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One of the easiest ways to keep your heart healthy and for you to live longer is maintaining a diet that is designed to keep your heart healthy. A diet to minimize the risk for heart problems also has other health benefits to keep your weight off and your general health high.
When it comes to eating properly, starting out with the basics will make it more likely that you will keep at it:
Control portion size
One of the easiest ways to eat healthier is to eat smaller portions of the foods that you like. Overeating is a real problem in this country. Portion sizes in restaraunts are too big and eating until you are stuffed is an easy way to accumulate unwanted calories.
Eat larger portions of vegetables and fruits and cut the portion size of refined or processed foods that are high in sodium and calories.
Eat more vegetables and fruits
Speaking of vegetables and fruits, most Americans don’t get enough of these healthy sources of vitamins and nutrients. By replacing processed snacks with fresh fruits or vegetables (keep a ready supply of cleaned and cut vegetables and fruit in your fridge), you will cut out a lot of the processed foods that are unhealthy.
Limit your unhealthy fat intake
Saturated and trans fats can increase your cholesterol and increase your risk of coronary artery disease. Use low-fat substitutes for butter, margarine and shortening.
Don’t forget the low-fat protein
Choose low-fat meats for your protein intake. Fish, poultry and lean meats are fine in moderation. Beans, peas and legumes are also a good source for the necessary protein in your diet.
Reduce sodium intake
Salt doesn’t only come from the shaker. Pay attention to the sodium content in processed and packaged foods. Reducing your sodium intake can lower your blood pressure, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.