Reduce heart disease risk with every bite

A leading cause of death in the United States, heart disease, can be significantly reduced by simply adding in heart-healthy foods to your diet. The nutrient-rich superfoods can work wonders in your complex body and lend a helping hand with reducing your risk by lowering unhealthy cholesterol levels, triglycerides and even your blood pressure.

Packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, these superfoods often have more perks than just reducing your risk for heart disease. They can also benefit those with other chronic conditions such as type-2 diabetes and obesity.

Heart-healthy foods pack a powerful punch and munching on these mighty morsels can have fast results:

• Lowered cholesterol after just four weeks
• Reduced blood pressure after only six months

Eating heart-healthy foods is the first step toward keeping your cardiovascular system in tip-top shape. According to Christie Ferriell, a Registered Dietician and Clinical Nutrition Manager at Reid Hospital, adults should also "avoid trans fat – listed on the food labels of packaged food products – and choose low-fat dairy foods in place of higher-fat dairy products." Adding in regular exercise, knowing your risk factors and getting regular checkups is also recommended by health officials at Reid Hospital.

See the full list of 7 heart-healthy foods, as reported by Reid Hospital.