The following article contains a solid list of essential foods that you should incorporate into your diet to maintain a healthy heart. If you have some alternative suggestions for heart healthy foods by all means please submit your suggestions at the end with a few comments.

What you eat is one of the biggest determinants of your coronary heart disease risk. A diet high in the eight foods below will go a long way to maintaining a healthy heart.
1) Garlic
Garlic contains powerful chemicals that have been shown to reduce cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, and reduce the risk of blood clots that can lead to heart attacks and strokes. It has been estimated that a clove of garlic a day is needed to obtain these health benefits. If the thought of eating a clove of garlic a day is too much for you, odorless garlic capsules can be purchased from most pharmacies and supermarkets.
2) Oats (Oat-meal and Oat-bran)
Oats are high in soluble fiber which have been shown in many studies to reduce your levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Research has shown that the higher your ratio of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) to LDL, the lower your risk of heart disease is. One cup of oatmeal a day provides enough dietary fiber to reduce your LDL cholesterol levels significantly.
3) Alcohol
Moderate consumption of Alcohol (up to two glasses a day) has been shown in most studies to reduce heart disease risk by between 20 percent and 40 percent compared to non-drinkers. Moderate Alcohol consumption has been associated with an increased ratio of HDL to LDL, thinner blood (leading to reduced blood clotting), reduced blood insulin levels and a reduction in arterial plaque build up. Heavy alcohol consumption however raises blood pressure and is associated with a greater risk of heart disease.
4) Oily Fish
Fish such as tuna, salmon, and sardines contain high levels of omega-3 fatty acids which reduce heart disease risk by reducing blood pressure and increasing blood vessel elasticity. Medical experts recommend a minimum of 2 servings of fish a week to obtain the full benefit of omega-3, alternatively fish oil capsules can be taken.
5) Nuts such as Almonds, Walnuts, and Cashew Nuts
Nuts are rich in polyunsaturated fats and contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. A handful of nuts a day has been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol by up to 20 percent.
6) Tomatoes and Tomato Products
Tomatoes, especially cooked tomatoes have high levels of Lycopene, a powerful antioxidant. In a study of 40,000 women at the Harvard school of Public Health, women who consumed seven or more servings of tomato-based foods were 30 percent less likely to develop cardiovascular disease compared to those who consumed less than 1.5 servings. Women who ate more than ten servings a week were up to a massive 65 percent less likely to develop cardiovascular disease.
7) Green Tea
A Japanese study of over 400,000 individuals aged between 40 and 79 found that those people who consumed five or more cups of green tea a day were 26 percent less likely to die from heart disease. Researchers also found that the effect was stronger for women than men. Green tea is high in polyphenols which are powerful antioxidants that are also found in most berry fruit, apples, celery, broccoli and parsley.
Spinach
Spinach is an excellent source of Vitamins A, C, and K and is also an excellent source of Folate. Folate helps the heart by reducing homo-cysteine levels in the blood. High homo-cysteine levels are associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease.

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About the Author:
Anthony Wilson is the owner of Health Hubs, a daily updated news and information website about many health topics such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Once you are done reading the following article pertaining to the benefits of yoga specifically hatha yoga. Please share your thoughts as comments are appreciated.

There seem to be many different forms of Yoga and, for the beginner, this can be confusing. Which form should he/she choose? Exactly what are the benefits of each type of Yoga form? Well, you can’t go far wrong with ‘Hatha Yoga’. It is very much like normal Yoga, involving:
1. Stretches and poses.
2. Can bring relief from stress and anxiety.
3. It will help you to achieve greater levels of concentration.
4. For some individuals, it can also act as a cleanser for the spirit.
Body Purification
Thanks to a fifteenth century Indian Yogi called Swatmarama, Hatha Yoga will help you to think more clearly. Swatmarama found a way for practitioners of Yoga to prepare their body for purification and this was to be achieved chiefly through meditation. Originally, this kind of Yoga was called ‘Shatkarma’ (’Hatha’ is a combination of ‘Ha’, meaning sun, and ‘tha’, meaning moon).
‘Hatha Yoga’ is similar to ‘Raji Yoga’ where it is believed that practitioners can gain total control over the spirit, body and mind. With practice, you should be able to focus your energy into your whole body. In fact, because these two forms of Yoga are so closely related, they are often talked about simply as ‘Yoga’. The point of all this is that Hatha Yoga can help you to eliminate physical and/or mental problems by directing your energy to the areas that need the most assistance. What more could you ask for?
A major benefit of Hatha Yoga is the ability to get relief from many different aches and pains that may be afflicting your body, particularly in the head and neck area. After developing your skills further, you will learn how best to relax your body as you will have a greater understanding about how your body works. By releasing energy that has been suppressed for a long period of time, you will become happier and enjoy a range of health benefits. Also, your inner self will not be neglected either and you will have a far greater facility for getting in touch with your feelings. This combination of physical AND mental benefits makes Hatha Yoga extremely popular to most sections of the population.
Breathing is a major part of Hatha Yoga and allows you to focus your energy on the correct parts of the body that need assistance. Higher, more esoteric, benefits can also be reached by working on the breath. Pranayama is the name given to these kind of breathing techniques and (combined with postures called asanas and meditation) can help you to balance the positive and negative forces in your life. As a result, you will find your mind becoming clearer and access to your subconscious will become much easier.
So, Hatha Yoga is a very physical form of Yoga, but one that, perhaps, provides the greatest benefits, especially to beginners. Although it is a physical form, the mental and spiritual benefits are also considerable and so it is a good ‘all-rounder’ if you are undecided.

About the Author:
Yardley Moore invites you to discover more about the great benefits of Yoga by visiting www.YourYogaTips.com where you will find lots of information and advice for the Yoga enthusiast.