Plant Foods May Protect Your Heart’s Health

According to a recent study, special compounds in plant foods called flavonoids are likely good for your heart’s health. Researchers found that people who ate about 500 mg a day of flavonoids had a lower risk of:

  • heart disease
  • stroke
  • and peripheral artery disease

One possible explanation for the protective effects of flavonoids is related to their anti-inflammatory properties, since inflammation is one risk factor for heart disease. Did you know that eating 500 mg of flavonoids is actually pretty easy to achieve every day? One of the study researchers explained that you could get that much by having, “a cup of tea, a handful of blueberries, maybe some broccoli.” So even though researchers haven’t yet found a cause and effect relationship between flavonoids and heart health, plant foods like fruits and vegetables have so many other known health benefits that they should absolutely be a part of your daily diet!