5 Simple Cooking Techniques to Keep Your Heart Healthy and Happy

It's no secret that the food we eat plays a vital role in our overall health and well-being. When it comes to our hearts, we need to be extra cautious about our lifestyle choices. However, that doesn't mean we have to compromise on the taste of the food we eat or spend hours meal prepping in the kitchen. In fact, with just a few simple techniques, you can whip up delicious and nutritious meals that are good for your heart and your taste buds.    In this blog, we'll discuss five simple cooking techniques that will keep your heart healthy and happy. So whether you're a seasoned chef or a beginner in the kitchen, let's get cooking!  

5 heart-healthy cooking techniques

Sauté/Stir-frying

For quick and tasty meals stir frying or sautéing vegetables is a quick and productive option. Throw your veggies in a frying pan or wok on medium heat, you can use a splash of Saffola Total, which contains oryzanol and other natural antioxidants that are proven to help manage blood cholesterol levels. Including green leafy vegetables in our diet is important, they contain fat-soluble vitamins. Try cooking them with a drizzle of oil to improve the absorption of these fat-soluble vitamins. 

Steaming

It is a healthy cooking technique that involves cooking food over boiling water. Steaming is particularly suitable for vegetables, seafood, and poultry, and is one of the healthiest cooking techniques as it preserves the food's nutrients and flavour. Steaming vegetables helps retain the Vitamin C and minerals that may be lost through other cooking methods such as boiling or frying.

Baking

Contrary to popular belief, baking is considerably more versatile than just bread and cakes. Baking is a healthy cooking choice since the amount of fat involved is kept under control. It is a dry cooking method that uses a high temperature and helps in cooking the food uniformly. Baking is a time-saving alternative way of cooking as it enables you to prepare several dishes in one go.
 

Grilling

Cooking meals on a grill includes using an open flame or an oven. It is an excellent approach if you want to use less oil and fat while still maintaining the food's flavour while cooking. According to research, lean meats and vegetables lower the risk of heart disease and other chronic illnesses if cooked on the grill. It is necessary to take appropriate safety measures when grilling-For instance, watch the temperature when grilling food to prevent the dish from charring.  

Microwaving

There is much more to microwaving than just heating food. It is one of the go-to methods if you want to preserve the Vitamin C in your food. However, this only works if you don't microwave your food for longer than 30 to 60 seconds at a time or heat it in a plastic container. Most of the nutrients are kept because microwave heating takes place over a shorter period of time. It's risky to heat food in plastic containers because chemicals and other unidentified contaminants could leech onto the food.   Cooking techniques have a significant impact on the nutritional content of our food. While each cooking method has its benefits and limitations, here are some tips for healthy cooking that are worth remembering for optimal heart health.  

Things to keep in mind while cooking

• Most of the time, we unknowingly tend to overcook our food. The cooking time should be kept to a minimum, as overcooking the food can destroy its nutrients and alter the colour and texture of the food.
• Pressure cooking and microwaving are methods that you can opt for if you are looking to reduce your cooking time.
• Using minimal water while cooking can prevent the loss of water-soluble nutrients from your food.

The Takeaway 

Eating healthy to keep your heart fit does not have to be bland and boring. By incorporating colourful fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and lean protein, along with healthy fats and oils, you can create a fulfilling and flavourful heart-healthy diet that's also Instagram-worthy. So, get creative in the kitchen and prepare delicious meals using these simple cooking techniques to start your heart-healthy lifestyle journey.