February is Heart Health Month. This is a great time to consider your typical routine and how you are supporting your heart health long-term. Do you have a family history of any heart related health conditions? Are you living in a way that helps to keep your heart healthy? The way we eat, sleep, move, and take care of ourselves impacts our heart health everyday! Are you living a heart healthy lifestyle?
Heart Health Impact
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Over 120 million Americans have some form of heart disease. In most cases, heart disease is preventable when people lean into a heart healthy lifestyle.
What can I do to keep my heart healthy?
- Reduce nicotine as much as you can, and quit as soon as you’re ready
- Move your body often – the goal is 150 minutes per week or more, which is about 20-30 minutes per day
- Eat foods with fiber, like vegetables, fruit, beans, nuts, seeds, and whole grains
- Choose lean meat that isn’t deep fried (like chicken, turkey, lean beef, lean pork, venison, etc.) and eat more fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, and sardines
- Sleep – the goal is to sleep 7 or more hours most nights of the week
- If you take medication for blood pressure or cholesterol – take it consistently and stay in touch with your doctor
How can you lean into healthier heart living?
First, consider what you are doing well from the list above. Eating heart healthy protein, or prioritizing sleep? Celebrate that you are doing something from this list that will help you live longer and healthier. After that, consider one thing you can focus on a little more to improve your heart health. Time to commit to more movement throughout the week? Or is it time to change your relationship with nicotine? Whatever you are ready to put into focus, our MuuvWell team is here to support your heart health goals every step of the way!
Written by: Stephanie Anklan, Registered Dietitian
