Top 5 Heart Health Tips

Nine out of ten Canadians have at least

one risk factor for heart disease, which is our second leading cause of

death. But the power of prevention is in your hands says

Registered Dietitian Daphna Steinberg. So lifestyle is the cornerstone

for prevention and for treatment,

as well as an adjunct to medication.

She offers her five top tips for heart health, starting with food.

Try and keep a healthy diet that's low in fat, low in sodium

or salt, and high in fiber.

So things like lots of fruits and vegetables to get your fiber,

fresh foods to avoid the salt, try to stay away from fried foods

and processed foods as much as possible.

Steinberg says it's critical to read your nutrition facts table and ingredients list closely.

A few things to look for: a low sodium food contains

200 milligrams or less per serving. Limit your total

daily sodium intake to between 1,200 to 1,500 milligrams,

or about half a teaspoon. For transfats, the label should read zero.

But beware, some foods may contain

trans fat in the ingredient list without showing up on the label.

So avoid foods containing partially hydrogenated oils and shortenings.

Limit your total fat to no more than 30 percent

of your total calories for the whole day, which includes healthy fats like omega-3s.

For fiber, you need 21 grams per day,

so reach for fruits and veggies in their solid form, as well as

whole grain cereals and bread. Tip two would be

to avoid smoking, absolutely. If you don't smoke,

you don't want to start. And if you do smoke, you want to quit.

Smoking is related to about one in five deaths from heart disease.

It can damage blood vessels, decrease the amount of oxygen to the heart

and boost blood pressure. Tip three: keep an active lifestyle.

For some people, that means going to the

gym on a regular basis. For other people, that doesn't really work for them.

That means finding something that does. Thirty minutes of moderate activity,

meaning your heart rate is elevated is recommended every day.

And that goes hand in hand with the next tip:

 maintaining a healthy body weight.

Steinberg says portion control is key.

We do know that healthy body weight is important for reducing

your risk of heart attack and stroke,

and it helps to keep your blood pressure under control. When it comes to waist

circumference, men should not exceed 102 centimeters, and women

should not exceed 88 centimeters. And finally,

reduce your stress! External stress can put internal stress

like oxidative stress as a way. Your body does react to things

your brain sends out different hormones

when you're stressed. Approaches that have been shown to work include

meditation, exercise, and healthy eating. And laughter

doesn't hurt either. With Sunnyview, I'm Monica Matys.