As lifespans increase, proactively keeping your heart healthy becomes a bigger priority. According to , heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. Data from the shows a consistent decline in heart disease deaths from 2008 to 2012, but 2013 saw a slight increase.
are often caused by high-cholesterol, which contributes to the buildup of plaque on the walls of blood vessels. However, exercising regularly and eating a diet full of cholesterol-fighting foods can help keep heart diseases at bay.
Using data from the nutritional database, the analysts at found the top 25 most heart-healthy foods by ranking them on their Heart Healthy Index scores. This index looks at the ratio of “good” nutrients (those that treat high cholesterol) to “bad” nutrients (those that contribute to poor heart health). To calculate the index score for each food, HealthGrove divided the percent daily values of selenium, vitamin B3, magnesium and calcium (“good” nutrients) by the percent daily value of fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol (“bad” nutrients). Foods with scores closest to 100 are the most heart-healthy.
Though you’ll recognize many foods on this list, some might surprise you.
Heart Healthy Index: 75.5 Calories: 95 Serving Size: 2.0 ounces
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Heart Healthy Index: 75.9 Calories: 94 Serving Size: 3.0 ounces
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Heart Healthy Index: 76.3 Calories: 156 Serving Size: 0.25 cup
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Heart Healthy Index: 76.6 Calories: 207 Serving Size: 0.25 cup
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Heart Healthy Index: 76.7 Calories: 204 Serving Size: 0.25 cup
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Heart Healthy Index: 77.5 Calories: 247 Serving Size: 3.0 ounces
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Heart Healthy Index: 77.7 Calories: 206 Serving Size: 0.25 cup
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Heart Healthy Index: 77.8 Calories: 146 Serving Size: 3.0 ounces
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Heart Healthy Index: 78.5 Calories: 42 Serving Size: 1.0 tablespoon
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Heart Healthy Index: 78.8 Calories: 171 Serving Size: 0.25 cup
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Heart Healthy Index: 80.2 Calories: 52 Serving Size: 10.0 piece
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Heart Healthy Index: 81 Calories: 27 Serving Size: 1.0 slice
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Heart Healthy Index: 81.2 Calories: 6 Serving Size: 1.0 teaspoon
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Heart Healthy Index: 81.3 Calories: 204 Serving Size: 0.25 cup
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Heart Healthy Index: 82.5 Calories: 95 Serving Size: 1.0 can
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Heart Healthy Index: 83.9 Calories: 44 Serving Size: 4.0 each
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Heart Healthy Index: 84 Calories: 150 Serving Size: 0.25 cup
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Heart Healthy Index: 84.1 Calories: 21 Serving Size: 1.0 tablespoon
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Heart Healthy Index: 84.2 Calories: 37 Serving Size: 1.0 tablespoon
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Heart Healthy Index: 85.1 Calories: 6 Serving Size: 1.0 teaspoon
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Heart Healthy Index: 85.8 Calories: 26 Serving Size: 1.0 tablespoon
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Heart Healthy Index: 87.6 Calories: 15 Serving Size: 1.0 teaspoon
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Heart Healthy Index: 88 Calories: 43 Serving Size: 0.5 ounces
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Heart Healthy Index: 88.7 Calories: 80 Serving Size: 1.0 piece
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