Top cardiac surgeon shares his 'grocery list': Monthly shopping for these 5 items can keep the heart safe

What if you can eat your way to a healthy heart? Yes, you can protect your heart and boost its function by simply eating what’s good for it. No, you don’t have to spend your whole fortune on buying groceries. What really matters is picking the right food for your heart. And sometimes, those choices may align with what your heart truly desires. Dr. Jeremy London, a board-certified cardiovascular surgeon with more than 25 years of clinical experience, has shared what is in his grocery supply. Who better than a cardiac surgeon himself to talk about heart-healthy foods? Let’s take a look.

“Come check out a grocery haul for a heart surgeon and his family. Now, one of the things that's really important to us is that our grocery cart reflects what our bodies need. Simply put, that's protein, carbohydrates, and fats,” the doctor explains, in a video shared on Instagram.

Dr. London’s heart-healthy grocery list includes:

• Proteins

• Healthy fats

• Fruits and vegetables

• Dairy and alternatives

• Smoothie staples

For proteins, Dr. London has multiple options, such as ground chicken, chicken breasts, and bison patties. When it comes to healthy fats, his go-to options are nutritious and yummy avocados. He also incorporates a real, colourful mix of vegetables and fruits. The rainbow of veggies and fruits is important for heart health. “These are an excellent source of both fiber and healthy carbohydrates,” the doctor says.

Dr. London’s meal is never complete without a good dessert. Of course, he saves room for dessert. There is nothing wrong with having dessert. You don’t have to go on a guilt trip to enjoy a dessert. Eating the right food is all that matters. The doctor likes to finish off his dinner with some coconut yogurt or cottage cheese.

Another indulgence that the cardiac surgeon holds close to heart is smoothies. He enjoys having smoothies in the morning. The doctor uses frozen fruits for smoothies.

So what really matters is to understand what’s good for the heart, and go with it. “Now understand that we all have our own instruction manual when it comes to a nutritional plan, and your family's cart may look a little different than ours, and that's okay. But be thoughtful about what you put in your mouth, because these are the building blocks that our bodies count on,” the doctor suggests.