February is Heart Health Month, and to celebrate (and help you celebrate), we’ve put together a list of our favorite heart healthy toppings! Heart disease still remains one of the top causes of death in the world. By changing your diet slightly and eating, healthy whole foods, you can help reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Add the following to your morning waffles and make your heart (and tastebuds) happy!
1.) Our favorite topping – Elderberry Jam or Syrup
All berries are loaded with heart-healthy antioxidants, but elderberries also contain anti-viral properties that help fight cold and flu viruses. So while it’s the flu season, do your body a favor and top your waffles with Elderberry Jam or Syrup from Norm’s Farms. You’ll be glad you did.
Our friends at Norm’s Farms put together this super quick Blueberry Syurp recipe:
2 T Blueberry Elderberry Preserves
1 T butter
1 T water
2.) Almond Butter
Since peanut butter has been put on every schools’ “off limits list,” almond butter has become more and more of a mainstream condiment. And the good news is, almond butter is fairly similar nutritionally to its cousin peanut butter but contains more vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Lastly, with a healthy dose of unsaturated fat, almonds and almond butter are a great heart-healthy addition to your diet. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the unsaturated fat in almonds is not only good for your heart but also boosts serotonin levels, which may help you sleep better!
3.) Dark Chocolate
I mean who doesn’t like chocolate!? And turns out, dark chocolate is actually good for your heart! Eating it 5 times per week has been shown to lower the risk of heart disease by 57%. So next time you want to make a decadent waffle, don’t be afraid to shave some extra dark chocolate on top!
4.) Savory Waffles
Decadent waffles not your speed? We get you. We’ve tried all the different combinations, and we’ve got another heart boosting duo for you. Try some savory toppings like spinach, tomatoes and an egg. Popeye knew what he was doing with his Spinach. Loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, B vitamins, and fiber, what else could your heart want?
Tomatoes contain vitamin C and alpha-and-beta-cortene, which play a role in fighting heart disease.
5.) Wine
We guess the French are on to something…. Oui Oui. Okay, so maybe it’s not a topping, but we don’t frown upon a glass of wine at night. Why wine? Why not. Actually, wine helps improve good HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels. HDL protects against heart disease by taking the bad cholesterol out of your blood and keeping it from building up in your arteries.
Article Provided By: Start Right Foods – Booth 712
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