Over the past few decades, there has been considerable debate about which foods are harmful for heart health. First, it was widespread that butter increases cholesterol levels and it was safer to consume margarine. Then, it came out that margarine—which contains trans fat—was, in fact, harmful for heart health, and that butter was healthier. While it is clear that trans fatty acids accelerate heart disease, there is still a lot of confusion about which foods are considered heart healthy.

It’s time to learn the basics and review some heart healthy foods for you and your family. Here are eight foods that can help reduce your risk of heart disease.
1. Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

Extra-virgin olive oil is a common ingredient in the Mediterranean diet, which is associated with low mortality rates for cardiovascular disease. When selecting olive oil, look for “extra virgin” and ideally organic as well. Most salad dressings use cheaper industrial seed oils such as canola, soybean, or sunflower oil as the base ingredient. Look for an olive oil or avocado oil–based salad dressing, and make your own whenever possible. Olive oil can also be used for cooking at low to medium temperatures>>> Read More