| Let’s Take February to Heart (Hint: It’s American Heart Month) |
| Tuesday, 16 February 2010 22:03 | |||
 Everywhere, USA, February 2010 – February, known for Valentine's Day, is also Heart Health Month, so there's never been a better reason to be good to your heart.
According to the American Heart Association, better lifestyles can help you reduce your risk for heart attack and stroke. Staying fit through indulging in a smart diet and regular exercise is a good investment. Nationally recognized nutritionist Katherine Brooking has a few simple steps that can keep our hearts beating strong all year long so we can all live life to the fullest. * Eating healthy doesn’t have to mean bland tasting recipes or timing consuming process. Get creative, use your head and the tools you have (blender, pots, pans, microwave, skillet, BBQ) and whip up new and healthy stuff. Just read up on what you’re using first, and make sure you’re employing the right foods. Blend, bake, and/or cook up in various ways healthy recipes you can find online or through your own innovative brain. You’ll be surprised. The American Dietetic Association stresses that eating fruits and vegetables is extremely important for good health; and the USDA recommends nine servings of fruits and vegetables for a 2,000-calorie level diet. Drinking 100 percent fruit juice is an easy way to get that daily requirement of fruit to contribute to good heart health, because each 8-ounce glass counts as one serving. To benefit your heart, however, it’s vital that you’re drinking pure 100 percent juice; not those with added sugar or artificial ingredients. Look for brands that indicate 100 percent juices that feature naturally pure juice and no added sugars, colors or preservatives. Look too for relatively new varieties, like those containing acai, pomegranate, or the grape flavonoids found in red wine that have shown to prevent the oxidation of so-called bad cholesterol (LDLs) that can lead to plaque in artery walls. Mushrooms are the leading source of selenium in the produce aisle and also contain ergothioneine – virtually unpronounceable, but along with selenium, provide two antioxidants that help protect the body’s cells from damage that could lead to heart disease. One of the keys to maintaining good overall health is to maintain good digestive health. Through out the year, we may eat foods that could possibly lead to digestive discomfort. If our digestive system isn’t working right, it’s going to impact how we feel overall and even how healthy we are. In fact, most people don’t know that the digestive tract makes up 70 percent of our immune system. Using a probiotic supplement to build digestive, immune, and overall health. Get moving for a happy heart: Now that you're eating right and getting your omega-3s and antioxidants (take a look at krill oil supplements), the final step is to incorporate physical activity into your daily life. If you're able to attend a gym, to get a partner involved and encourage each other. If you don't visit a gym, try working out at home in front of your TV, or go outside and do some yard work, or consider walking briskly for 30 minutes or so in a nearby mall, especially when the weather is bad. SOURCE: Registered Dietitian Katherine Brooking (Visual courtesy blisstree.com)
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