Turn back the clock by strengthening your heart!

Keeping your heart strong and your arteries clear will not only protect against cardiovascular disease—our number-one health hassle—it will also help you feel vibrant for years to come! The good-for-your-heart tips that will do the trick:

KO clots with grape seed extract Taking a daily 300-mg. to 350-mg. dose of nutrient-rich grape seed extract could cut your risk of heart troubles 33%. Compounds in the seeds reduce blood stickiness, helping prevent clots from forming in your arteries. One option: Reserveage Grape Seed Extract ($29, Vitaminshoppe.com).

Important: Check with an M.D. before taking a new supplement. Normalize blood pressure with peanuts Peanuts are a top source of arginine, an amino acid that relaxes arteries so blood flows easily and your pressure stays steady even during high-stress times! In fact, eating just 1/2 cup daily lowers heart disease risk 21% or more! Peanuts’ healthy fats also rasie your liver’s production of artery-cleaning HDL cholesterol as much as six points, Harvard research shows. Up blood flow with coffee, tea or cocoa Studies prove that drinking three cups of regular or decaf coffee, tea or hot cocoa each day cuts heart disease risk 25%! Phytonutrients in these drinks keep arteries strong and healthy, and boost the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your hard-working heart. Bonus: Drinking 5 oz. of wine, 12 oz. of beer or 1 1/2 oz. of hard liquor daily will also lower your risk an additional 28% by increasing your production of healthy HDL cholesterol at least five points. Stop plaque buildup with pomegranate Consuming 1/2 cup of pomegranate seeds or 2 oz. of pomegranate juice each day cuts the risk of heart-damaging blood clots 50%, reduces the liver’s cholesterol production as much as 28% and stops plaque from forming in arteries, slashing overall heart disease risk 30% or more. Compounds in pomegranate seeds make blood fats slippery, so they can’t stick to artery walls—plus they help heal arteries already damaged by plaque, says study coauthor Michael Aviram, PH.D. Control cholesterol with mushrooms They’re rich in beta-glucans, nutrients that bind to cholesterol in the bloodstream and whisk it from your body, single-handedly cutting your total cholesterol level 23%—and your heart disease risk 30%, reports the journal Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science. The study proven dose: one heaping cup daily. Tip: Barley is another great source of beta-glucans. Reduce stress with strolls and chats Daily 30-minute strolls help burn off artery-damaging stress hormones, reducing your odds of heart disease as much as 25%. Can’t face the frigid outdoors? Connecting with a friend in person, on the phone or online also lowers stress hormones, protecting your heart just as effectively as that daily workout! Ease inflammation with spices and herbs Flavoring your meals with one teaspoon of any dried spices you like could cut your heart disease risk as much as 20%. Prefer fresh herbs? Just one tablespoon provides the same great protection. Turns out, these flavor-boosters contain powerful natural antiinflammatories— and the less inflammation in your bloodstream, the healthier your heart and arteries will be!