Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States and has a direct link to diet and exercise. If you are looking for ways to keep your heart and arteries healthy and clear of plaques, here are 5 foods that help promote vascular and overall health and taste great too.

1. Wonderful Fish Oils. Omega-3-fatty acids are found in salmon and other cold water fish, it has natural anti-inflammatory properties. It helps makes the platelets less sticky so they are less likely to clot and from plaques in our arteries. There are many ways to add healthy fish to your diet and even if you don't like fish you can add other sources of omega 3 fatty acids into your diet. You can add ground flax seeds to a fruit smoothie or even sprinkle it in your cereal.

2. Bad breath with a benefit. Garlic is a wonderful seasoning for food, not to mention that it has antimicrobial properties and it also prevents plaque formation and it stimulates the production of nitrous oxide, a chemical made in the body that helps relax blood vessel lining.

3. What's in your salad? Dark green leafy vegetables like spinach and Swiss chard are full of many antioxidants, minerals and vitamins that provide our bodies with the nutrients that it needs to function. They contain vitamin K which is a powerful blood thinner that prevents platelet clumping.

4. A simple cup of green tea.
The chill is in the air, fall is here and tea is a wonderful and healthy way to beat the cold and get your daily dose of antioxidants. Antioxidants in green tea prevent clotting and keep blood vessels healthy. Read more...