What is a Heart-Healthy Diet?
The Heart and Stroke Foundation reports that 80% of premature heart disease and stroke can be prevented by adopting behaviour changes such as healthy eating.
A heart-healthy diet can be accomplished in many ways:
- Eating out less and cooking more at home
- Switching out the salt with more herbs or spices
- Adding in whole grains to increase fibre
- Increasing fruit and vegetable intake
- Introducing beans, lentils and legumes to your diet
- Incorporating fish twice a week into your meal plan
- Choosing healthy oils
- Being mindful of the treats and extras
Preventing and lower your risk of heart disease, stroke and even blood pressure can be accomplished by looking at the foods we are eating, how we are moving, quitting or reducing smoking and how we are managing our stress.
Although this might seem like a daunting task – work at changing one behaviour at a time. Any change is a change in the right direction!
Working with a Registered Dietitian to learn how to incorporate our heart-healthy eating tips is a great place to start!
By Andrea Shackel, Registered Dietitian
Revive Wellness Inc.
