Road map to a healthy heart

In the road trip of life, follow these clear signs for better heart health.

Let’s say life is a road trip. And let’s say a healthy heart is one of the major destinations. Today, we have better directions than ever before, plus an improved GPS system. In the U.S., heart disease — not cancer or stroke — is the number one threat to a person’s life. To stay headed in the right direction, follow heart health recommendations:

🟢 Go

• Get at least 150 minutes (two and a half hours) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week. Walk around your neighborhood, use the stairs. It all adds up to lower heart risks.
• Add more fish to your diet. Eat salmon, bluefin tuna or mackerel at least twice a week.

🟡 Caution

• Slow down on fats, salt and alcohol. You can lower your LDL or “bad” cholesterol by cutting saturated fat to 6% of your daily calories and minimizing trans fats.
• Limit sodium to no more than 1 teaspoon per day.

🔴 Stop

• Quit smoking. For support, ask your primary care physician about tobacco prevention and counseling. Over time, you will have the same risk for heart disease as a nonsmoker.
• Pass on folic acid and antioxidant supplements as preventives. These won't protect you from heart disease.

Source: StayWell Health Library

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