As we get older, taking care of our hearts becomes more important. Our hearts naturally get a bit weaker as we get older and they have to work harder, but that does not mean that you can’t boost your heart health.
If you suffer from something like heart disease, you have to change your whole diet. You end up having to cut out some of your favorite foods and beverages, and this can be quite stressful.
But there are plenty of foods and beverages that actually really help your heart health, and some of them may surprise you! If you are looking for some drinks that will boost your heart health, then you have come to the right place!
We have put together a list of 9 drinks that will boost your heart health, (see also: Dairy & Heart Health – How Much Milk Should You Drink?)leaving you feeling healthier and more energized! So read on to find out more about each of them!
Drinks That Will Boost Your Heart Health
Things like energy drinks and alcohol are not great for your heart, so you will need to cut back on them if you want to stay healthy. But there are plenty of drink options out there that are wonderful for your heart, and you will find them on this list.
Some of these options may surprise you, and taking care of yourself doesn’t mean it has to be boring and tasteless! So read on to find out more about each of these heart-boosting drinks for yourself.
1. Smoothies
It should come as no surprise that smoothies are wonderful for heart health. Smoothies can be incredibly beneficial to your heart health, but you have to make sure that you are using the right ingredients when you are making them!
You can still have sweet smoothies, but you ideally want to go for dark-skinned fruits such as blueberries or pomegranates. Superfoods such as chia seeds and spinach are also fantastic for your heart.
Most people make smoothies with juice, so the best kinds of juices you can use are green juices or something like mango juice. They will compliment the other flavors in your smoothie while also being beneficial to your heart.
You will need to experiment with different flavors and combinations to find a heart-boosting smoothie that suits you, but it’s definitely worth it!
2. Tea
Tea is packed with flavonoids, which is a type of phytonutrient or “plant chemicals”. These phytonutrients help to reduce inflammation and they also prevent build-up in your arteries(see also: Can Exercise Prevent Blocked Arteries?).
This is incredibly important for your heart health and will keep your arteries clear and functioning.
Black tea and green tea are also great because they contain less caffeine than coffee. Tea usually contains about half the amount of caffeine per cup. If you are sensitive to caffeine but you enjoy a hot beverage, tea may be the perfect alternative.
You can also enjoy tea iced or cold if you want to and it will still contain the same health benefits. So if you want to enjoy iced tea in the warmer months, you can without feeling guilty or impacting your health negatively.
3. Tomato Juice
Tomato juice is a fantastic drink to have when you want to boost your heart health. It is absolutely packed full of vitamins and minerals that specifically help you to fight against heart disease.
It is full of things like vitamins C and E, iron, magnesium, and potassium, all of which help to keep your blood flowing. These nutrients and minerals also help to remove any excess sodium in your body.
Tomatoes are actually a great source of the antioxidant lycopene- which reduces the risk of heart disease, lowers your cholesterol, and helps to strengthen your arteries.
In its juice form, it still has all of these health benefits, so it’s in your best interest to implement it into your diet.
When buying tomato juice, look for low-sugar and low-sodium options, especially if you want to be healthier.
4. Green Juice
Lots of people struggle with vegetables and don’t really like the taste, which is why these people tend to avoid eating them. But vegetables are absolutely essential when it comes to your heart health and general physical well-being.
But that is why green juice is absolutely amazing!
Green juice is full of important vegetables that are considered to be superfoods that will drastically improve your heart health. When you consume green juice on a regular basis, it can really be beneficial to your health.
The best kinds of green juices include anything that contains spinach, apples, and kale. You can have a green juice that contains other ingredients too, such as oranges or citrus.
Spinach and kale especially are jam-packed full of important things such as calcium, iron, and inflammation-reducing flavonoids. Even if you are just targeting your heart health, green juice is incredibly beneficial to all of your physical health.
5. Coffee
This is one of the drinks that might surprise you! You hear all the time that “coffee is bad for you”, but did you know that studies have shown that people who drink between 3 to 5 cups of coffee a day have a significantly lower risk of strokes, heart disease, and heart failure?
Experts aren’t 100% certain as to why this is the case, but they do think it has something to do with the caffeine content, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory properties that are found in coffee.
It’s always important to drink coffee in moderation, and the caffeine can be a bit much for some people. That being said, as long as you are sensible, a few cups a day can really help reduce your risk of heart disease.
In order for coffee to be beneficial, you also need to drink it more on the black side- so try and avoid adding milk or cream if you can! You also need to avoid adding sugar if you want it to be beneficial to your heart health!
6. Pomegranate Juice
Pomegranates are fantastic for your heart health. They contain very special antioxidants that help prevent hardening and narrowing of the arteries, which in turn, improves blood flow to your heart.
They also decrease blood pressure and they are jam-packed with polyphenols. Polyphenols are a type of micronutrient that lower inflammation and stimulate circulation.
The health benefits of pomegranates seem particularly targeted toward heart health, so pomegranate juice is definitely a drink you will need!
You can also use pomegranate juice in smoothies for this reason, especially smoothies you are making specifically for boosting your heart health.
7. Hibiscus Tea
Hibiscus tea is made from the Hibiscus sabdariffa plant’s flowers and it is a fantastic beverage to incorporate into your diet. It is full of polyphenol antioxidants, which are incredibly beneficial to your heart’s health.
It is also incredibly beneficial when it comes to lowering your blood pressure and cholesterol. If you struggle with these things, Hibiscus tea might be just what you need!
When you drink Hibiscus tea regularly, it reduces inflammation levels, lowers your blood pressure, and even improves your blood flow.
All of these things are incredibly important when it comes to your heart health! In some cases, it can even be more effective than just drinking regular water!
8. Citrus Water
Citrus water is another beneficial drink for your heart, and the beauty of this drink is that it’s super simple to make at home. All you need is a cup or pitcher of water and then you can add your favorite citrus fruit to it.
Citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges are full of fantastic nutrients and plant compounds such as flavonoids. These nutrients and plant compounds are absolutely essential for good heart health.
There have been studies into how beneficial drinking lemon juice every day is for your heart health. These studies have shown that drinking lemon juice every day can help to lower your blood pressure, which is extremely beneficial for your heart health.
9. Cacao Hot Chocolate
Cacao is a pure form of cocoa and it is less processed and far more nutrient-dense than all other cocoa products. It is full of minerals and antioxidants that are absolutely beneficial for your heart health.
It is especially rich in flavonoid antioxidants, which are essential for cardiovascular health. Cacao tastes absolutely delicious as well, and it is often considered to be “healthy chocolate”, so what’s not to love about this option?
Cacao can help reduce your blood pressure, lower your risk of heart disease, and improve your blood vessel function. It can be a bit strong in flavor at first though, so if you want to sweeten it, use something like honey instead of sugar to keep it healthier!
Conclusion
Keeping your heart healthy is very important, but knowing what food and drinks will help you can be a bit of a challenge.
If you are determined to improve your heart health, then try and incorporate these drink options into your diet. Each of them are great for your heart and will reduce the risk of heart disease!
I'm Clare, the owner and operator of Off The Couch, where I serve as a qualified Nutrition & Health Coach.
Based in Dublin, Ireland, I offer coaching services both locally and globally, providing personalized strategies in nutrition, stress management, sleep quality, and fitness.
My journey into this field began as I navigated my own chronic illnesses, including early menopause, Interstitial Cystitis, Lyme Disease, and hydrocephalus.
