A study in the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology including more than 1.3 million people found that having prediabetes increases the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease by 21% — especially for those ages 18 to 24.

And earlier findings showed that prediabetes increases your risk of heart attack by 25%.

But the vast majority of people who have prediabetes don't know it. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says prediabetes affects 40% of U.S. adults, and 80% of are oblivious.

Knowing you have the condition (you can get a fasting blood glucose test to find out) and then taking steps to protect your heart and return your blood glucose levels to normal is essential.

The good news? A study in JAHA dishes up a tasty way to do that.

Eating fiber and nutrient-rich mangoes and avocados daily can improve the health of the lining of your blood vessels and regulate their tone (essential for preventing high blood pressure) as they reduce inflammation and your risk of blood clots.

The researchers saw these benefits after obese participants ate the two fruits daily for eight weeks as part of a daily diet of 1,500 calories for women and 1,750 calories for men.

Enjoying mangoes and avocados as part of a diet that's free of added sugars, unhealthy fats, and highly processed foods can help reverse your prediabetes.

Add daily exercise and, voila, you've got a healthy heart that will keep you feeling  younger.