Coronary heart disease remains one of the biggest killers of British men, with atherosclerosis, the development of fatty plaques in the heart�s blood vessels, being the major cause. However, even minor improvements in your diet can have a dramatic effect in reducing your risk of a heart attack.

A study published in the journal of the American Medical Association (Vol. 272, no. 18, pp 1439 � 41) showed that men with the highest levels of carotenoids had up to 60% fewer heart attacks and deaths.

Carotenoids are the pigments which give fruits and vegetables their color. To date, over 600 have been identified and more than 60 can be found in food.

There is increasing evidence that many carotenoids (alpha carotene, beta-carotene cryptoxanthin, lutein, lycopene and zeaxanthin) have powerful antioxidant properties which could help to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. Furthermore, increasing your consumption of foods containing these substances increases your body�s tissue levels.

To maintain a healthy heart, start to increase your carotenoid levels by eating more of the following foods:

Carrots, peppers, pumpkin, apricots, parsley, spinach, kale, sweet potatoes, tangerines, oranges, papaya, lettuce, broccoli, tomatoes, pink grapefruit, watermelon, okra, and corn.

� HealthChat 2000
Dr. Sims is the Medical Director of FitStop, the UK's foremost group of health and fitness centers, and an expert on matters relating to fitness of body and mind. Having trained as a GP, he now works full-time in health promotion and has written extensively on the subject, including a monthly medical column in Mensa magazine with the TV psychiatrist, Dr Raj Persaud. Dr. Sims was the original Virgin.Net online doctor.
Article courtesy of MediaPeak