Our Promise: A Heart-Healthy Diet
On September 29th, we celebrate World Heart Day! This year’s theme is, “Make Your Promise.” Our promise, at Legacy Health Services, is to support heart-healthy diets. As the season begins to change, you may ask yourself, “What heart-healthy foods can I make right now?” By reducing your saturated fat intake, increasing your lean proteins, whole-grain carbohydrates, and unprocessed whole-food selection, you can ensure a healthier heart! Here’s a list of foods currently in a season that you can incorporate into your daily diet to encourage a healthy lifestyle:
Seasonal Foods to Include:
- Apples
- Beets
- Bell Peppers
- Broccoli
- Brown Rice
- Brussel Sprouts
- Collard Greens
- Kale
- Lean Proteins (i.e. Chicken, Eggs, Salmon…)
- Lentils and Beans
- Mushrooms
- Nuts
- Parsnips
- Pears
- Peas
- Pumpkin
- Sweet Potato
- Squash
- Raspberries
- Zucchini
- Whole-Wheat Pasta
Each of the above-listed foods provides key vitamins and nutrients that will encourage a healthy heart and a healthy diet. Many of these foods can be purchased locally, which helps support the surrounding community. Make your change AND promise, today!
Take this quiz and get a healthy recipe!
Sources:
Schoenstadt, A. (2017, January). Heart Healthy Foods. Clinaero. Retrieved from http://heart-disease.emedtv.com/healthy-heart/heart-healthy-foods.html.
Gardener, A. (2017, February). 18 Superfoods For Your Heart. Health Media Ventures, Inc. Retrieved from https://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20720182,00.html#-pomegranate-0.
The American Heart Association. (2015, August). The American Heart Association’s Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations. The American Heart Association. Retrieved from https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/aha-diet-and-lifestyle- recommendations.
United States Department of Agriculture. (2018, August). Seasonal Produce Guide. USDA. Retrieved from https://snaped.fns.usda.gov/seasonal-produce-guide.