Eating Heart Smart
We�ve all heard the heart disease statistics and the �cautionary message� of heart disease being the number one killer in the United States. Although this is a worrisome statistic, the truth is heart disease can be prevented through diet and lifestyle modifications. Surrounding yourself with the resources you need to live heart smart will put you on the path to a healthier life. But first, let�s talk about why your heart is so important.
Your heart beats about 100,000 times in a day and about 35 million times in a year. Needless to say, your heart is always working and never takes a break, so fueling it efficiently is a must. Amongst many other tasks, this vital organ pumps blood to the lungs, muscles, and digestive tract to keep up with the body�s demands. It�s important to protect and nourish the heart appropriately with healthful foods that are nutrient rich, low in sodium, and low in added sugars.
Now let�s talk about a few select foods that can help you live heart healthy.
Making fruits and vegetables the core of each and every meal is essential as they are low in sodium, high in potassium and rich in vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for your heart. When you begin to consume more of these food groups, you want to keep convenient options in mind. Single serve vegetable trays, easy to grab produce such as apples or pears, or salad shake ups like Eat Smart Salads are great options. The Eat Smart salads are a nutritious lunch option as they contain at least three servings of vegetables, superfood ingredients and a delicious tasting flavor. Having one of these a day will surely fuel your heart. Even incorporating these salads into a stir-fry is a creative way to add more fruits and vegetables to your meals.
As you may know, having high cholesterol can lead to heart disease because maintaining a consistent excess of cholesterol tends to clog arteries. Incorporating whole grains into your daily food selections is a heart smart food that combats bad cholesterol. Oatmeal is a nutrient dense whole grain that contains soluble fiber, also known as beta-glucan, which has been shown to help reduce cholesterol levels. Soluble fiber binds to excess LDL cholesterol, also known as the �bad cholesterol,� in your digestive tract. This process essentially traps the cholesterol in the gut and prevents it from entering in the bloodstream. This then prevents cholesterol from clogging your arteries and leading to a condition known as atherosclerosis.
Incorporating Quaker whole grain oats into your breakfast can be a �hearty� start to your morning. Even using Quaker whole grain oats as a substitution for all-purpose flour in a cupcake recipe or bread recipe is a more wholesome option too.
As you see the Valentine �s Day cards, red balloons and heart shaped candy this month, let it serve as a reminder to be heart healthy not just for you but for your loved ones too.
Incorporating heart health foods can benefit your health in the long run. Fuel your heart with the right foods and don�t let your heart ever skip a beat.