Bountiful fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and fresh fish are the basis of a heart-healthy diet. Throw in some exercise and a glass or two of wine daily, and you’ve got the makings of a healthy lifestyle. Sounds pretty delicious to us!
Check out our 10-recipe slideshow to see how appealing heart-healthy living can be.
Living the Heart-Healthy Way | Eight easy steps to better health
Take control of your health by adopting food and lifestyle changes. Eating sensibly with some modifications, as well as exercising, can keep your heart strong and healthy. Follow some of our suggestions below and your heart will love you for it.
Eat Fruits & VegetablesNot only are fruits and vegetables high in vitamins, minerals and fiber, they're also very low in calories and high in antioxidants, which can help prevent chronic disease. Fill up on an abundance of these delicious and beneficial foods every day.
Focus on FiberFiber refers to the indigestible carbohydrates we eat and is found in fruits, vegetables and unrefined grains. It keeps the body's digestive system running smoothly and helps the body feel full, a key to weight management. Most importantly, soluble fiber, which is found in oats, nuts, seeds, apples, pears and berries, helps lower cholesterol.
Go for Low-Fat DairyTo reduce the amount of saturated fat and calories in your diet, replace high-fat dairy products (such as whole milk, cheese, sour cream and cream cheese) with skim or 1% milk, low-fat yogurt, Neufchatel and low-fat cheeses.
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