February is American Heart Month.
Nutritional News:
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and
women in the United States. Every year, 1 in 4 deaths are
caused from heart disease. The good news is that heart disease
can often be prevented by living a healthy, active lifestyle.
Maintain a healthy weight by eating well balanced meals and
staying active on a daily basis.
Eating too much sodium
can cause your body to hold
onto too much extra fluid. This
can lead to high blood
pressure, which makes your
heart work harder. Aim for
maintaining a low sodium diet.
One way of doing that, is
limiting your salt intake. One
teaspoon of salt is equivalent
to 2,300 mg of sodium, which
is actually enough to meet your
daily recommendation for
sodium.
The American Heart Association is dedicated to fighting
heart disease and stroke. Founded by 6 cardiologist, the AHA
funds innovative research, fights for stronger public health
policies, and provides critical tools and information to help save
and improve lives.
Cooking Tip:
Instead of salt, use various
herbs & spices to season your
food. Allspice, basil, cayenne
pepper, cilantro, cinnamon,
curry powder, garlic powder,
ginger, oregano, paprika,
parsley, rosemary, sage and
thyme, just to name a few.
Fitness and Family Fun:
-
-
MRE’s 9th Annual Jump Rope for Heart event is February
14th during Specials, practice your jump roping at home
as a family. Did you know, 10 minutes of jumping rope
is just as beneficial for your body as jogging for 30
minutes? It can also reduce tension & raise energy
levels.
Check out http://www.houstonrunningcalendar.com/ for
upcoming fun runs. For example, the Katy 1/2 Marathon
and 5K is on February 11th. Run for the Children, which
benefits Adoption, is also on the 11th. Then on March 4th is
the ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run which benefits the
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Educational Fund.
Fun Facts: Did you know that for every hour you exercise, you
may gain 2 hours of life expectancy? A woman’s heart typically
beats faster than a man’s. The aorta is the largest artery in the
body and about the diameter of a garden hose. An octopus has 3
hearts. A human heart weighs less than a pound! Did you know
blood is actually 78% water? You heart beats about 100,000
times a day! The 1st open heart surgery was performed in 1893.
When plaque
accumulates in the arteries
carrying blood to the heart, it
can lead to heart attacks.
Maintain well-balanced diets
low in saturated fats and
cholesterols, with less sugars
and simple carbohydrates, and
rich in fruits and vegetables to
keep your arteries clear and
healthy.
Check out the link below for
more healthy eating tips.
http://www.helpguide.org/artic
les/diet-weight-loss/hearthealthy-diet-tips.htm