What to Eat to Defend Your Heart You can better protect yourself from heart disease with the help of these foods Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, responsible for around 1 in 4 deaths each year. But fear not—you can greatly reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease through diet and lifestyle changes such as getting regular exercise and eating heart-healthy foods. All five of the following superfoods are easy to incorporate into your meal plan and have been validated by peer-reviewed science to help protect your body’s most important muscle. By selecting foods and supplements that support heart health, you lock in a critical piece of the longevity puzzle that can keep your heart happy for decades to come.