Health Care in Canada: Simple Steps to Heart Happiness

To have a happy heart, there are factors you can influence and easy ways to ensure to get there.

Simple Steps to Heart Happinesss

(NC) It's not news that having bad cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) can hurt your heart and ultimately lead to heart disease. Statistics show that 48 per cent of men and 43 per cent of women in Canada have elevated blood cholesterol levels, which may be putting them at risk for heart disease and stroke - the leading cause of death and disability in Canada.

Major risk factors that increase your chances of developing heart disease include high blood cholesterol, physical inactivity and high blood pressure. The good news is that fortunately, these are factors you can influence and there are easy ways to ensure you have a happy heart.

Research shows that every one per cent drop in blood cholesterol reduces the risk of heart disease by two per cent. A simple way to reduce LDL cholesterol levels by up to 10 per cent in just four weeks is to eat a cereal with psyllium fibre every day as part of a healthy diet. Lowering your cholesterol has never been easier.

Achieving a healthy body weight, being physically active and controlling your cholesterol levels are also essential for heart health.

"It's important to evaluate your lifestyle to make positive changes for the good of your health," says Susan Gatchell, registered dietitian. "Maintaining healthy blood cholesterol levels can help lower your risk of heart disease."

Susan recommends the following easy steps to help improve your heart health:

Start your day with a cereal with soluble psyllium fibre, such as Kellogg's Guardian
Enjoy a variety of foods from each of the four food groups in Canada's Food Guide - emphasize whole grain and bran-based grain products, vegetables and fruit
Eat less fat, especially saturated fat and trans fat
Choose lean meats and low fat or skim milk dairy products
Use spreads like butter, margarine and mayonnaise sparingly
Eat more fibre: The Daily Value for fibre for Canadians is 25 grams per day
Know your blood cholesterol and keep it at a healthy level
Achieve and maintain a healthy body weight
Be active and exercise regularly
Learn how to manage the stress in your life
Be smoke free

Talk to your doctor about how you can lower your cholesterol and visit www.psyllium.ca to learn more about soluble psyllium fibre.

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