The #1 Best Drink for Your Heart, Says Science
Your heart is worth protecting. It keeps the blood flowing throughout your body, sends nutrients to other organs, and keeps you going every single day. And in order to protect it from illness and age-related diseases, you want to make sure you're consuming the best foods and drinks to help.
We know there are plenty of heart-healthy drinks out there, but we wanted to find the best, so we asked Lisa Young, PhD, RDN, author of Finally Full, Finally Slim and member of our medical expert advisory board. According to Young, the absolute #1 best drink for your heart is good old-fashioned water!
"Being well hydrated is important for your heart because your blood will benefit from proper hydration and it will also ensure that you are efficiently transporting oxygen. Water also supports your body's ability to get rid of waste," says Young.
Continue reading to learn about what staying hydrated can do for your heart health. And for more healthy heart tips, check out The #1 Best Supplement For Your Heart.
Water and your heart
It's safe to say that water is one of the most important, if not the most important drink for your health overall. It especially makes sense when you think about the fact that your body is made up of 60% water.
Staying hydrated on a regular basis helps with digestion, regulating temperature, absorption and transportation of nutrients, and many other crucial bodily functions. And recent research has discovered that hydration also may be a key component in your heart health by helping to prevent heart failure.
One 2021 study published in the European Society of Cardiology found that staying hydrated over time could not only decrease a person's chances of heart failure, but it could help delay the thickening of the heart's "main pumping chamber," which is a process that can significantly increase your risk of heart failure.
The researchers involved with this study emphasized that the average person is not getting enough water on a daily basis and that more of a focus should be put on proper hydration, not only for your heart health but for your overall health in general.
Other drinks that are great for your heart
Water is ultimately the best drink for your heart because of how important it is to stay hydrated and how accessible water is. But Young also notes that there are a few other heart-healthy drinks you can add to your routine on top of water.
"Green tea is a healthy tea for your heart and contains anti-inflammatory properties," says Young, "and there has also been shown to be a connection between drinking green tea and a decreased number of heart-health issues."
If you're someone who enjoys throwing together a smoothie from time to time, Young says you can make these healthy for your heart, too. "Enjoy a homemade smoothie from heart-healthy fruits and veggies like blueberries, banana, kale, and spinach. These foods contain vitamins and antioxidants that offer protection for the heart. Making it at home lets you add what you like while ensuring there's no added sugar."
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