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Heart attack: Eating tomatoes can reduce the risk of developing the condition

Devanath/Pixabay

Heart attack is a condition that affects a portion of the world’s population today and is as prevalent now more than ever. Fortunately, the risk of developing the condition can be reduced mostly through some lifestyle changes.

Heart attacks are known for developing through unhealthy lifestyle choices, most popularly dietary ones. Express reports that including more fruits and vegetables in the diet can help reduce the risk in the future. Tomatoes are popularly known to be one of them. This is because tomatoes contain lycopene, which is a powerful antioxidant, that fights off free radicals in the body, resulting in a lower risk of heart disease and stroke.

A few studies have also contributed to this finding, showing that low levels of lycopene in the blood were associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Other studies have also shown that a high intake of foods that are rich in lycopene also meant a lower risk of heart disease and higher levels of good cholesterol or HDL.

Tomatoes are one of the staples in many dishes, particularly in a Mediterranean diet, which is a diet plan that is widely recommended by many for its heart-healthy benefits. Simply increasing the intake of tomatoes can be enough of a healthy start in reducing the risk of a heart attack or at least another heart attack.

Aside from tomatoes, Express reports that drinking hot chocolate can also help reduce the risk of developing a heart attack. A few studies regarding this have shown a link between the popular cold-weather drink and the prevention of heart disease. One study, in particular, showed that drinking a cup of hot chocolate a day helped reduce the risk of a heart attack in the next 10 years by 31 percent.

As to why hot chocolate may be the drink of choice for those who want to lower their risk of a heart attack or at least another heart attack, the answer lies in the nutrients found in chocolate. Cocoa flavonols have been shown to improve heart function. A study involving flavonols with 42 male participants revealed that the nutrient was beneficial for the heart to those under 35 years old and those between 50 to 80 years old.

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