Ditch that blood pressure medicine and bite into summer's nature-served heart remedies instead. The heat-friendly fruits and vegetables of the season are overflowing with vitamins, minerals, and most importantly, fiber, an essential component for keeping your heart healthy and your blood pressure in check.

Nutritional wizard, Sherry Gray, a registered dietitian at the University of Connecticut, seconds this, with a tip to lean toward local produce whenever you can. Homegrown fruits and veggies are usually fresher, more nutrient-packed and easier on the pocket.

A couple of apples a day can keep the heart doctor away. But why limit yourself when you can explore a garden of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables? Dabbling in a variety of produce will enhance the antioxidant impact on your heart health. As a start, Gray suggests incorporating one or two fruits and vegetables into your daily meals and gradually upping the count.

Now let's reveal the super seven of summer. Loading your plate with these fruits and vegetables can particularly gear up your heart for a healthy summer.

Tomatoes: Your heart will thank you for adding this summer staple to your meals. Brimming with potassium, vitamin C, and folate, tomatoes can help suppress homocysteine levels, a known risk factor for heart diseases. Gray's quick-fix recipe to reap the benefits: pasta with cooked tomatoes, fresh arugula, parmesan, and a drizzle of olive oil.

Blueberries: Next up is blueberry, the antioxidant champion that fights inflammation and oxidative stress. A regular dose of these blue pearls can regulate cholesterol and strengthen your overall heart health.

Peaches: Like a nutritional peach bomb, peaches pack in potassium, vitamin C, fiber, and beta-carotene to bolster heart health. Once converted to vitamin A in the body, beta-carotene offers extra heart-protective benefits.

Apricots: Another summer stone fruit, apricots, comes packed with antioxidants, fiber, and heart-protective compounds that maintain blood vessel health.

Watermelon: When it comes to hydration and heart health, watermelon has you covered. Its rich reserves of potassium, fiber, and lycopene can boost your heart health significantly.

Zucchini: A simple way to up your potassium intake and lower your heart disease risk is by adding some zucchini to your diet. Plus, it provides vitamin C and fiber to fight high cholesterol levels.

Strawberries: The sweet treat that's also a powerful antioxidant warrior. Research shows eating 2.5 servings of strawberries daily may decrease insulin resistance and improve cardiometabolic risk factors.

So, next time you plan your summer menu, make it a point to season it with a good dose of these seven heart-healthy warriors. Seasonal and fresh, they blend well not only with your dishes but also with your heart and overall health.