Be Good To Your Heart This Month

Since 1963, Congress has required the president to proclaim February "American Heart Month" to raise awareness of this vital organ. It makes sense to treat your heart well. It works hard; the average heart pumps about 2,000 gallons of blood a day.

If arteries have been narrowed by cholesterol buildup, the heart has to work even harder. Cholesterol is a naturally occurring soft, fat-like, waxy substance found in the bloodstream and in all your body's cells. But too much of the substance puts you at risk for coronary heart disease and stroke. The good news is that you can reduce high levels of cholesterol with diet and exercise. Some low-cholesterol foods are also high in fiber, which can help in weight loss. To get the same amount of cholesterol lowering power from pure psyllium, just take 2 1/2 rounded teaspoonfuls – only 8 calories! Divide your doses throughout the day. Take fiber 20 minutes before each meal and feel less hungry, too.

The American Heart Association urges everyone to have a physician check their blood cholesterol levels. Healthy individuals should have their levels checked every five years. Men over age 45, women over age 50 and those at risk for heart disease and stroke should have theirs checked more frequently.

Go for a cholesterol check and take along a loved one, too. Be good to your heart.