4. Red Wine
According to WebMD, studies show that a drink or two daily may reduce the risk of dying from heart disease. Researchers attribute this to higher HDL cholesterol levels (that’s the “good” kind of cholesterol). Plus, moderate amounts of alcohol act as a blood thinner.
One such study conducted at Georgetown University Medical Center found that just two drinks could have an important effect. In fact, researchers concluded that this moderate serving of alcohol can decrease clumping platelets, which prevents blood clotting. Of interest, these effects were most prominent in women compared to men. This surprised researchers.
Interestingly, this is said to help to provide an explanation as to why the French have lower rates of heart disease than we do in the United States. (France is said to have one of the lowest rates of heart disease in the world, despite the fact that high-fat foods like cheese are a regular part of French culture.)
5. Grapefruit Juice
Research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that a glass of grapefruit juice a day may help to keep blood vessels healthy. It may prevent cardiovascular disease. Scientists attribute this effect to the flavones that occur naturally in citrus fruits.
In the French study, 48 healthy women between the ages of 50 and 65 were divided into two groups. The first group was given grapefruit juice, and the other women were given a drink with no flavones. Researchers concluded that the flavone-rich grapefruit juice improved blood vessel health. However, the drink with no flavones demonstrated little to no effect. Consequently, study authors concluded that regular grapefruit juice consumption reduces arterial stiffness.