It’s February, which marks the start of American Heart Month. According to the American Heart Association, American Heart Month started in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson as a way to bring awareness about heart disease, which is one of the leading causes of death for Americans. In order to stay healthy, people have many avenues available to take charge of their health. Heart healthy foods keep the people you work with healthier and gives you more successful teams. At Sterling Wellness Solutions, we’re here to provide strategies to achieve a healthier and successful team.
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are always going to be part of a heart healthy diet. They contain vitamins and minerals necessary to maintain a healthy diet overall. The fresher the fruit, the better it is. What’s great about fruits and vegetables is that some of them work well as substitutions in recipes to make them healthier.
Whole Grains
Whole grains are another heart healthy food source. They are high in fiber, a nutrient needed to maintain a healthy diet. The more you can incorporate into your diet, the lower some blood work numbers may be, such as LDL cholesterol and may decrease blood pressure, leading to a lower risk of stroke.
Fatty Fish
Not all fats are bad. Some fats, like monounsaturated fats and fatty fish, actually help make people healthier. Fatty fish and fish oils can help keep your heart healthy. Eating fish or taking fish oil on a regular basis lowers triglycerides. A lower triglyceride level is better for overall health. It’s also a component in determining overall cholesterol levels. The more fatty fish or fish oil incorporated into a diet, the healthier most people are.
Avocados
Just like monounsaturated fats and fatty acids are part of a heart healthy diet, avocados and the fat from avocados are also part of a heart healthy diet. The fat found in avocado typically reduce the likelihood of developing metabolic health problems. It also provides potassium, which is also part of a healthy, well-balanced diet. They help to decrease blood pressure and reduce LDL cholesterol numbers.
Dark Chocolate
Everyone can still have a treat now and then! Dark chocolate is the solution. The antioxidants in dark chocolate make it a heart healthy choice when you need a little bit of dessert in your life. Some of the studies done say it needs to be at least 70 percent in order to have the maximum benefits. Just be sure to keep up any exercise plans. The sugar in the chocolate may negate some of the health benefits dark chocolate has.
Your Sterling Wellness Solutions health coaches want to see an improvement in the health and wellness of your team. By providing solutions and highlighting some of the heart healthy foods, you and your team can make healthy decisions. With a high engagement rate by our health coaches, we’ve helped the lives of people over time. Success begins with a healthy team. Contact us today to start your corporate wellness program.
