Eat Healthy
What you eat affects your risk of developing heart disease. High blood pressure can be lowered by reducing or eliminating salt or sodium from your diet. Choosing low fat or no fat over full fat dairy products will help prevent fatty build up in your arteries. Eating a healthy diet can help you improve your heart health.
Guidelines To Make Healthier Choices
- Aim for 5-7 servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
- Choose whole-grain foods.
- Switch to low-fat or no-fat dairy products.
- Use herbs and other seasonings in place of salt.
- Limit your intake of sodas and sweetened teas.
- Eat two or more meat-less (vegetarian) meals a week.
Take small steps now to improve your eating habits and lower your heart disease risk. Try changing just one habit at a time. Celebrate the changes you make and don't worry if you slip up. Just get back on track as soon as possible, and you'll be on your way to a healthier heart.
Simple Steps for Healthy Eating
- Eat an apple as a snack instead of cookies or chips
- Try adding an extra vegetable to your lunch or dinner.
- Replace your soda with water or sparkling seltzer.
- Have a low fat frozen yogurt instead of ice cream.
- Write down what you eat to help you see what changes you need to make, and to recognize your achievements.
Try the DASH eating plan by visiting the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Web site.
More healthy living tips:
- Eat Healthy
- Get Active
- Lose Weight
- Don't Smoke
- Limit Sugars
- Manage Stress
