Almonds

Illustration: mckbillo

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Day 3: Cook for Your Heart

Certain foods do wonders for your veins and arteries, promoting blood flow throughout your body. To make a meal packed with heart-healthy nutrients, start with these four ingredients.

Wild Salmon
It's full of omega-3s, your arterial system's handymen. They lower triglycerides (which contribute to plaque buildup) and can make platelets less sticky (to reduce clotting).

Tomatoes
Hypertension patients who consumed tomato extract saw at least a ten-point drop in their systolic pressure and four-point fall in their diastolic pressure.

Garlic
The pungent clove is thought to protect against atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), a condition that can lead to heart disease and stroke.

Lima Beans
One cup contains about 30 percent of the recommended dietary allowance of magnesium, a mineral that triggers vasodilation, easing the strain on your heart.