by kelsey | Jul 28, 2011 | Heart Health
I read an interesting article today that I couldn’t resist sharing with you. According to the American Heart Association, the cost of heart disease last year was $450 billion. A recent article published on MedlinePlus discussed how prevention programs such as our STRIVE 2 Survive wellness program and our nutrition services we provide at the clinic are a wise long-term investment in the national health and economy.
Authors in a the AHA statement calculated that for ever $1 spend on the construction of bike and walking paths, medical costs would be reduced by $3.
In addition, the nationwide push to reduce salt in our food supply would help save $26 billion in health care costs each year by helping Americans stay within the recommended sodium guidelines (1500 mg/day).
Our society has gotten into the habit of turning to a medicine to help improve their condition, however the key is really in our own hands and mind by making lifestyle changes to improve our health and well-being.
Adapting to a healthy lifestyle that includes healthy eating and regular activity can reduce risk of disease, aid in longevity, and save you some money in your wallet!
You can view the full article at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_114694.html
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Mar 23, 2011 | Cooking Tips, Diet, Food, Heart Health, Wellness/Health
Well it’s kind of hard to talk about grilling in the middle of this March blizzard, but I thought we can discuss it now so you can start preparing your refridgerator with tasty grill foods! Beef is a real common meal in my house as my husband and his family raise cattle. Red meat has somewhat gotten a bad rap with being linked to increased heart disease risk, however there are still very lean and nutritious selections of red meat that can fit into a part of a healthy diet.
Saturated fat is the type of fat that is naturally found in beef, thus we want to encourage you to choose lean selections to limit the amount of unhealthy fat you consume. Next time you’re shopping for beef, choose greater than 90% lean hamburger and look for key words such as “loin” and “round” as these are indicators you are getting a lean selection. For example, the sirloin steak is leaner than a t-bone steak. In addition, you may consider buying locally from a farmer/rancher to ensure you are getting quality meat. If you are looking for good recipes, I encourage you to check out the Beef Industry’s website at www.beefnutrition.org.
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Mar 9, 2011 | Diet, Etc., Food, Heart Health, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
To help celebrate National Registered Dietitian’s Day today, I am going to discuss one of my favorite colors of produce: red! Red fruits and vegetables offer a great deal of vitamins and minerals that help maintain a healthy heart, vision, immunity, and like the other colors, help reduce cancer risks. Each color offers different nutrients, which is why we encourage you to get a balanced and colorful diet, ensuring you are meeting your nutrient requirements and aiding in disease prevention. Try adding some colorful red produce to your diet!
Fruits: cherries, cranberries, pomegranate, red/pink grape fruit, red grapes, watermelon
Vegetables: beets, red onions, red peppers, red potatoes, rhubarb, tomatoes
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Mar 8, 2011 | Diet, Food, Heart Health, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
As we work our way through the color wheel, we come to some of the brightest and richest colors: purple and blue. Purple and blue fruits and vegetables offer great antioxidants and anti-aging benefits. They can also help you with memory, urinary tract infections, and reduce cancer risks. Next time you’re at the grocery store, try adding a few selections of purple and blue produce to your cart!
Fruits: blackberries, plums, purple grapes, and raisins
Vegetables: eggplant, purple cabbage, purple-fleshed potato
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Feb 17, 2011 | Diet, Food, Heart Health, Wellness/Health
Red wine has gotten a lot of “buzz” in the news and media in the last several years regarding it’s link to prevention of heart disease. The main components of red wine that have been shown to be beneficial to us are the flavonoids and antioxidants which come from the red grape. According to the American Heart Association, there have not been any direct comparison studies to determine the specific effect of wine on the development of heart disease. The linkage in these studies may have also been due to other lifestyle factors such as increased activity and a diet low in saturated fats.
Overall, we know that red wine offers more heart healthy benefits than other varieties, however more studies need to be done to determine the exact relationship between red wine and heart health. As always, moderation is key. It is recommended that females have no more than 1 drink a day and males, no more than 2 drinks a day (a drink is one 12 oz. beer, 4 oz. of wine, 1.5 oz. of 80-proof spirits, or 1 oz. of 100-proof spirits).
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Feb 16, 2011 | Diet, Food, Heart Health, Wellness/Health
When we’re looking at heart healthy nutrition, eggs often come up in converstation. They seem to have gotten a bad reputation in the last few years as being bad for you and your heart due to the cholesterol found in the yolk. The yolk does have quite a bit of cholesterol, however the egg itself is an excellent source of protein (including several essential proteins) and unsaturated (healthy) fats. If you have heart disease or high cholesterol, it’s recommended to keep your intake to 3-5 eggs/week while still aiming to reduce your saturated and trans fat intake. If you like eggs and want them more than this, try using an egg substitute (liquid eggs) or have 2 egg whites for 1 yolk.
-Kelsey
