Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Health Tips for October 6

Health Tip: Eat a Heart-Healthy Diet

Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States, but you can reduce your risk by eating a heart-healthy diet.

The National Women's Health Information Center offers these suggestions:

  • Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole-grain foods.
  • Opt for low-fat or no-fat dairy products.
  • Choose lean, healthy proteins, such as chicken or turkey without the skin, fish, nuts and beans.
  • Limit your intake of saturated and trans fats, found in many forms of butter, fatty meats, fast food, desserts and creamy condiments such as mayonnaise.
  • Reduce cholesterol in your diet, found in organ meats, pork and sausage, and whole-fat dairy products.
  • Avoid foods that are high in salt (sodium) and sugar.

Health Tip: Eat Your Fruits and Veggies

Since childhood, lots of people have heard the parental plea to eat their fruits and vegetables.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers this insight on why eating fruits and veggies is so important:

  • Eating lots of fruits and vegetables can help prevent chronic diseases, including cancer, research indicates.
  • Most fruits and vegetables offer great nutritional benefit while contributing little to your daily fat and calorie intake.
  • At the same time, they help you stay full, helping you to maintain a healthy body weight and prevent excessive weight gain.
  • Fruits and vegetables are rich in the minerals, vitamins and fiber your body needs.

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