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Can you really improve your heart health by eating more plant-based foods? Research says yes. Resoundingly. So maybe it's time to start looking at all that colorful produce piled in bins at your local store as delicious medicine for your heart.

Investigators have studied the relationship between plant-based food intake and various ailments in many, many studies. Spoiler alert: Eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains wins. These are just a few key research findings:

• High cholesterol. Reviewing 11 different studies, researchers concluded that plant-based diets helped people significantly improve both their cholesterol level and weight.
• High blood pressure. In another study, people who ate more fruit had a lower risk of developing hypertension (high blood pressure). In particular, eating blueberries, apples, pears, raisins and grapes all had a beneficial impact on blood pressure.
• Cardiovascular disease. Researchers compiled the findings of 95 different studies and concluded: Eating more fruits and vegetables daily reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. Apples, pears, citrus fruits and leafy greens all helped heart health.
• Chronic heart disease. One large study found that people who ate more vegetables had a smaller risk of chronic heart disease; in fact, the more veggies they ate, the more their risk went down.