Consider dietary change
To the Editor:
February is American Heart Month and as a dietitian, I think it's the perfect time to show our hearts some love.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both women and men in the United States -- but it doesn't have to be that way.
Simple dietary and lifestyle choices can play a major role in fighting heart disease.
Adding more fruits and vegetables to the diet may provide extra protection against heart disease, according to a new study in the European Heart Journal.
Researchers found that people who eat eight servings of fruits and vegetables each day have a 22-percent lower chance of dying from heart disease, compared with those who eat only three servings.
Previous research has found that a low-fat vegetarian diet can help prevent -- and even reverse -- heart disease.
Vegetarian diets also help prevent obesity, type 2 diabetes and some cancers.
This Valentine's Day, have a heart-to-heart with your loved ones about protecting your family's health with a nutritious plant-based diet.
Sincerely,
Susan Levin, M.S., R.D.,
Director of Nutrition Education,
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine,
Washington, D.C.