Heart-Healthy Living

February is Heart Month and this month we’ll focus on heart health.  The Heart & Stroke Society reports that 8 in 10 cases of premature heart disease & stroke is preventable through healthy lifestyle behaviours.  They offer 4 simple steps for heart-healthy living:

• Eat Well
• Get Moving
• Maintain a Healthy Weight
• Manage Stress

For eating well, they use the DASH diet food groups:

• Vegetables 
• Fruit
• Grains (mainly whole grains)
• Low Fat or No-Fat Dairy Foods
• Lean meats, poultry and fish
• Nuts, seeds and dry beans
• Fats and Oils

To get moving, find an activity that you enjoy and make it a routine!  When following the DASH diet and adding in regular activity, it is easier to maintain a healthy weight.

In today’s fast-paced world, stress seems more and more difficult to manage.  We need to remember to take the time to give our bodies and minds the rest it needs.  The Heart & Stroke Society offers these 3 steps to manage stress:

• Know what stresses you out
• Find your coping method
• Get rid of stress daily

Prevention always outweighs treatment.  Take care of your heart through heart-healthy living.  For more information, visit the Heart & Stroke website.