By Alison Crane
What if I told you that you could take five actions and you could have a million bucks? Would you do it? You would probably be skeptical and not waste your time on something too good to be true. But what if I told you that you could take five actions that would help keep your blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol normal, as well as lower your risk for heart disease and heart attack? Would you still be skeptical?
Five healthy living habits can make a world of difference for preventing heart disease and the related complications of it. These recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are not a 100% guarantee that you will not get an illness, but they do go a long way toward preventing many health issues. One of the nice things about these five actions is they do not require fancy, expensive foods or a high-cost gym membership.
A healthy lifestyle includes the following five actions:
Eating a heathy diet – Make good food choices, including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and fewer processed foods. Limit salt, sugar, saturated fats and trans fat intake while increasing fiber.
Maintain a healthy weight – Your doctor can help you determine if your weight is in a healthy range for you.
Getting plenty of physical activity – Movement and exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight as well as increase your energy.
Not smoking or using other forms of tobacco – Smoking greatly increases your risk for heart disease.
Limit your alcohol intake – Too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure as well as make it difficult to maintain a healthy weight.
February is the month of hearts. We are surrounded by Valentine hearts and it is also American Heart Month. What could be better than taking these five actions as a gift for your heart and for someone dear to your heart?
If you would like more information about healthy eating or increasing your physical activity, visit our website at www.uaex.edu or contact the Garland County Extension Office at 501-623-6841 or email Alison Crane at acrane@uaex.edu. Like us on Facebook @GarlandFCS or @garlandEGF.
Alison Crane is a Family and Consumer Science Agent with the Garland County Extension Service. The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
