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Happy Heart Day!

We thought we’d take this opportunity on Valentines Day, to remind our clients and readers of the importance of heart health.  Did you know that heart disease is the #1 cause of death globally? More people die annually from Cardiovascular diseases than from any other cause. The most important risk factors for heart disease & stroke are unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use & alcohol abuse. Here are some key heart health tips:

 

  1. Eat more colourful, fresh fruit & vegetables in your diet. Aim for 3-5 servings daily where 1 serving is the sizeof your fist.
  2. Fill up on fibre in the form of wholegrain carbohydrates such as oats, corn, quinoa, brown rice and wholegrain crackers or cereals.
  3. Stop added salts in cooking! Add fresh herbs, onion, garlic, ginger and curry spices for extra flavour in place of stock cubes, cook-in-sauces and salt.
  4. Away with animal fats – chicken skin, butter, fat on meat and dairy fat. Instead, choose avocado, nuts (in portion controlled amounts); nut butters; olives and olive oils.

Visit your nearest Doctor or health check facility to test your blood pressure, Cholesterol levels and Blood Glucose levels. A healthy heart is a happy heart!

Wishing you a wonderful Valentines Day <3

 

References:

  1. American Heart Association (2017 June, 17) What is Cardiovascular Disease? Retrieved from: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/What-is-Cardiovascular-Disease_UCM_301852_Article.jsp#.WoPHaqiWaUk
  2. Khan, K., Jovanovski, E., Ho, H. V. T., Marques, A. C. R., Zurbau, A., Mejia, S. B., … & Vuksan, V. (2018). The effect of viscous soluble fiber on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, 28(1), 3-13.