What can be done to prevent heart disease and problems?
- You are what you eat! Eat nutritious, healthy food.
- Choose foods low in saturated fat. Make sure you include servings of fruit, vegetables and whole grains which are rich in starch and fiber, but low in fat.
- Cutting down on dietary cholesterol consumption can help bring down blood cholesterol. Egg white, and foods from plant sources do not have cholesterol.
- Read food labels. Look for the amount of saturated fat, total fat, cholesterol and total calories per serving on the nutrition label.
- Stress can be harmful by raising blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and making your heart beat faster. Relax, smile, don’t get angry often.
- Bring down high blood pressure. You can do this by minimizing risk factors, making lifestyle changes, or by taking medication if necessary.
- Stop smoking. Stub out that cigarette butt – Now!
- If you drink, do so in moderation. A limit of two drinks per day is good for your heart.
- Fight the battle of the bulge! Obesity is bad. Stay slim and lean.
- If you are overweight, try and lose the excess.
- Don’t try crash diets – instead opt for a slow, steady and sustained program to lose weight.
