7 Ways to Eat Smart for Your Heart

Knowing which foods to eat more of and which foods to limit is a powerful way to prevent heart disease and improve your overall health.  Use the steps below to work toward a more heart-healthy diet. Here are 7 easy ways to eat smart for your heart.

Soda pop: A typical 12-ounce can of soda has 150 calories and about 9 teaspoons of sugar. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans call for no more than 12 teaspoons of sugar per day from any source.

Alcohol: The recommended amount of alcohol is one drink per day for a woman, or two drinks for a man. Alcohol is known to have many adverse effects, including toxicity to the heart!

Juice and other sugary drinks: Along with soda, fruit juice account for much of the excess sugar Americans consume.

Plate size: Instead of a large plate, use a small plate or side bowl to help control your portion sizes.

Eating out: Restaurants often serve monster size portions, so ask for a box right away, cut your meal in half and box the extra portion for leftovers. Try to fill up on fresh fruits and vegetables first so you won’t have as much room to eat the unhealthy stuff.

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