Foods that are high in fiber and low in fat are especially good for the heart. These include bran cereals, sweet potatoes, baked beans, dried figs, dried dates, broccoli, brussels sprouts, corn on the cob, kidney beans and lima beans. In addition, cod, flounder and tuna canned in water are all high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which have been proven to reduce the risk of heart disease. For more information on creating a heart healthy diet, please consult the American Heart Association or your health care professional. The first is saturated fat, found mainly in animal sources like fatty meats, and whole milk dairy products, such as butter, cream and cheese.
Avocados are one of the few vegetables with saturated fat.
Tropical oils like palm and coconut are another source, and often found in commercial baked goods. Too much saturated fat increases your cholesterol levels, because saturated fat is what the liver uses to manufacture cholesterol. Polyunsaturated fats include corn, sesame, sunflower and soybean oil. The third type of fat is monounsaturated, which occurs in canola, olive and peanut oils. Monounsaturated fats are thought to be the healthiest, because they tend not to raise cholesterol as much.