Healthy Happy Heart
Obesity is the cause of many preventable conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and much more. In a world of fast food and instant gratification, we have begun a trend of over-eating and malnutrition. It is easy to grab a bag of chips or drive through a fast food establishment when you’re hungry.
Recently, a study conducted by the University of Minnesota showed that people who in-take fast food four or more times a week increase their risk of dying from heart disease by 80 percent. The fat contained in fast food is significantly higher than what you would get from making a home cooked meal. For example, a hamburger from a fast food restaurant averages around 680 calories and 40 grams of fat, not including french fries or a drink, while a hamburger grilled at home averages around 400 calories and about 20 to 30 grams of fat depending on condiments.
You can almost cut your fat grams and calories in-half. Let’s be realistic, making home cooked meals are not practical for everyone’s schedule. The real key to a healthier heart does not have to be as dramatic as cutting junk food forever or going on a radical diet. It is simply to make an effort to lower your fat intake. According to health statistics published on the Healthy North Texas website, the percentage of overweight or obese adults in Tarrant or Dallas County is more than 60 percent. That means six out of 10 people we interact with daily is a candidate for heart disease.
Get familiar and know what a healthy weight range would be for your age group. According to the American Heart Association, just taking off a few pounds can increase cardiovascular benefits. Those few pounds can improve blood circulation and fluid levels while decreasing the likelihood of heart disease. Eating healthier does not mean changing everything—just one thing at a time. Instead of grabbing regular chips when you want something crunchy, try baked chips. The point is getting our heart healthy and happy.
References:
American Heart Association
Healthy in Texas
http://www.healthyntexas.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=NS-Indicator&file=indicator&iid=232536