Many of us have family histories of stroke, heart attack, or other forms of cardiovascular disease, but genetics don’t have to rule our health or the way we age.  As cardiologists begin to see the benefits of developing healthy habits, it’s clear that the place to start is where your fork and mouth meet.  If you are eating a diet rich in fats, animal proteins, and sugars, your heart will carry a heavier burden and genetics will most likely predispose you to having chronic heart issues and poor cardiovascular health.  But even if you are already showing signs of a stressed cardiovascular system, it is never too late to begin to eat a nutrient-rich diet.  Some great foods to add into your diet include broccoli, edamame, and dark chocolate! Broccoli is one of the most heart nourishing foods you can eat because it is rich in sulforaphane, a compound that can essentially switch on a protein to prevent the clogging of your arteries by plaque.  Broccoli also does a great job of helping the body detoxify and it’s great with dinner or even in a breakfast frittata.  Edamame is known for being a great snack rich in isoflavones.  These isoflavones are phytonutrients that help your arteries and veins function at an optimal level.  Just eating more of these green soybean may lower your LDL cholesterol levels and help you manage your weight.  Adding lots of veggies is a place to start but you don’t have to completely deprive your sweet tooth while trying to eat a heart healthy diet.  Dark chocolate is a great heart helper since it helps maintain health blood sugar levels.  Atherosclerosis which is the hardening of arteries due to plaque build up is a major culprit of creating arterial stiffness which decreases circulation.  By eating a moderate amount of chocolate, your arteries can maintain their flexibility and keeps white blood cells from adhering to blood vessel walls.   In eating moderately, the suggested amount would be one ounce of dark chocolate which is usually around -177 calories.  Experiment with adding new foods and trying new recipes.  Be kind to yourself and remember that having a healthy heart is also about our mindset.  It takes time to adopt new dietary habits, so make a choice to be heart healthy and enjoy the benefits!