How To Stay Young at Heart with Heart Healthy Recipes

Trying to cut calories isn't enough to stay healthy these days. You need to know what foods to eat to not only maintain your health, but also to improve it. Learn how to stay young at heart by including these heart healthy foods in your cooking. We will sharesome unexpected heart healthy foods and why they're so good for you as well as our favorite recipes that taste great and protect your heart.

Table of Contents

• The Guide to Unexpected Heart Healthy Foods
• Soup
• Vegetables
• Fish
• Vegetarian
• Poultry
• Beef
• Lamb
• Pork
• Veal
• Desserts

The Guide to Unexpected Heart Healthy Foods

Everyone knows that blueberries, salmon and red wine are some of the best heart healthy foods, but what are some other foods that will keep you young at heart? We have compiled an entire list of foods you never would have guessed are so good for you. Check out of list of the top five unexpected heart healthy ingredients.

Acorn Squash

Acorn squash is full of beta-carotene, carotenoids (a heart-protective anti-oxidant), B-complex and C vitamins, folate, calcium, magnesium, potassium and fiber. Wow, that's a lot of goodness! Don't worry if you haven't tried it before. Acorn squash tastes similar to a sweet potato but with a different texture. It is known as a winter squash but is available year-round.

Black Beans

These tasty beans have B-complex vitamins, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, soluble fiber and a bunch of other nutrients. They even have calcium! Start running to your nearest Mexican restaurant.

Tofu

This soy protein has folate, niacin, calcium, magnesium and potassium. All soy products are actually packed with nutrients. Even if you aren't a vegetarian, we've included some great tofu recipes you have to try.

Red Bell Peppers

Look out for these tasty peppers full of beta-carotene, carotenoids, B-complex vitamins, fiber, folate and even potassium. If you are scared of spicy food you don't have to worry about these tame peppers.

Papaya

This delicious fruit is packed with beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, carotenoids, Vitamins C and E, folate, calcium, magnesium and potassium.You can eat them plain, top your favorite frozen yogurt with them or incorporate them into a savory sauce.

Soups

• Asian Carrot Sweet Potato Soup
• Coriander-Spiced Carrot and Butternut Squash Soup
  
• Chilled Blueberry Soup with Mint
• Broccoli and Onion Soup
• Simple Asparagus Soup
• Ginger Acorn Squash Bisque

Vegetables

• Light Ambrosia Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
• Asparagus with Roasted Red Pepper
• Healthy Spinach Bake
  
• Quick Broccoli with Basil Mushrooms
• Sweet Carrot and Apple Bake

Fish

• Tuna Steaks with Lemon and Orange Marinade
  
• Long-Grain and Wild Rice Salad with Corn and Salmon
• No-Mayo Fruit and Tuna Salad
• Slow Cooker Salmon
• Salmon and Avocado with Sesame-Ginger Dressing
• Endive, Watercress and Basil Salad with Blackened Tuna Steak
  

 Vegetarian

• Asian-Inspired Salmon-Tofu Salad
• Apple and Brown Rice Pilaf with Thyme
• Garlic Cajun Tofu
• Southwest Sweet Potatoes with Black Bean Chili
• Avocado Soybean Veggie Burgers

Poultry

• Black Walnut and Honey-Mustard Chicken Breasts
  
• Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Turkey Meatloaf
• Curried Chicken Papaya-Citrus Garnish
• Sauteed Duck Breasts in Lingonberries and Red Wine Sauce
  
• Orange Marmalade Glazed Roast Turkey and Sourdough Dressing

Beef

• Traditional Beef Brisket with Carrot and Sweet Potato Tzimmes
• Mexican Beef and Mushroom Fajitas
• Beef Stew with Polenta
• Beef and Spinach Burritos
• Rump Roast Braised in Red Wine

Lamb

• Chipotle-Marinated Lamb Chops with Mint Cream
• Cranberry, Red Wine and Lamb Stew
• Ground Lamb Kofta Kebabs
• Rosemary Loin Lamb Chops with Fresh Spinach and Mushrooms
• Stir-Fry Lamb with Broccoli and Mushrooms

Pork

• Herbed Pork Chops with Tomatoes, Mushrooms and Spinach
• Baked Ham with Peach-Walnut Sauce
• Island Pineapple-Barbecue Pork Chops
• Wine and Maple Glazed Ham Steaks
• Honey-Mustard Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Rosemary
  

Veal

• Veal Chops with Smoky Tomato-Chipotle Relish
• Vegetable and Veal Stew
  
• Italian Veal with Anchovies and Tuna
• Baked Veal Cutlets with Potatoes
• Veal Marengo for Four

Desserts

• Cinnamon Banana Walnut Cake
• Whole-Wheat Flax Carrot Cake
• Summer Papaya Cake
• Blueberry and Peach Cobbler
• Applesauce and Oatmeal Cookies
• Basic Low-Fat Oatmeal Cookies