UCI Health cardiologist shares her top heart-healthy breakfast foods
Foods high in protein and fiber are filling and support cardiovascular health
IN THE NEWS: UCI Health cardiologist Dr. Ailin Barseghian a board-certified UCI Health cardiologist in Orange County, spoke with SELF about the best breakfast foods for good heart health.
When it comes to breakfast, Barseghian enjoys nutritious chia seed pudding, which she prepares in advance. That way, she can slow down and savor her meal before the workday begins.
Barseghian prefers chia seeds because they’re a superfood, rich in protein, fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. High fiber consumption is associated with reductions in LDL or “bad” cholesterol and blood pressure.
Chia seed pudding could provide one-third to one-half of a person’s daily fiber requirements. Barseghian also gets creative with toppings to add even more of the essential nutrient.
“I like to add blueberries, almonds and cacao — all of which add additional fiber.”
Barseghian is a board-certified cardiologist at UCI Health Cardiology Services who specializes in interventional and integrative approaches to heart disease. An associate clinical professor at the UC Irvine School of Medicine, her clinical and research interests include women's heart health, preventive cardiology and cardiovascular imaging and pharmacology.
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UCI Health, one of California’s largest academic health systems, is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. The 1,461-bed system comprises its main campus UCI Health — Orange, its flagship hospital, the UCI Health — Irvine acute care hospital and medical campus, four hospitals and affiliated physicians of the UCI Health Community Network in Orange and Los Angeles counties and a network of ambulatory care centers across the region. UCI Health — Orange provides tertiary and quaternary care and is home to the only Orange County-based National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, gold level 1 geriatric emergency department and regional burn center. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).