your risk of heart disease and improve your blood pressure, they also boost your memory (great if you're studying, or have terrible short-term memory like me.) I once bought a punnet of these and took them to the movies with me as a snack. It was one of the best ideas I have ever had!

Chia Seeds
I mix about a teaspoon of these into my morning porridge and it always helps to get me ready for the gym. These beauties are great for energy and if you soak them in juice they make for a great hydration drink before a long run (tried and tested!)

Bananas
I could live off of these, I really could. To go with my porridge and blueberries, I also have a chopped banana on top for extra protein and energy. I also love freezing a few pieces and adding them to my post-gym smoothie to make it nice and cold. They always keep me full throughout the day, which is great for a busy lifestyle. 

Tuna 
I always make sure I have a couple cans of tuna (in spring water) ready to go for my lunches. It's packed with protein and omega-3 to keep you full and your brain working throughout the day. It's great to put in a pita bread or on top of a salad for a healthier lunch.

Spinach  
You would have struggled to get me to eat this as a kid, seeing as I hated leafy greens with a passion. Nowadays I can't get enough of it! We usually buy a big bag of baby spinach to keep us going for the week. I always add it to salads and my smoothies for all the benefits without really tasting much of it (mix it with some fruit and you'll never even know it's there.)

Celery 
This definitely isn't for everyone, but I've grown to love the taste of it. A while back I finished a running event feeling really dehydrated and started getting a terrible headache. After quick search, I discovered that celery is a natural form of electrolytes, so I chucked it in a smoothie and felt better almost immediately. It's another super-food to help take care of your heart as it prevents high blood pressure, lowers inflammation, and can even help fight infections.

Coconut Water
Now this one I can't ever drink on it's own, but it's a staple for my smoothies that I have everyday. It has so many benefits, especially for hydration. It also gives you energy, balances your blood sugar, and is great for weight-loss. I work an afternoon shift so this gives me a great boost to get me through the rest of my day.

Quinoa
For someone who runs/works out regularly, I need my foods to give me energy and this little super-grain is brilliant for it. I've made a habit of cooking half a cup of it at the start of every week and having a couple tablespoons with my lunch or dinner to keep me going. 

Tofu
I know, I know, I hated it once too. But once I learned how to cook it properly with the right ingredients, tofu quickly became one of my diet staples. I'm also a vegetarian (although I still eat fish for some reason) so I need other forms of protein. Marinating it in some sesame oil, soy sauce and and sweet chili, then grilling it until brown is my ultimate way to eat it.

Green Tea 
I always settle down at night to read blog posts or a book with a cup of tea, so I always have green tea stocked in my cupboard. With all of it's antioxidants I know I'm helping my body get rid of any bad stuff that I may have eaten throughout the day. Plus it just really helps me to relax and get into sleep mode. 

Dark Chocolate
Anyone else get to 9pm every night and get the biggest craving for chocolate? Every. Single. Night. But I have a solution to these cravings that is actually good for you. Dark chocolate (70 % cocoa solids) is another fighter of heart disease, helps you study, and lowers stress levels. I have just a couple pieces at night time or after lunch and I'm good!

 The more time I invest in living a healthy lifestyle, the more I grow to love it. When our lives get busy it's so easy to reach for food that's "convenient" rather than something at holds nutritional value for you. When we eat healthy and stay active, our body will reward us. Your heart will love you for it too!

What are some of your healthy favorites?
Steph x.