Today is National Wear Red Day.
The American Heart Association sponsors the annual event to raise awareness about the fight against heart disease in women. Heart disease claims the lives of more women in the U.S. than all other forms of cancer combined.
How to Overcome Common Heart Problems
by Kathryn Flynn, M.P.H., Demand Media
Modify Your Fat Intake
Not all fats are created equally. Saturated fats, which are found in animal products including eggs, meat and dairy, can raise your cholesterol. Trans fats are man made and have been found to raise your bad cholesterol, LDL, and decrease your good cholesterol, HDL. Trans fats are found in manufactured and processed foods such as crackers, cookies and cakes. Both saturated and trans fats should be eliminated or consumed only on occasion in order to overcome high cholesterol, which could lead to heart disease. Unsaturated fats are derived from plant-based foods such as avocados, olive oil, nuts and seeds. They are considered heart-healthy and increase your HDL. These fats should be included more often in your diet than saturated and trans fats.
Reduce Sodium Intake
Your body does need a little bit of sodium, but if you have high blood pressure it does not need as much sodium as you are currently consuming. The easiest way to decrease your sodium intake is to stop salting your food. Additionally, avoid eating store-bought foods such as crackers, chips, soups and frozen dinners. These foods are often very high in sodium. If you tend to eat them, opt for alternative low-sodium versions. If you have high blood pressure, aim to keep your sodium intake below 1,500 milligrams per day.
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article courtesy of TheYolandaAdamsMorningShow.com
National Wear Red Day Raises Women’s Heart Disease Awareness was originally published on praisecleveland.com
