Fruit in a heart shaped bowl

Keeping it fresh for heart health month

Did you know February is Heart Health Month? Although heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in America, it’s also one of the most preventable diseases. It may seem impossible to stay on top of your heart health, but remember, sometimes the slightest change can make a huge impact!

Fruits and vegetables in a heartMaking healthy choices day-to-day, learning your family health history, and scheduling regular check-ups with your doctors can help you stay healthy longer.

The American Heart Association lays out a list of eight simple ways you can protect your heart, and one of the most important actions you can take is to eat a healthy diet.

This may be easier said than done with all the tempting processed foods you have readily available. But we are here to help!

We asked our members to share some of their tips for making healthy choices:

“Try having a low carb, high protein snack at bedtime. For example, I have a piece of toast loaded with grains and peanut butter or cheese, and it works wonders.”

“I find that if I avoid foods that cause additional inflammation, I feel better and can breathe easier.”

Inflammation and food is a hot topic; want to learn more about foods that can fight inflammation? Check out this article.

“I love a sweet treat, but it doesn’t love me back! I recently discovered Greek yogurt. If I drizzle some honey on it and add in fresh fruit, it satisfies my sweet tooth!”

heart healthy soup“I have been trying to make my own soup. Canned soup has so much sodium in it, I can’t eat it anymore. So I have been looking up low sodium soup recipes, and my homemade versions are safer for me to eat.”

If you are looking for a soup recipe to warm your soul try this Slow Cooker Thai Chicken Soup recipe our members love!

“I made the switch completely to grilled meats. I used to love my deep fryer, but now I only grill or broil my meat and vegetables. You get all the flavor without the breading and oil.”

Eating healthy is a life-long process that will have its ups and downs. So celebrate your successes and give yourself grace when you slide off track.

Here’s something to get you started today – a tasty (and heart-healthy) recipe from the American Heart Association.

Balsamic-Glazed Fish recipe:

Fish and vegetables

Ingredients
• 4-4 oz fillet fish
• black pepper
• 3/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice

Directions
1. Heat Oven to 450 degrees.
2. Season fish to taste with pepper. Place on a cookie sheet or in a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish and bake for 10-12 minutes.
3. While the fish cooks combine the remaining ingredients and whisk well. Microwave covered on 50% heat for 2 minutes, stirring halfway.
4. Drizzle glaze over fish and serve.

Know of any other delicious and healthy recipes you can share? Let us know in the comments or join the discussion in the forums.

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