Beginning Monday, I am making big changes in my life! One of the biggest reasons I have decided to make these changes is simply for my health. It is not because I don’t like the way I look, or because I feel like I need to fit a certain “type”, it is purely for ME.
Heart disease is the number 1 killer in our nation, and causes 1 out of 3 deaths in women each year. In fact, since 1984, more women than men have died from heart disease. Head over to Go Red For Women to read more about the risks of women and heart disease.
Heart disease is something I worry about, because it runs in my family, so this puts me at a higher risk. Because of this, one change I will be making (among others) is adding more heart healthy foods to my diet!
First off, there are a few simple steps you can take to becoming more heart healthy:
- Eat more fruits and veggies
- Eat whole grains instead of processed white grains
- Reduce sodium intake
- Include heart healthy fats (Monosaturated and polysaturated fats are good, trans fats and saturated fats are bad)
- Drink lots of water!
- Eat more fish (it have healthy fats!) and less red meat
Now some of you may notice a pattern here. These all sound like things that are also associated with Clean Eating! This is great news for us clean eaters and makes me happy with the life style choices I have made recently.
Enjoy these foods more often, they are full of antioxidants, dietary fiber, and are heart healthy!
- Almonds
- Asparagus
- Blueberries
- Broccoli
- Kidney Beans
- Brown Rice
- Carrots
- Chia Seeds
- Flaxseed
- Dark Chocolate
- Oranges
- Red Bell Peppers
- Salmon
- Grapes
- Sweet Potatoes
- Spinach
- Walnuts
- Tomatoes
Following these guidelines for eating heart healthy, along with regular exercise, will have you on your way to a healthier heart in no time!
Remember, don’t make changes for somebody else. Decide to live a healthier lifestyle for YOU!
The Adventures of a Foodaholic 