February is American Heart Month, so we’re focusing on foods that support a healthy blood pressure, good cholesterol, and low blood sugar levels. We rounded up all of the benefits that weight loss can have on your heart, but specific foods can also help to keep your body’s strongest muscle circulating optimally.
As you make daily food choices, base your eating pattern on these recommendations from the American Heart Association:
- Choose lean meats and poultry without skin and prepare them without added saturated and trans fat.
- Select fat-free, 1 percent fat, and low-fat dairy products.
- Cut back on foods containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils to reduce trans fat in your diet.
- Cut back on foods high in dietary cholesterol. Aim to eat less than 300 milligrams of cholesterol each day.
- Cut back on beverages and foods with added sugars.
- Choose and prepare foods with little or no salt. Aim to eat less than 1,500 milligrams of sodium per day. Learn more about limiting sodium.
- If you drink alcohol, drink in moderation. That means one drink per day if you’re a woman and two drinks per day if you’re a man.
- Follow the American Heart Association recommendations when you eat out, and keep an eye on your portion sizes.
Have questions about eating for a healthy heart? Ask us on Twitter @GPMWeightLoss!
Greater Pittsburgh Medical Weight Loss Blog 