Are red fruits and vegetables really good for the heart?

A viral Instagram post claims that eating red fruits and vegetables like watermelon, strawberries, beets, raspberries, tomatoes and cherries is good for the heart. Is it true?

Red fruits and vegetables contain nutrients that are good for heart health over time - Photo: THIP

On June 12, the Instagram account "healthhub.bz" posted an article claiming that red fruits and vegetables are good for the heart, with the phrase "RED ENTERS THE HEART".

As of now, the post has garnered more than 173,000 likes.

On July 6, the health news verification platform THIP (India) checked the above content and concluded that most of the information was incorrect. Red foods do not "go to the heart" as the expression says.

In fact, nutrients like lycopene and anthocyanins in red fruits and vegetables are absorbed into the bloodstream, supporting heart health over time.

For example, watermelon contains lycopene - an antioxidant that helps reduce bad cholesterol (LDL), which causes clogged arteries.

Strawberries are rich in anthocyanin, another antioxidant that helps lower blood pressure and reduce inflammation, two factors linked to heart disease.

Beets are rich in nitrates, which help lower blood pressure and improve blood flow to the heart.

Raspberries contain anthocyanins and fiber, which help control cholesterol and reduce inflammation.

Tomatoes are also rich in lycopene, which helps reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering LDL. Cherries provide anthocyanins and potassium, which support blood pressure and heart function.

A 2017 study found that eating 10 servings of fruits and vegetables a day can reduce the risk of heart disease by 28%.

Research particularly highlights berries such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and chokeberries (Aronia berries) as being high in heart-healthy antioxidants.

Similarly, a 2022 study also noted that nitrates in beets have blood pressure-lowering effects.

In short, these foods are nutritious, but the benefits come from specific compounds, not necessarily related to the color red. Additionally, according to THIP, heart health is also influenced by lifestyle, underlying medical conditions, and genetic factors.

Instagram post containing not entirely correct information - Photo: THIP

On the other hand, the phrase “RED ENTERS THE HEART” is inaccurate and misleading. When you eat any food, including red fruits and vegetables, they do not go straight to the heart but are digested in the stomach. The nutrients are then absorbed into the bloodstream and transported throughout the body, including the heart.

This wording can lead many people to mistakenly believe that red foods have a direct and special effect on the heart, when that is completely untrue.

The nutrients in red foods support the heart over time, just like the nutrients in many other foods. The red color is just a visual cue that they contain certain nutrients.

Red fruits and vegetables have health benefits, but no single food or color provides all the nutrients or cures all diseases. The most important thing is to maintain a balanced and varied diet.

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ANH THU

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/trai-cay-rau-cu-mau-do-that-su-tot-cho-tim-2025070711075644.htm