February is Heart Health Month and this is a great time to make small changes for a healthy heart! It can be as simple as eating more fruits and vegetables! Why not add a few more each day this month! Your heart will love you for it! Be Healthy!
EAT SMART – ADD COLOR – MOVE MORE – BE WELL
heart.org/healthyforgood
HEALTHY FOR GOOD
JOIN THE MOVEMENT. IT’S TIME TO GET - AND STAY - HEALTHY FOR GOOD.
Healthy For Good
TM is a movement that encourages Americans to lead healthier lives by delivering science-based recommendations, tools, tips and motivation to build healthier behaviors. It’s about small steps that can be done each day that will make a big difference tomorrow. You can tackle several behaviors at once, or just take one at a time – but no matter where you start, the American Heart Association (AHA) will be there to cheer you on every step of the way.Healthy For Good comes to life each year in 305 American cities when it is celebrated at the annual Healthy For Good Heart Walk.
SCIENCE-BASED INFORMATION. YOU-BASED MOTIVATION.
• AHA evidence-based healthy living recommendations in a program that delivers simple-to-understand advise, tools, tips and sharable science
• Delivers actionable information in an optimistic, inspirational voice• A movement that people can join for support and one-to-one customized motivation
• Provides members ongoing education and motivation along the path to longer, healthier livesFOUR KEY AREAS GROUND THE MOVEMENT -
• EAT SMART: True nourishment involved making overall healthier eating choices each day. This can be daunting, but AHA is here to help with reliable information on eating smart. We will dish out ideas on better snacking, delicious recipes and meal planning tips that will make you want to eat better and make it easier to do so.
• ADD COLOR: This is the simplest way to start eating healthier: just look at your plate and add some color to it. Our goal is to inspire and teach you how to add color to every meal and snack, because adding even one serving of color in the form of fruits and vegetables each day is a great way to start building a healthier you.
• MOVE MORE: Our bodies were built to move, so they need daily activity to be healthy. But working out doesn’t have to take over your life – in fact, you can start by simply adding a few 10-minute bursts of activity each day. Whether it’s Walking 10, new ways to stay motivated or tips on working out at home, we have the know-how to put your body in motion.
• BE WELL: For ultimate whole body health, your mind and body need to rest, reset and recharge. Whether it’s stress management, tips on getting enough quality sleep or ideas on connecting with the world in a healthier way, we’ve curated the best information out there to help you be the best version of you.
LIFE IS WHY. HEALTHY FOR GOOD IS HOW. JOIN THE MOVEMENT TODAY!EAT SMART – ADD COLOR – MOVE MORE – BE WELL
1: Poor diet is the #1 health problem in the United States.
• Less than 1 percent of Americans meet the American Heart Association’s definition of ideal cardiovascular health – this is due primarily to poor diet.• In 2010, poor diet was the leading contributor to premature death in the United States.
• About two in three American adults and one in three American children are overweight or obese. Obesity and poor diet can result in disability or loss of independence.
• Heart attack or stroke can result in difficulty with everyday activities such as walking, bathing, getting into our out of bed, or cognitive impairment.
Fact 2: Eating a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables is directly linked to longer, healthier life.• Fruits and vegetables cut the risk of premature death, heart disease, stroke, multiple forms of cancer, and decrease risk of condition such as diabetes and hypertension which are linked to lower quality of life.
• The American Heart Association recommends 4-5 servings of fruit and 4-5 servings of vegetables each day; this comes out to approximately 4.5 cups; the average American adult consumes around 1-1.5 cups of each daily.
• Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption alone can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by 20 percent.
• Just 2.5 cups of fruits and vegetables daily could reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.• If Americans ate just one more serving of fruits or vegetables per day, this would save more than 30,000 lives and $5 billion in medical costs each year, according on one estimate.Fact 3: Adequate physical activity improved length and quality of life.