According to the French Society of Cardiology, the high content of flavonoids in green tea has a particularly protective effect against cardiovascular disease. Flavonoids indeed help to preserve the walls of the blood vessels, and therefore to protect the heart… on condition of drinking at least 3 cups per day. So, you might as well start the day on the right foot with a large cup of green tea (about 200 mg of flavonoids) without adding sugar or milk, which would have the effect of hampering its action on the body.
Note that 4 cups of green tea per day would also halve the symptoms of depression and reduce the risk of VA by 20%VS.
Pomegranate juice is part of this new family of “super fruits” packed with healthy antioxidants. A study in patients with heart conditions showed that taking pomegranate juice every day for at least 3 months improved blood flow to the heart. So why not replace your morning glass of orange juice with a glass of pomegranate juice… as long as you consume it without sugar.
Also note that, according to the American Association for Research on Cancer, pomegranate block the development of breast cancer due to its anti-estrogenic and anti-androgenic effects.
White oats (the famous oatmeal dear to the British) are very high in soluble fiber, which allows them to act as a sponge in the digestive tract and to absorb cholesterol. The latter is therefore eliminated from the body instead of being absorbed into the bloodstream.
To benefit from its properties, it is better to avoid instant breakfast preparations, which are far too high in sugar, and prepare your oats “the old fashioned way” with milk and a little agave syrup. Discover the recipe here.
There is no longer a season to eat strawberries and blueberries! American researchers have followed the health of more than 90,000 women aged 25 to 42 for 18 years. They noticed that those who ate strawberries and blueberries at least three times a week were 32% less likely to have heart problems than those who consumed less than once a month. It is the high content of anthocyanins, pigments very present in red fruits, which protect the heart. These antioxidants indeed strengthen the walls of the vessels and prevent them from becoming clogged. A protective effect that we find also in blackcurrant. A small bowl of red fruits will therefore be perfect to accompany your oatmeal porridge!
Yes, you read that right: chocolate is welcome at the breakfast table, as long as you don’t overdo it of course! Several studies have indeed shown that consuming dark chocolate (85% cocoa) every day lowers blood pressure, thus reducing the risk of heart attack. This, due to its richness in polyphenols, which helps to lower the level of bad cholesterol in the blood and maintains the elasticity of the walls of the blood vessels. Besides, dark chocolate has such health benefits that some researchers are considering integrate it into drugs. But beware: we are talking about dark chocolate here: the chocolate-hazelnut spread therefore has no place at the breakfast table.
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