7 signs of heart disease

Valentine’s day is this week and now is a good time to show your heart a little extra love.

Prevention of heart disease is possible with lifestyle changes. The most important factors include not smoking, regular exercise, stress management, maintaining a healthy weight and eating a healthy diet. One that is filled with whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

Meat is linked to heart disease

Meat has been linked to developing heart disease. A study published this month in the Journal of the American Medical Association links eating two servings of red meat, processed meat or poultry weekly with up to a 7% increased risk of heart disease.

Another recent study by University of Pennsylvania researchers found that people who eat a diet higher in sulfur amino acid had a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

What are sulfur amino acids?

High sulfur amino acid intake is associated with every type of food except grains, vegetables, and fruit. In the 11,000 people studied the researchers found that the average American eats almost two and a half times more sulfur amino acids than the estimated average requirement. Sulfur amino acids are found in foods like meat and dairy.

 Zhen Dong, the lead author says,

“People who eat lots of plant-based products like fruits and vegetables will consume lower amounts of sulfur amino acids. These results support some of the beneficial health effects observed in those who eat vegan or other plant-based diets.”

Penn State. “Lower protein diet may lessen risk for cardiovascular disease.” ScienceDaily, 3 February 2020.

Heart disease may run in your family as it does in mine, but so do lifestyle habits. If you want to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease eat plants, exercise, don’t smoke, maintain a healthy weight and waist circumference, manage stress and enjoy a little dark chocolate too.

Here are a few early warning signs of heart problems, know your risk factors and pay attention to any unusual changes in your health.

Change your mind, change your health,

Shayla

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