Want to eat for better cardiovascular health?

A cardiologist shares the foods she eats in a typical day to offer up some heart-healthy meal ideas.

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If theres one person who hasheart health in mindwhen they eat, its a cardiologist.

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Kerrilynn Hennessey, MD, is a cardiologist at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

After all, cardiologists see the effects of food on our heartsday in and day out.

Its an important determinant of our risk for heart attack and stroke as well as living longer.

Plant foods also help optimize your cholesterol levelsto reduce your risk of heart disease, she adds.

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Rather than micro-managing her diet, she focuses on minimizing these foods along with butter and margarine.

But how does she put all of that knowledge into practice?

If its good enough for a cardiologist, its good enough for us.

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I eat avocado and nuts on a near-daily basis…and I enjoy a serving of broiled salmon weekly.

Staples in Dr. Hennesseys kitchen include olive oil and legumes.

If a food falls in one of those categories, I know its healthy, says Dr. Hennessey.

Cropped shot of young woman shopping in the dairy section of a supermarket. She is reading the nutrition label on a container of fresh organic healthy natural yoghurt

Kerrilynn Hennessey, MD, is a cardiologist at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Heres a typical food day for her.

Nuts have healthy fats and keep me full through the morning, she says.

The consistency of our meals works for us and keeps us on track, she says.

Two cups with coffee and green tea on a beige background.

Exactly how often you should eat those types of food, she adds, depends on your health goals.

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