It’s natural for hearts to be on our mind during the month of February. Valentine’s Day was just a short while ago, a day that is dedicated to showing our romantic love from our hearts. However, as far as hearts go, there is a more significant holiday that covers the entire month of February: American Heart Month. It is a month to celebrate the organ that gives us life, pumping blood through our bodies around 100,000 times every day.
Eliminating fatty foods and focusing on heart-healthy foods like avocados and nuts can help your heart immensely!
Given that cardiovascular disease is the number one leading cause of death in the United States, most of us could probably make some changes to live heart-healthy lives. Part of American Heart Month is making the public aware of simple changes that can be made in pursuit of a heart-healthy lifestyle.
One easy change is what we eat. Fat-heavy diets and the obesity they cause can lead to clogged arteries and other heart issues; that’s common knowledge at this point. But what should you replace them with?
Women should try adding a variety of berries to their diets, especially blueberries and strawberries. These bits of nature’s dessert contain naturally occurring compounds called anthocyanins that showed the ability to dilate arteries and counter the growth of arterial plaque in a Harvard study, allowing for better blood flow.
Men, put down the steaks and other red meat and go for fresh fish instead. It provides your heart with the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids decrease the risk of abnormal heartbeats and slow the growth rate of damaging plaque in arteries. Spinach should be another addition to male diets because of its fiber and antioxidants. It hasn’t been shown to give you muscles like Popeye, but over time it can definitely help you feel more energized and healthier.
Simple changes to your diet like these are an easy way to live a heart-healthy lifestyle and keep your body’s most important muscle going. Hammer Medical encourages you and your family to actively seek a lifestyle with your heart in mind during American Heart Month and throughout the year.
Tags: American Heart Month, food, healthy diet, heart health, nutrition, weight loss