Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is a collective term for the conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. The most common one is atherosclerosis which is a hardening of the arteries.
There are many factors associated with the development of CVD such as smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, overweight, poor diet, diabetes, insufficient activity, and depression. The factors you can’t change are family history or genes, age and gender.
Healthy heart tips:
- Use margarines made from poly and monounsaturated oils instead of butter
- Remove the fat and skin off chicken and meat, avoid processed meats
- Include egg white, low fat fish in your diet. Choose lower fat dairy products like LOW FAT Milk
- Avoid fat laden snacks such as pastries and biscuits
- Don’t add salt to cooking and don’t put the saltshaker on the table
- Start the day with wholegrain cereal, oats or baked beans on wholegrain toast
- Snack on fruit and at mealtimes fill half your plate with vegetables or salad
- Consume Green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, cucumber, radish, lemon