Heart-Healthy Foods Pictures

Introduction

With the help of nutrition experts from The Cleveland Clinic and the American Dietetic Association, we've put together a list of the "best of the best" heart-healthy foods.

The foods listed here are all top-performers in protecting your heart and blood vessels. We've also got menu ideas -- so you can easily bring heart-healthy foods into your daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

1.      Salmon

Nutrients: Omega-3 fatty acids.

Recipe Idea: Grill salmon with a yummy rub or marinade. Save a chunk to chop for pasta or salad later on.

2. Flaxseed (ground)

Nutrients: Omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, phytoestrogens.

Recipe Idea: Ground flaxseed hides easily in all sorts of foods -- yogurt parfaits, morning cereal, homemade muffins, or cookies.

3. Oatmeal

Nutrients: Omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, potassium, folate, niacin, calcium, soluble fiber.

Recipe Idea: Top hot oatmeal with fresh berries. Oatmeal-and-raisin cookies are a hearty treat

4. Black or Kidney Beans

Nutrients: B-complex vitamins, niacin, folate, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, soluble fiber.

Recipe Idea: Give soups or salads a nutrient boost -- stir in some beans.

5. Almonds

Nutrients: Plant omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, magnesium, fiber, heart-favorable mono- and polyunsaturated fats, phytosterols.

Recipe Idea: Mix a few almonds (and berries) into low-fat yogurt, trail mix, or fruit salads.

6. Walnuts

Nutrients: Plant omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, magnesium, folate, fiber, heart-favorable mono- and polyunsaturated fats, phytosterols.

Recipe Idea: Walnuts add flavorful crunch to salads, pastas, cookies, muffins, even pancakes.

7. Red Wine

Nutrients: Catechins and resveratrol (flavonoids).

Recipe Idea: Toast your good health! A glass of red wine could improve "good" HDL cholesterol

8. Tuna

Nutrients: Omega-3 fatty acid, folate, niacin.

Recipe Idea: Here's lunch: Salad greens, fresh fruit, canned tuna. Keep "Salad Spritzer" - a light dressing -- in your office fridge.

9. Tofu

Nutrients: Niacin, folate, calcium, magnesium, potassium.

Recipe Idea: Tasty tofu is easy: Thinly slice "firm" tofu, marinate several hours, grill or stir-fry.

10. Oranges

Nutrients: Beta-cryptoxanthin, beta- and alpha-carotene, lutein (carotenoids) and flavones (flavonoids), vitamin C, potassium, folate, fiber.Recipe Idea: Got orange juice? Check out the new nutrient-packed blends.