6. Leafy Greens
Spinach and its leafy cousins are some of the most overlooked heart protectors out there. These greens are rich in dietary nitrates, which your body converts into nitric oxide, a molecule that helps blood vessels relax and widen so blood can flow more freely. They’re also packed with vitamin K, which plays a role in keeping calcium out of your artery walls where it doesn’t belong. A cup of cooked greens or two cups raw, most days of the week, is a realistic target. Toss a handful into eggs, smoothies, or pasta and you’ll barely notice it’s there.
