How nutrition affects your heart
We all know how important it is to eat a healthy diet, but many of us aren’t aware how enjoyable healthy eating really can be and what a difference it can make to the health of our hearts.
In fact, an unhealthy diet is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease and – importantly – diet is one of the risk factors that you can control. But, to make the right dietary choices, you need to be informed. That’s why consumer education is a key part of Becel’s mission to help make the world’s hearts healthier and diet is a great place to start! As well as cutting down on saturated and trans fats, there are lots of other small changes you can make to your diet that can help you keep your heart healthy. Eating more vegetables and fruits, whole grains and beans and lentils, will increase your intake of vitamins, minerals and fibre. Another good tip is to limit your intake of salt and alcohol.
Switching to a healthier diet can help you:
- Maintain a healthy weight and reduce the strain on your heart
- Lower your blood cholesterol level
- Maintain or lower your blood pressure
Healthy eating may also help reduce the risk of other conditions such as cancer and Type 2 diabetes.