Eat Your Heart Healthy :

Heart disease is still the No. 1 cause of death in the U.S. Women are no exception, but it seems that most are unaware of their risk. It's more a problem for men, right?

In reality, almost 40 percent of all female deaths in America occur from cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). This includes strokes, which kill more women than men each year. Additionally, 38 percent of women will die within one year after a heart attack compared to 25 percent of men. So the best medicine then becomes prevention.

“A healthy diet and lifestyle are the best weapons you have to fight cardiovascular disease,” suggests the AHA. The group advocates taking simple steps to improve overall health and gain long-term benefits, while remembering “it is the overall pattern of the choices you make that counts.”In addition to not smoking and getting daily exercise, a healthy diet can be the cornerstone in your battle against heart disease, but this is also an area where most tend to be misinformed and unaware of what they should be eating. Start at the beginning and decide if what you're eating is heart healthy or just adding to the risk for heart disease.

Cereal Killer
If you’ve been having breakfast with a mysterious, European aristocrat every morning, it’s probably time to end the affair. Sure, he’s a count, he’s sweet and that unidentified European accent is sexy, but you can count on Count Chocula or his sugary cartoon counterparts to break your heart in the long run with high amounts of refined carbohydrates and processed sugar.

“A 100-percent whole-grain cereal contains more vital nutrients and fiber than any refined white-flour product,” says nutritionist Susan Burke. “Read the label first, and choose a cereal that has 100-percent whole grain as the first ingredient.”

“Unrefined whole-grain foods contain fiber that can help lower your blood cholesterol and help you feel full, which may help you manage your weight ,” according to the AHA.

Susan also suggests low-fat or nonfat dairy foods like milk or yogurt. Dairy provides calcium and vitamin D, magnesium, potassium and protein. Plus, it goes great with that whole-grain cereal.

“Just one serving of yogurt contributes nearly 35 percent of your daily value of calcium,” Susan says. “With a cup of blueberries, yogurt can be a great snack or part of a balanced breakfast.”

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