5 Drinks that Will Give You a Healthy Heart

There has been a recent influx of Americans trying to take control of their health. The biggest concern on everyone's minds these days is heart health. Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States and while that can sound staggering, there are a number of ways to avoid heart disease and the complications that come with it. We all know the age-old rules of exercising more, avoiding fatty food, and not smoking, but there are also slightly more alternative ways to help improve your cardiovascular health, including a few drinks with heart-healthy benefits.

While it may not be common knowledge, over the last 10 to 15 years there have been many instances of drink companies reducing the calorie and sugar counts in their drinks in order to create "healthier" beverages. We've seen more and more companies head toward the "diet" route and use sweeteners like stevia and aspartame to maintain their good flavor. Drinks like Sparkling Ice, Snapple, and Coca-Cola have developed products that appeal to the masses who are attempting to gain control over their health and weight issues.

But there are some drinks out there that can be good for your heart on their own. The next time you consider a night in, grab a glass of red wine. There have been numerous studies that show drinking a glass of red wine in a night could drastically reduce your risk of heart disease. While this has been proven, we like to remind readers that drinking alcohol in moderation is the best way to seek these results, and if you're not already a drinker, it's best to maintain your sobriety for additional health benefits. If you want to avoid alcohol, grab a pomegranate or grape juice from your local grocery store (or even juice them yourself!), which are fantastic alternatives to wine and add great flavor to any orange juice, which is also high in vitamin C.

If you're thinking about get your heart health under control before the holiday season, what with its fatty foods and plethora of celebration drinking, consider doing something in addition to exercising and eating healthy by trying these eight drinks that could help keep the doctor away.

Soy Milk

Soy milk is a great way to get your dose of soy in a beverage. The Mayo Clinic reported that soy protein has been linked to benefits that reduce the consumer's risk of cardiovascular disease. Soy can also help to reduce the symptoms of menopause, assist in weight loss, and help with improving exercise performance. 

Cranberry Juice

Cranberry juice has been linked to many health benefits, but who knew it was also linked to heart health? Cranberry juice has high concentrations of flavonoids, which, like red wine, help to promote circulation and prevent cardiovascular disease.

Tomato Juice

Tomato juice tends to be high in sodium because it's savory. But if you purchase a low-sodium tomato juice you will be doing your heart health a favor. New Health Guide informed us that "Tomatoes also help prevent and manage heart disease because of their niacin, potassium, folate, and vitamin B6 content. Tomatoes improve homocysteine  

Grape Juice 

Grapes are high in antioxidants and have been shown to help prevent damage to blood vessels as well as reduce the risk of blood clots. It's probably best to eat whole grapes, but grape juice is just as delicious and is easier to drink on the go!

Black Tea

Another item on our list that is high in antioxidants, black tea has been linked to the prevention of heart attacks and can even help prevent headaches and tooth decay! The drink also contains anywhere from 2 to 4 percent caffeine, which means there are added benefits besides heart health - like alertness.