Oats
Price: $3.28 for a 42-ounce canister
The American Heart Association recommends including whole grains in your diet for heart health, and oats are among the best choices. Oats are almost always sold whole — the bran and germ aren’t milled away — so anytime you see oats on the label, you’re likely getting whole grains.
Among whole grains, oats are especially heart-friendly. They’re rich in soluble fiber, which is known to reduce your “bad” — or LDL — cholesterol and your overall risk of coronary heart disease. There’s also a growing body of evidence that a variety of natural compounds found in oats, called phytochemicals, have wide-ranging health benefits.
How to eat them
You can incorporate oats into your diet in plenty of ways aside from making oatmeal. Two suggestions to get you started: Toss quick oats into the blender the next time you make a smoothie, or chop them finely in your food processor and use them as a healthy “breading” for chicken or fish.
