Eye on Health: Heart Health - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Eye on Health: Heart Health

Heart Disease is the leading cause of death for both mean and women.  
There are many factors that lead to heart disease.  
However, what you eat is very important in keeping your heart healthy.  
Carla Burbidge has this week's Eye on Health.  

As we walk into the grocery store, the choices are overwhelming.  
But since February is designated as heart month, it's a good time to focus on reading the labels.  
Sodium is a huge factor in heart health.
It can lead to high blood pressure, strokes and heart attacks.
(Kayla Cole, Trinity Health Dietitian) "Trinity Health "if you are 51 or younger you need 2300, 1500 if you are over 51."
Even if you skip the salt shaker, most people are getting way more sodium than they should have.
Convenience foods are often high in sodium.
Take this hungry man dinner for example: 1610 milligrams.
(Kayla Cole, Trinity Health Dietitian) "That's what you need in an entire day, this lean cuisine is healthier, it has 480 milligrams."
But even that is a little high, she says aim for around 300 milligrams per meal.  
In these diced tomatoes its best to choose, no salt, if the taste is bland for you, she recommends adding basil, oregano or other spices.  
At the meat isle, Kayla suggests hamburger that is at least 90-percent lean, 10-percent fat.  
(Kayla Cole, Trinity Health Dietitian) "This is very lean, if it is dry, add olive oil."
Because there is so much to learn about eating better, the Trinity dietitians are holding grocery store tours at the original Marketplace, the third Tuesday of each month at 6pm.
The next on Feb.19th is about heart heath, and there's a different focus every month.  
For Eye on Health, I'm Carla Burbidge