Starting in 1963, Congress has proclaimed February "American Heart Month" to help urge Americans to join the battle against the number one killer in the United States: cardiovascular disease. Heart disease, including stroke, is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. These diseases, the nation's No. 1 and No. 3 killers, claim more than 865,000 American lives a year.
"Heart disease doesn’t just start one day in your 40's or 50's. It can be the result of not taking care of yourself over your lifetime - not being physically active, smoking, high stress levels and not eating a nutritious diet,” said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck. “What you do in your teens, 20's and 30's can impact your health as you get older. It is important that all age groups embrace a healthy lifestyle and work to lower the chance of having a heart attack or stroke.”.
Nutritionally, heart health is maintained by:
- Saturated fat and trans fat raise bad (LDL) cholesterol, increasing risk of heart disease.
- Mono and Poly – unsaturated fats can lower bad (LDL) cholesterol, helping to lower risk of heart disease.
- Omega-3 fatty acids not only lower bad cholesterol, they can also raisin good (HDL) cholesterol. Incorporate fish and flaxseed into your diet.
- Increasing potassium helps to lower blood pressure, having a direct impact on the risk of heart disease.
- Choose foods that are lower in salt by reading nutrition fact lables on food and beverage packages.
- Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables; choose whole grain, high-fiber foods; limit saturated fat, cholesterol, and sugar; avoid trans fatty acids.
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