Research has shown that Heart Disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. There are different conditions that branch off of it, but I will discuss just a few. Congestive Heart Failure, or CHF, is a chronic condition where the heart doesn’t pump blood properly. The symptoms of this are shortness of breath, fatigue, swollen legs, and a fast heartbeat. AFIB, or atrial fibrillation, is an irregular and rapid heartbeat that causes poor blood flow. Lastly, MI or myocardial infarction or heart attack is when a blood clot blocks flow to the heart causing a medical emergency. People usually will get surgery and medication to fix such conditions, however, you can prevent this from happening to you.
Good nutrition and an active lifestyle can strengthen your heart and stop heart disease from occurring in you. Try to add more fruits, veggies, whole grains, and legumes into your diet. These foods are not only heart-healthy but will improve your health overall. Research has also suggested reducing sodium, as it can raise your blood pressure. Lastly, remember to exercise regularly, therefore developing a healthy lifestyle. If you have one of these heart diseases or would like to prevent one it is always good to meet with a dietitian. To contact Comfort Nutrition Services please call 856-440-DIET (3438) or comfortnutrition@gmail.com. You can also purchase West African Diet for Prevention & Treatment of Diabetes by Comfort Nutrition Dietitian Adekemi Adejare, MS, RDN to learn about heart-healthy West African recipes. It is available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692742565/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_y6atFb4ACW5D8