Wednesday, February 3, 2010
How healthy is your heart? Young or old, everyone can benefit from taking stock of their dietary habits, especially when it comes to keeping the old ticker in good shape. You probably already know the basics: Fruits and vegetables are great options, as are lean meats and fish. A handful of nuts a day are a smart choice, as are cutting down on refined carbohydrates, Trans fats and high-sodium foods. But what about less well-known, but potentially heart-healthy options, like flaxseed or psyllium fibre? Do these functional foods and supplements offer hope, or just hype?
A Meal "from" and "for" the Heart
Making a lovely dinner for a nice occasion does not require a lot of rich and fatty ingredients. A light white fish takes around 15 minutes to bake and it contains heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids the compounds that have been associated with lower risk for colon and prostate cancers.
No matter which eating plan you follow, the following guidelines are recommended:
February is heart month, so we'll be taking a closer look at the influence functional foods and supplements can have on heart health. This week, we'll focus on different sources of soluble fibre, a type of fibre often recommended for controlling cholesterol levels.
A Meal "from" and "for" the Heart
Making a lovely dinner for a nice occasion does not require a lot of rich and fatty ingredients. A light white fish takes around 15 minutes to bake and it contains heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids the compounds that have been associated with lower risk for colon and prostate cancers.
No matter which eating plan you follow, the following guidelines are recommended:
- Total fat intake should be less than 30 percent of total calories daily.
- Saturated fatty acid intake should be less than 10 percent of total calories daily.
- Polyunsaturated fatty acid intake should be no more that 10 percent of total calories daily.
- Monounsaturated fatty acids make up the rest of total fat intake, about 10 to 15 percent of total calories daily.
- Cholesterol intake should be no more than 300 milligrams per day.
- Sodium intake should be no more than 3000 milligrams per day.
- Beware of chemicals in your food like caffeine, MSG, and other food additives.
February is heart month, so we'll be taking a closer look at the influence functional foods and supplements can have on heart health. This week, we'll focus on different sources of soluble fibre, a type of fibre often recommended for controlling cholesterol levels.
posted by emedinfo
@4:33 AM
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