Why Is Heart Health Important?
Making heart healthy changes can have an impact other areas of health. It can help prevent or delay chronic disease such as Type 2 Diabetes.
Lower your risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attacks and stroke. Heart disease can be preventable, but it is not reversible
Making healthy changes can help improve quality of life- it can make you feel more energetic and improve mental health.
Risk Factors
- Age 50+
- High Blood Pressure
- Unregulated Diabetes
- Obesity
- Family History
- High Cholesterol
- Smoking
What The All Heart Health Diets Have in Common?
- Limit Salt Intake
- Increase intake of Plant Proteins
- Whole Plant Foods
- Limit intake of Animal Products
Types of Cholesterol
LDL Cholesterol
- Why is it “bad”
- Buildup of plaque
- Narrowing of blood vessels
- Reduced blood flow to cells
- Heart disease
Triglycerides
- Type of fat
- Created from extra calories to fuel your body later
- Can contribute to plaque buildup
HDL Cholesterol
- Why is it “good”?
- Removes excess LDL
- Only 1/3-1/4 is removed
- Family history and genetics
