I’m A Cardiologist — Here’s 1 Food I Always Tell Patients To Eat More Of

They eat it themselves, and they encourage patients to have more of it, too.

Because they know how important heart health is, cardiologists make it a point to eat as many better-for-you foods as they can — and they encourage their patients to do the same.

At your next doctor’s visit, you might want to ask, “What food do you recommend I eat more of — something you eat a lot of yourself?” Since these are smart people with a limited amount of time, you’ll most likely hear choices that are easy to find, simple to prepare and delicious tasting, too. Here are five top choices from experts, all ready to add to your next shopping list.

1. A handful of nuts

The American Heart Association recommends eating a variety of unsalted nuts and seeds. Aim for four to six servings a week of a small handful of nuts or two tablespoons of nut butter. Heart experts know that nuts can lower “bad” cholesterol, reduce inflammation and decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

While most nuts carry health benefits, the experts we spoke to had some favorites. Almonds are the top choice for cardiologist Dr. Monika Sanghavi, director of women’s cardiovascular health at Pennsylvania Hospital and associate professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. “They’re a superfood for the heart,” she said. “Almonds reduce bad cholesterol and improve good cholesterol, improve blood vessel function, decrease inflammation, reduce blood sugar, improve insulin resistance and can improve blood pressure if eaten consistently.” And because eating them 30 minutes before a meal can help increase satiety and prevent sugar spikes, she noted that almonds are great for people with prediabetes and diabetes.