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How to eat a heart-healthy diet

Healthy eating is an important way to maintain heart health. Over the next few minutes, we’d like to share answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about heart healthy eating. I have high cholesterol. Should I stay away from high-cholesterol foods like eggs and shellfish? Cholesterol in your food actually has very little effect on your blood cholesterol.

This is because your liver makes most of the cholesterol in your body. What affects your blood cholesterol most is the amount and type of fat that you eat. The best way to lower your blood cholesterol is to choose foods that are lower in fat. Choose leaner cuts of meat, skinless poultry and lower-fat dairy products, and limit egg yolks, the yellow part of the egg, to 3 per week. Shellfish, like shrimp and squid, are a low-fat alternative to eating meat, and can be enjoyed once a week. Scallops, mussels, lobster, and crab are very low in cholesterol and can be enjoyed as often as you like. There are a lot of different diets out there. Should I really be limiting my fat intake? Fat has an awful lot of calories. Limiting your fat intake, as long as you’re not replacing the calories with unhealthy calories can be helpful for achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight.

The type of fat you eat can also affect your cholesterol levels. Saturated fats and trans fats can raise your LDL cholesterol or your lousy cholesterol. Foods that have saturated fats typically come from animal sources, so meats and dairy products generally have the highest amounts of saturated fats. Make sure to choose lean cuts of meat and skinless poultry, and trim your meat of any visible fat. Enjoy low-fat dairy products, like skim or 1% milk and 0% yogurt Trans fat is primarily found in commercially processed foods. This type of fat is worse for your heart than saturated fat, so it’s important to choose foods that are trans fat free. Before buying any commercially processed foods, check the packaging to make sure it doesn’t have any trans fat in it.

Look for phrases like “trans-fat free”, “0 trans fat”, or “no trans fat” Check the ingredient list – make sure that “shortening” or “partially hydrogenated oil” are not listed as ingredients. If they are, pick a product that doesn’t have these two ingredients listed. Avoid using hard margarine, which is high in trans fat. Instead, use a non-hydrogenated margarine, which is trans-fat free and has very little saturated fat. What’s the best oil to cook with? Cooking oils are a good source of healthy fats called unsaturated fats. The best oils to use in your cooking are olive oil and canola oil. Even though these are healthy oils, it’s still important to limit the amount of oil that you use when you’re cooking.

Use heart healthy cooking methods that don’t need a lot of oil Such as steaming, poaching, baking, roasting, and stir-frying. Avoid deep-frying or pan-frying. Even if you are using a heart-healthy oil, your food will absorb too much extra oil during the cooking process. When you are adding oil to your cooking, use an oil spray or measure out the oil that you’ll be using. I’ve heard a lot about omega-3 being good for my heart, but I’m not really sure what it is. Can you tell me more about it? Omega-3 fats are healthy fats that we need to get from food because our bodies can’t make them. We need them to help raise our healthy cholesterol and make our blood vessels more elastic. The best sources are from fatty fish including salmon, tuna, trout, mackerel, herring and sardines. You can choose fresh, frozen, or canned fish. When you choose canned fish, make sure it’s packed in water instead of oil. You should try to eat these types of fish at least twice a week.

If you don’t eat fish, you can also get omega-3 from walnuts, ground flax seeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds and wheat germ. You can enjoy these nuts and seeds every day, but make sure that they’re unsalted and haven’t been pre-roasted in oil. I know that fruits and vegetables are healthy. Should I be focusing on anything else? Fruits and vegetables are packed with vitamins and minerals, and they’re also a great source of fibre. Fibre can help to decrease your cholesterol and blood pressure. It also helps you to feel full for longer, which helps with achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight. Of course, fibre is also useful for keeping your bowels regular. There are two kinds of fibre: Soluble fibre which is especially helpful for lowering cholesterol and blood pressure; and insoluble fibre which helps to keep your bowels regular. It’s important to ensure you get both kinds of fibre every day.

Foods that are rich in soluble fibre include psyllium, oat products like oatmeal and oat bran, legumes, and certain fruits and vegetables like apples, pears, berries, citrus fruit, broccoli, cauliflower and squash. Insoluble fibre is also known as “roughage”, and can be found in whole grain breads, cereals and pastas, leafy vegetables like spinach and lettuce; and more colourful fruit and vegetables like melons and peppers. If you’re not used to eating a lot of fibre, start slowly, and make sure to drink plenty of water to help prevent stomach upset. I don’t have diabetes, do I still need to watch my sugar intake? Sugar can be found naturally in food, or it can be added to food.

Sugar is found naturally in foods like fruit and milk products. These foods are healthy and should be enjoyed throughout the day. Added sugars include table sugar, honey, syrups and foods that contain added sugars, such as sugar sweetened beverages, desserts, and sweetened cereals. Eating large quantities of added sugars can increase weight and increase the risk of developing heart disease, even in people who are not overweight So, it’s important to limit the amount of added sugars that you eat. Having an occasional treat is fine, just remember that if you have a treat every day, it’s no longer a treat, it’s a habit. I think I need to cut down on my salt intake. How do I do that? Salt contains sodium, and eating too much sodium can increase your blood pressure. Sodium is found naturally in fresh foods, but more than 75% of the sodium we eat comes from processed and packaged foods.

To cut down your sodium intake, limit the amount of salt you eat by not adding any to your food at the table. When you’re cooking, only add a pinch of salt, or instead of salt, try adding flavour with dried or fresh herbs, such as basil, thyme, or rosemary, or try using a blend of herbs and spices. Choose fresh foods whenever possible, and limit foods that have been processed, pickled, smoked, or salted If you are using canned products, make sure to rinse them well under water first The foods I eat are healthy, but I’m just not sure how much to eat.

Can you tell me more about heart healthy portion sizes? Portion control is important for achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight. A simple way to do it is to follow the plate method. Fill up half of your plate with vegetables. A quarter of your plate should include lean protein like fish, legumes, skinless poultry or lean meat. The last quarter of your plate should be high-fibre starchy foods like whole grain breads, brown or wild rice, multi-grain pasta, potatoes with their skin still on, or corn. Then you can round off your meal with a glass of milk and some fruit for dessert. Not every meal will fit into the plate method. What do you do on pizza night? Yes, there can still be pizza night.

Just apply the same ideas. Choose a pizza made with a whole-grain thin crust and topped with lots of veggies and some grilled chicken. Let that fill up half your plate. Then, have a big salad with it and enjoy some fruit for a sweet finish. What are some heart healthy tips for eating out? When eating out, choose dishes that have been prepared using heart healthy cooking methods. These include dishes that are steamed, poached, broiled, grilled, stir-fried or baked.

Choose dishes with lean cuts of meat, skinless poultry, fish, or legumes. Choose dishes with higher fibre starch options, such as whole wheat or multigrain pasta, brown or wild rice, and sandwiches made with whole grain breads. Ask to have your salad dressings and sauces on the side. Choose non-creamy dressings and sauces. And of course, don’t forget the veggies! We hope these tips will help you make heart healthy eating part of your lifestyle and daily routine. If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to let a member of your health care team know that you’d like to speak with a registered dietitian.

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What Happened When I Ate Nothing But “Healthy” Fast Food For A Week

– quick meals is low-priced and effortless. However hidden in between the burgers and tacos are some "healthy" options: salads, grilled chook, yogurts, oatmeal, vigour burritos. Would not sound too unhealthy, correct? I spent per week eating nothing however these "healthy" rapid meals and that i misplaced six-and-a-half of pounds. But even though I misplaced a couple of pound a day, it failed to really go good. I are living in New York city, a location with each feasible meals you could want. Eating healthful here, it can be a breeze. However throughout the usa, there are greater than 200,000 fast food joints, and so they’re bringing in more than $200 billion a year in sales. And irrespective of the place you go, you are certainly not some distance from a place like McDonald’s or Taco Bell. But in recent years, buyers need better, healthier selections, and the natural fast meals areas have been dropping consumers to those rapid informal healthy choices. The principles were lovely easy: consume each foremost meal at a country wide speedy food chain and follow the healthy options. McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, Dunkin’ Donuts, Subway, and Chick-fil-A; nothing but them for per week. Yeah, I misplaced just about seven pounds, but let’s take a close appear on the numbers.<br><br>On a normal day, i’m eating around 2,500 calories. An adult man will have to be having about 2,400 to 2,600 energy a day. But on this fast food plan, my calories plummeted. A majority of these foods got here in beneath four hundred energy, and that used to be certainly one of my first problems. I’d consume and only a couple hours later, I was once ravenous. And i had days when I did not consume more than 1,000 calories. Now, some of these foods have been particularly good. My favourite was this grilled chook market salad from Chick-fil-A. It had blueberries, strawberries, apples; it used to be scrumptious and it was once without a doubt healthy. However, a variety of the opposite salads from Burger King, McDonald’s, and Wendy’s were loaded with salt, frequently more than 50% of what I needed for the entire day, from a salad.<br><br>in fact, excess salt used to be a hindrance the complete week. I idea I had hit the jackpot with Taco Bell’s al Fresco menu. They take off all of the cheese and mayo-centered sauces and replace it with lettuce and p.C. De gallo. One night time I obtained tacos, another night time I bought a vigour cantina burrito, and these were ingredients with more protein than typical. So, I felt like I was once getting ample food. They were just right, too just right. It was all salt. Correctly, just one burrito had close to as a lot salt as I wanted in just sooner or later. The American heart association says we will have to restrict our sodium to about 2,300 milligrams a day, however the best is in the direction of 1,500 milligrams a day, exceptionally for a man or woman like me with high blood strain. However should you look at my sodium intake, it used to be excessive day-to-day, yet I used to be barely getting the calories I wanted. If I wanted to hold the sodium down, I was starving. If I wanted to feel full, salt by means of the roof. You see, that is an challenge in the rapid food industry.<br><br>Wendy’s even acknowledges on their internet site that there may be going to be a trade-off between salt and taste. It was bizarre. I failed to believe healthy in any respect throughout the week, even though I was eating healthful meals and reducing weight. And on the last day, I had this colossal headache that used to be simply infuriating. These locations, they may be supposed to be tasty, cheap, and convenient. However it wasn’t low priced. Every healthful option used to be pricey, however left me hungry. For eight grilled nuggets and this tiny kale salad at Chick-fil-A, $12. For the vigor Mediterranean salad at Wendy’s, it was once close to $eight, but I would get a cheeseburger, nuggets, fries, and a soda for best $4.<br><br>That brings me to another quandary. Stroll into McDonald’s and also you get hit with that sweet, sweet french fry scent, and i had to get a salad. Would I advise this to any person? Nope, except you’re stuck on the street with out a different options. Although there was a shiny spot: breakfast at Subway. They have got these egg-white-and-cheese sandwiches, which I received blanketed in spinach and peppers. And let me tell you, it used to be good. But in the end this, I simply want a cheeseburger. (gentle orchestral track) .

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What Happened When I Ate Nothing But “Healthy” Fast Food For A Week

– speedy meals is inexpensive and convenient. However hidden in between the burgers and tacos are some "healthful" options: salads, grilled hen, yogurts, oatmeal, vigour burritos. Doesn’t sound too bad, proper? I spent every week consuming nothing but these "healthful" quick meals and i misplaced six-and-a-1/2 kilos. But even though I lost a few pound a day, it didn’t particularly go good. I are living in NY city, a position with every feasible food you could need.<br><br>eating healthy right here, it’s a breeze. But across the united states, there are more than 200,000 speedy meals joints, they usually’re bringing in additional than $200 billion a year in revenue. And no matter the place you go, you’re by no means some distance from a location like McDonald’s or Taco Bell. However in latest years, buyers need higher, fitter picks, and the traditional speedy meals places were dropping consumers to these quick informal healthful options. The principles had been beautiful easy: consume each foremost meal at a country wide fast meals chain and stick to the healthy options. McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, Dunkin’ Donuts, Subway, and Chick-fil-A; nothing however them for every week. Yeah, I lost just about seven kilos, but let’s take an in depth appear on the numbers. On a common day, i am consuming around 2,500 energy. An grownup man must be having about 2,400 to 2,600 energy a day. But on this quick weight loss program, my calories plummeted. These kind of meals got here in under four hundred energy, and that used to be one in all my first issues. I might eat and just a couple hours later, I was starving. And that i had days when I did not devour more than 1,000 energy.<br><br>Now, some of these foods have been relatively just right. My favourite was once this grilled fowl market salad from Chick-fil-A. It had blueberries, strawberries, apples; it used to be scrumptious and it was once definitely healthy. Nonetheless, quite a few the opposite salads from Burger King, McDonald’s, and Wendy’s were loaded with salt, mainly greater than 50% of what I needed for the complete day, from a salad. In fact, extra salt used to be a crisis the entire week. I concept I had hit the jackpot with Taco Bell’s al Fresco menu. They take off all the cheese and mayo-headquartered sauces and substitute it with lettuce and p.C. De gallo. One night I obtained tacos, another night I bought a energy cantina burrito, and these had been meals with more protein than natural. So, I felt like I used to be getting adequate meals. They had been excellent, too good. It used to be all salt. Actually, just one burrito had practically as so much salt as I needed in simply at some point.<br><br>The American coronary heart association says we should limit our sodium to about 2,300 milligrams a day, but the excellent is toward 1,500 milligrams a day, mainly for a individual like me with excessive blood strain. But if you look at my sodium consumption, it used to be high daily, but I was barely getting the energy I wanted. If I wanted to keep the sodium down, I used to be starving. If I desired to think full, salt by way of the roof.<br><br>You see, that’s an limitation within the speedy food enterprise. Wendy’s even acknowledges on their internet site that there is going to be a alternate-off between salt and flavor. It was once bizarre. I failed to consider healthful at all for the period of the week, despite the fact that I was consuming healthful foods and dropping pounds. And on the last day, I had this big headache that was once just infuriating. These places, they’re purported to be tasty, cheap, and easy. However it wasn’t affordable. Every healthful option was once luxurious, but left me hungry. For eight grilled nuggets and this tiny kale salad at Chick-fil-A, $12. For the energy Mediterranean salad at Wendy’s, it was nearly $eight, yet I would get a cheeseburger, nuggets, fries, and a soda for most effective $4. That brings me to a further obstacle. Stroll into McDonald’s and you get hit with that sweet, sweet french fry odor, and that i had to get a salad.<br><br>Would I advocate this to any individual? Nope, until you are caught on the street without a different choices. Although there used to be a brilliant spot: breakfast at Subway. They have these egg-white-and-cheese sandwiches, which I received protected in spinach and peppers. And let me tell you, it was good. However in spite of everything this, I simply desire a cheeseburger. (gentle orchestral tune) .

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