Foods for Cardiac Health: Cardioprotective Soup Recipes

Apple and Onion Soup

This cardioprotective soup recipes combines two of the world's best foods for cardiac health: apples and onions. Apples are packed with phytochemicals, and epidemiological studies have associated the consumption of apples with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Onions have been shown to lower high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure, both of which help reduce the risk of heart attack.
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Wholesome Winter Pea and Watercress Soup

This heart healthy soup with a wonderful velvety texture is low in calories but full of vitamin K. Research has linked a high consumption of vitamin K rich foods to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
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Tangy Tomato Soup with Basil

Tomatoes contain several extraordinary properties that make them one of the best foods for cardiac health. Their most famous cardioprotective quality: they provide lycopene which is a very strong antioxidant. In one study, men with largest amount of lycopene in their body fat were half as likely to have a heart attack as those who had the smallest amount of lycopene in their body fat. The amount of lycopene in body fat is an indicator of lycopene content in the diet. Lycopene from processed tomato products — such as the stewed tomatoes used in this soup — appears to be more bioavailable than lycopene from raw tomatoes. Basil, the other key ingredient in this soup, is loaded with vitamin K which helps incorporate calcium into bone while preventing it from depositing in blood vessels.
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Carrot, Tomato and Lentil Soup

The lentils in this soup provide plenty of cardioprotective fiber while the carrots and tomatoes are crammed with vitamin K. Vitamin K is best known for its role in normal blood coagulation, but recent research suggests it may also play a pivotal role in preventing cardiovascular disease.
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Barley Soup with Beans and Basil

Research shows that people who eat beans and other legumes at least four times a week have a 9% lower risk of cardiovascular disease than those who eat legumes less than once a week. Basil, on the other hand, is an excellent source of vitamin K, with a mere teaspoon of dried basil containing a whopping 30% of the daily value. Vitamin K is best known for its role in normal blood coagulation, but recent research suggests it may also have a pivotal role in preventing both cardiovascular disease.
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Beet and Carrot Soup

This recipe combines carrots and beets to create a lovely crimson soup that is supercharged with nutrients that help prevent cardiovascular disease. Animal studies have found beets to be highly effective at reducing total cholesterol and triglyceride levels while carrots are rich in carotenoids, natural compounds that have been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease.
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Dairy-Free Spinach Soup

This delicious, vibrant green spinach soup draws on the health benefits of spinach, one of the best foods for maintaining good cardiac health. Spinach is a rich source of a number of heart health promoting nutrients, including ubiquinone, a vitamin-like substance that is believed to improve cardiovascular health in the long term, particularly in individuals with an increased risk of heart failure.
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Chicken Soup with Rice and Green Peas

This recipe calls for organic chicken, which should be the poultry of choice for those who want to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease. Commercially-raised poultry often contains arsenic, a poison that can lead to heart disease and other health problems, if digested on a regular basis. The green peas in this savory soup are rich in vitamin K which, according to research, may play a pivotal role in preventing both cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.
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Broccoli and Barley Soup

Broccoli is a true nutritional hero and a particularly great addition to your diet if you want to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. A group of British scientists found that sulforaphane—a compound occurring naturally in broccoli—can activate Nrf2, a protective protein that is typically inactive in parts of the arteries prone to clogging. Also barley helps maintain cardiovascular health thanks to its high fiber and low fat content.
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