BSA CareXpress Urgent Care is back with Part 2 of our talk about foods and habits your can start to improve and maintain the health of your heart and whole body!
Low-Fat Protein: Poultry, lean meat, fish, low-fat dairy products, and eggs are all great sources of protein. Be careful to choose the low fat options like skim milk over whole milk. Skinless chicken is preferred to fried patties. Fish are another great source of protein. Fish can also help lower triglycerides and have Omega-3 fatty acid to help support brain health. Legumes (beans, lentils, and peas) are also another option for lean protein. Replacing animal protein with vegetable protein is a great way to keep your cholesterol in check. High fat protein, like beef, will raise your cholesterol, leading to heart problem later in life.
Reduce the Sodium in your diet: Eating lots of sodium can contribute to high blood pressure and will put you at risk for cardiovascular disease. You should have no more than 2,300 Mg of sodium a day in your diet. You can reduce the amount by replacing salt with herbs and spices. Keeping table salt off your table can also reduce the temptation to put it on your meals. Keep away from condensed soups and frozen dinners as they’re loaded with sodium. Beware food that claim lower sodium because they use sea salt. Sea salt is no different from regular salt.
Indulge every once in awhile: Keeping your heart in healthy shape doesn’t mean you have to give up other foods forever. Eating a candy bar or indulging in a particularly unhealthy meal is fine. As long as you keep to a heart healthy diet most of the time it will balance out over time.