During the fun, carefree months of summer, it can become especially easy to cheat on your diet. Eating ice cream to cool off or drinking a few extra beers at a family barbeque on its own will not pose too much of a threat. However, making dieting choices such as this often can be problematic. At Integrative Cardiology Center of Long Island, we understand the importance of sticking to a heart-healthy diet year-round. Check out our tips for maintaining a heart-healthy diet throughout the summer and beyond!

Add Some Avocados

You’ve probably heard the term “superfood” thrown around when discussing avocados. The truth is that avocados are extremely healthy and offer benefits for your heart. Avocados are filled with healthy fats and can be paired with a variety of foods to enhance your dish. We recommend adding this fruit to any of the below to help ensure your nutritional needs are being met:

  • Wraps.
  • Salads.
  • Sandwiches.
  • Dips.

Try Tomatoes

When consuming fruits and vegetables, eating them while they are in season comes with a plethora of health benefits. Produce tastes its best and comes with the most nutritional value when consumed in season, making tomatoes the perfect addition to a heart-healthy summer diet. Tomatoes are in season from July to October, and you can reap the below benefits by eating more of them this summer:

  • Reducing blood pressure.
  • Limiting body inflammation.
  • Fighting off the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Chilled Fruit Salad

Many people are quick to head to the ice cream shop when they’re craving something that is both sweet and cool. However, a healthy alternative that is just as refreshing as the ice cream is a chilled fruit salad! Fruits can be just as sweet as ice cream while containing much less unhealthy sugars. When chilled, fruit salad can also help fight off the sometimes insufferable summer heat. For the most heart benefits, try making a salad with the below:

  • Melons.
  • Berries.
  • Peaches.
  • Plums.
  • Cherries.   

Contact Us

There is no shortage of ways you can ensure that your diet remains heart-healthy throughout the summer. The tips we provided are just a building block you can use to help make the remainder of this summer your healthiest yet. However, if you’d like to request additional information or make an appointment with us, be sure to contact our team today!