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!
FACTS ABOUT HEALTHY LIVING
Fact 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.• Around 45 percent of adults are not sufficiently active to receive health benefits.• About one in three adults participate in NO leisure time physical activity at all.• Getting recommended amounts of physical activity weekly (150 minutes of moderate activity) is linked to lower risk of diseases, stronger bones and muscles, and improved mental health and mood.• Adults who are inactive may pay up to $1,437 more per year in healthcare costs than physically active adults. One study estimated physical inactivity accounts for up to 3% of total direct health expenses in the United States.• Physically active adults are at lower risk for depression and cognitive declines as they get older.• According to one study, just 25 minutes of brisk walking a day can add up to seven years of life expectancy; regular exercise reduced aging an increases the average lifespan. For the average person in their 50s and 60s, moderate exercise could reduce the risk of dying from a heart attack by half.Fact 4: Our mental and physical health are linked.• Stress is often an underlying factor contributing to unhealthy habits; According to a 2012 report from the American Psychological Association, 39% of Americans reported eating unhealthy foods or eating too much to deal with stress, and another 13 percent of Americans report drinking alcohol to manage stress.• Sleep duration and sleep disorders are associated with negative health factors and cardiovascular risk.• According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes for Health, an estimated 25-30% of the general adult populations is affected by a sleep disorder or insufficient sleep.• 7 or more hours of sleep per night for adults is generally recommended to “promote optimal health
EAT SMART – ADD COLOR – MOVE MORE – BE WELL
heart.org/healthyforgood