Heart Health 411- You Are What You Eat

You are what you eat.  It’s a saying we’ve all heard a million times.  But nothing could be truer.  Your diet has a tremendous impact on your heart health.  Certain foods can increase your heart disease risk.  By making changes to your diet, you can both decrease your heart disease risks and change your eating habits for good.  You may even shed a few extra pounds.  Here are some tips.
 

1.  Limit unhealthy fats and cholesterol:  By limiting your intake of saturated and trans fats, you can significantly decrease your chances for heart disease and stroke.

2.  Choose low-fat protein sources: Substitute skinless chicken breasts, beans, skim milk, and fish for high fat meats. You will still get the protein that you need, but it will come in a more heart healthy package.

3. Eat more fruits and vegetables.

4.  Select whole grains.

5.  Reduce the sodium in your food:  High levels of sodium elevates your blood pressure, which in turn increases your risk for developing heart disease. By decreasing your sodium intake, you can reduce your blood pressure and your cardiovascular risks. 

As Heart month comes to a close, I hope you all remain encouraged and empowered to make Heart healthy decisions not just for a month, but for the entire year.

Best,

Ciji Dodds

Miss International 2011