Leading a healthy lifestyle seems to be quite a task these days. A hectic schedule filled with work commitments and family responsibilities can make taking time out for oneself demanding. And our food habits and choices are not helping the case either.

Here are 5 simple everyday food items that will put you on the fast track towards a healthier life. And once you add some simple workout sessions to these food choices, you will be able to maintain optimum cardiovascular health.

Tomatoes
An excellent source of blood purification, tomatoes are the easiest and most accessible source of vitamins on a daily basis. Regular consumption of tomatoes is known to reduce the risk of heart disease. You can include them in your daily diet as part of salads & sandwiches or even eat them in cooked form.

Apples
Apples contain quercetin, a photochemical containing ant-inflammatory properties that also helps in prevention of blood clots. Include this easily available fruit into your daily food intake. Take an apple to office and munch on it to keep those hunger pangs at bay!

Almonds
Go nuts about Almonds! Eating up to 5 almonds a day can lower cholesterol levels in the body and help prevent heart diseases. They also contain vitamin B17, E and minerals like magnesium, iron and zinc and are a good source of monounsaturated fats.

Green leafy vegetables
All green leafy vegetables are an excellent source of fibre and beneficial minerals such as folic acid, magnesium, calcium, potassium, etc. Research proves that one serving of these leafy vegetables can lower the risk of getting a heart disease by 11 per cent. And they are easily available around you: spinach, fenugreek, radish leaves, lettuce, etc

Whole grains
Whole grains such as wheat, barley, millet, dals and even kidney beans are good choices to make on a daily basis. Choose whole grains as they are a good source of natural fibre vitamin E, iron, magnesium and a host of anti-oxidants. Regular consumption of whole grains helps reduce blood pressure as well.