Wednesday, Nov. 7 was National Eating Healthy Day, a call out by the American Heart Association to raise awareness for the importance of good nutrition and making the best eating decisions. Recent reports suggest that more than half of our population will be struggling with obesity by the year 2030. This past September, Trust for America’s Health released its annual F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future report. The study ranked Michigan with the fifth highest obesity rate for adults in America, with 31% of the adult population classified as obese. It also notes that if the current trend continues, anywhere from 50-59% of Michigan residents will be obese by 2030.
Inactivity and poor nutrition leads to obesity which contributes to a number of leading risk factors of heart disease, including higher cholesterol, higher blood pressure and increased risk for diabetes.
“Heart disease is the leading killer of Michiganders,” Knoll said. “Fortunately, many of the risk factors for heart disease are things that we can control. Improving our diet and becoming physically active are two ways we can improve our heart health.”
The American Heart Association recommends a diet that:
Is rich in fruits and vegetable
Contains whole-grain, high-fiber food
Includes fish twice a week, especially oily fish like salmon or albacore tuna
Includes lean meats
Includes fat-free (skim) or low-fat (1%) dairy products
Minimizes beverages and foods with added sugars
Has little or no added salt
Limits alcohol intake
Complete dietary recommendations as well as recipes, exercise tips and more are available at www.heart.org.
National Eating Healthy Day is part of the American Heart Association’s My Heart.My Life platform, which includes the Heart Walk, Walking Paths and National Walking Day. My Heart.My Life is sponsored nationally by Subway and Jenny Craig.
