by Kristal Mcvicar

Created on: June 22, 2008   Last Updated: March 27, 2012

Heart disease remains the number one killer of adults. That is a significant fact and we have known this for far too many years. Unfortunately we are still, for the most part, a society geared towards treatment not prevention.

Heart disease is an umbrella under which many conditions of the heart exist. These conditions would include :Angina, Arrhythmia, Atherosclerosis , Cardiomyopathy, Congenital heart disease, Congestive heart failure, Coronary artery disease, Heart attack, Heart block, Infective (bacterial) endocarditis, Kawasaki disease,Long Q-T Syndrome, Marfan Syndrome, Pericarditis, Rheumatic heart diseas and Valve disorders.

Although many are predisposed to varying conditions of the heart through heredity, there is much we can do by way of prevention for ourselves and our children. Prevention actually begins in utero and so it is important all pregnant women choose a heart healthy diet and a lifestyle that includes exercise, peacefulness and not smoking.

Once born, nursing your child is the healthier alternative and helping baby become used to healthy food from the beginning will provide a solid foundation for a lifetime of healthy eating.

Diet:

I recently heard the easiest way to know how to provide a heart healthy diet is to shop the outside perimeters of your grocery store. What a wonderful idea! It is here you will find the fresh fruit, bakery items, meat, milk, cheeses, yogurt, eggs, chicken, fish and vegetables.

Avoid canned goods as often as possible, as well as packaged goods, salt (use a nice mixture of spices instead) and most take-out and fast food. ut of convenience and time restrictions we often simply choose to stop and pick up any number of mass marketed take-out food It' just as easy to grab a banana, juice and nuts before leaving the house for breakfast, or salad and piece of chicken for lunch at your local grocery store.

When cooking choose olive oil as opposed to any other oil. Spices can totally alter the taste of most food, experiment a bit to see what you like and don't like.

We all like to have something sweet now and then as well and certainly don't want to feel as though we can't quench that craving when it hits. Again our choices determine our health. Ice cream is healthier than a twinkie and just as satisfying. A handful of jujubes more heart healthy than a chocolate bar.

Proper diet does not mean dieting, nothing could be more unhealthy than constantly being on a diet. Wht I refer to when saying diet,

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