When it comes to fighting heart disease, most doctors have it all wrong. And that’s too bad because they’re gambling with your life.

Most will tell you to eat whole grains and avoid fats to protect your heart. They may also tell you to regularly get low intensity exercise.

This is the exact advice that has helped put millions of Americans in an early grave.

You already know that a diet rich in vegetables, cold water fish, grass fed beef, and moderate amounts of fruit can add years to your life. But when it comes to fighting heart disease, there are other solutions most people have no idea about.

Here are 5 overlooked ingredients for a happy heart.

1. Spirulina: It may look like something that grows in a dirty pool. But this is one type of algae that is anything but gross. It has more quality protein in it per gram than beef! It’s also packed with beta-carotene and fatty acids.

Research shows that it can lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure by about 10 points in 6 weeks.1 That’s more effective than 14 of Big Pharma’s dangerous drugs.2 And just one gram of it a day can lower LDL cholesterol by 10 percent in only 12 weeks.3

It’s easy to find this supplement as a powder or pill at most health food stores and online.

2. Krill Oil:  You already know that the omega-3 fatty acids in cold water fish and fish oil can do amazing things for your heart. They reduce inflammation, which is one of the main risks for developing high blood pressure and heart disease.

But krill oil is over 10 times more powerful than regular fish oil. Studies find that just 300 mg each day can reduce inflammation by over 30 percent in a month.4

As an extra benefit, krill oil contains astaxanthin, which may be the most powerful antioxidant in existence. This will help fight free radical damage that can put your heart at risk.

3. Berries: Of course, berries are a sweet way to start your morning. But even better?  They’re high in fiber, full of vitamins, and can help fight off heart disease.

Berries contain a powerful compound call anthocyanin. It’s what makes them so colorful, but it isn’t for looks alone. It can lower your risk for developing high blood pressure by 10 percent.5

Some berries high in anthocyanin are blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries. You can get a good amount of it from red wine too.

4. Hempseeds: They may have a bad reputation as marijuana’s cousin. But hempseeds are anything but dangerous. And they certainly aren’t illegal. Hempseeds are an excellent source of protein and have a healthy ratio of fats.

Most people think that omega-6 fatty acids aren’t good for you. But not so fast. It’s all about balance. Eating more omega-6 than omega-3 fatty acids is what’s dangerous. Especially if the fats are coming from processed junk foods! But the ratio of fats in hempseeds can reduce heart disease mortality risk by 70 percent.6

Hempseeds have a nutty flavor that makes them great addition to any salad. They also make a pretty good snack on their own.

5. Tomatoes: It may not be the first food you think of when it comes to heart health. But think again.  Tomatoes are high in lycopene. This powerful antioxidant reduces the inflammation and oxidative stress that cause heart attack and stroke.

A Harvard study found that women with more lycopene in their blood were nearly 50 percent less likely to develop heart disease.7 We recommend that you gently cook your tomatoes. This increases the bioavailability of lycopene.

It only takes about 10 mg of it—that’s a half cup of tomato sauce—per day to help protect your heart.

These may not have been on the top of your list of foods to eat for a strong heart. But they should be.  Adding any of these to your diet is one of the easiest ways to help fight off heart disease without breaking a sweat.

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References:
1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18039384
2 http://summaries.cochrane.org/CD003823/ace-inhibitors-for-the-treatment-of-high-blood-pressure
3 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23754631
4 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17353582
5 http://institutefornaturalhealing.com/2013/08/this-colorful-antioxidant-lowers-blood-pressure/
6 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12442909
7 http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/79/1/47