Below is a guest post by Angie Martin
Quick Picks for Heart-Healthy Foods
The key to picking healthy foods for the heart lies in avoiding foods that are processed, highly refined and dense with salts, sugars and unnatural fats. The goal of eating should really be to properly nourish the body (eat to live, don’t live to eat). This will allow for optimal performance and ultimately, optimal health. Following are my top picks for any diet! Include them on a regular basis J
Oats
Oatmeal is the perfect breakfast food when attempting to improve the health of your heart. It is usually best to avoid instant varieties that are heavily laden with sugar and preservatives though, because these do not possess the same benefits as rolled oats or steel cut oats, which are prepared in a more conventional manner. Steel cut or rolled oats can be boiled in water with a pinch of salt and then flavored with brown sugar or cream, but better yet, try dried cranberries, raisins, diced apples, pecans or walnuts.
Healthy Fats
Not all fats are bad for your heart. In fact, some of them are downright essential. Some of the best fat-containing foods to consume for heart health include olives, avocados and nuts. Peanuts, however, are not a true nut and given their high fat content, should be avoided. Brazil nuts, walnuts, cashews, almonds and pecans are all preferable instead.
Colorful Produce
The more natural the color that you put into your diet, the more beneficial it will be. Always try to consume a bright and colorful selection of fresh fruits and vegetables. For instance, top your salads with sliced carrots, chopped tomatoes and fresh blueberries. Each splash of color will mean that a different group of are going into your belly!
Fish
Many people love seafood, but they often consume selections that are terrible for their hearts. For instance, fried shrimp will not benefit your body in the same way that a lean piece of salmon will. It is important to get regular servings of fish though, as fatty acids in fish can help lower cholesterol and are great for the brain and heart. Fish should be broiled or grilled and never fried, for maximum benefit.
Olive Oil
When cooking, always reach for olive oil. However, you should secure an optimal grade of olive oil and use it only at room temperature or lower, whenever possible. This makes a great replacement for butter, as it can be brushed lightly on bread before toasting it and will have a delicious flavor that goes well with almost anything. It is also perfect for creating your own salad dressings or marinades.
Beans
Beans are also great for your heart. There are many different beans in the legume family, almost all of which allow you to prepare a number of healthful dishes. Soups, stews and chili are a great way to do something special for your body using beans. You can flavor these with whole cloves of garlic, cayenne pepper and onion, which all have other health benefits too.
Your daily efforts can both extend your life and improve its quality, so get started today! Think big picture, and always be creative 
Angie Martin writes about food, shopping & saving money at www.homeinsurance.org.
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. Both of these exercises took time to learn, but as I persisted, I was able to remember foods pretty well, and eventually began to learn how to combine foods for hot dishes and other mixed food meals. When all else failed, I got to be pretty good (I think) at estimating some foods, based on my accumulated new knowledge.
