Dodging the bullet
Many thanks to intern Olivia for researching and contributing to our web and social media materials for National Heart Health Month!
When it comes to the health of our country, there’s a real risk facing Americans - heart disease. It’s the number one killer in the United States. The good news is that you can make lifestyle changes today to drastically reduce your risk of heart disease in the future.
The primary causes of heart disease include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, poor diet, smoking, and lack of exercise. Simple diet modifications and regular daily activity can get you on the path to avoiding heart disease.
How can we help?
Working with a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) helps you target and prevent the primary causes of heart disease with a healthy meal plan. While the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet focuses on preventing high blood pressure, it is widely recommended for anyone looking to reduce their risk of heart disease.
The DASH diet
The DASH diet emphasizes foods high in potassium, calcium, and magnesium and recommends foods low in sodium, added sugar, and saturated fats. Your dietitian can guide you and explain exactly which foods you need to limit and which foods you need to increase to move towards a DASH diet eating pattern.
Find out more about the DASH diet here and consider working with us to help you implement this healthy eating plan. Look for our list of heart healthy food recommendations on the blog next week!
Resources:
Preventing Heart Disease, from Harvard University