Summer is already here, and once again, you’ve found you never committed to a healthy diet plan after inhaling all those Valentine’s Day chocolates. It’s OK. We are only human, and sometimes our minds are not strong enough to undertake those challenging regimens. But who said dieting has to be hard? Our heart won’t wait until next spring to start a diet to look radiant for the following summer. The more calories we put in our bodies, the more difficult it’s going to be to get rid of them. Let’s create a great food plan together!
It’s not rocket science! Eating healthy will keep your heart at its best. Our food plan contains four basic foods that will help you get rid of that unwanted fat and keep your heart beating.
- Fruit: You should eat at least four pieces of fruit daily. Apples, grapes and strawberries are great choices to lower the risk of heart disease.
- Vegetables: Four servings of veggies a day will help lower your blood pressure and control your weight. Eggplant and okra are low-calorie vegetables and good sources of soluble fiber.
- Fatty Fish: Eating saltwater fish twice a week will help you lower your cholesterol. Oily fish like salmon, tuna, and trout are full of omega-3 fatty acids — good fats.
- Whole grain: Whole wheat pasta or brown rice will help you lower your cholesterol while providing you with the right amount of necessary fiber.
Now that you know the main ingredients for heart-healthy living, there are some good practices that you’ll have to apply to your food plan.
- Prepare lean meats without added saturated and trans fat.
- If you can, select light or fat-free dairy products.
- Cut back on precooked meals or meals that are high in cholesterol.
- Try to avoid salt, or use it at a minimum.
- Know your fat limits; it’s important to know your fat distribution. Ask your doctor to find out what your BMI (Body Mass Index) is, and what you can do to improve it.
- Enjoy the fiber benefits from oat bran, beans, fruits and nuts to help lower your cholesterol and to help reduce the risk of diabetes.
- Drink water! Cut back on beverages like cola and other soft drinks with added sugar. Adding a splash of lemon juice to your water makes it fresh and tasty without loading you up on sugar!
One last thing: don’t forget toread the nutrition labels. Choose fats that offer you some benefits, like the poly- or monounsaturated ones. Stay away from the saturated or trans fats like cocoa butter, palm kernel oil and hydrogenated oil (since saturated and trans fats are the main dietary cause of high cholesterol).
Maintaining a strong and healthy heart is now easier than ever. Start today! ReactDx, Inc. focuses on assisting physicians in achieving faster and more accurate diagnoses by providing them with advanced cardiac monitoring solutions. With the most sophisticated cardiac monitoring systems in the world, you can take the steps necessary to lead a healthier lifestyle. To learn more about our products, call us at 1-800-23-HEART.