February is American Heart Month. It’s a time to highlight advances in heart disease research and put a spotlight on prevention. It’s also a time when Guiding Stars shines. Put simply, Guiding Stars helps you easily find more of the “good stuff” to reduce risk of heart disease. Here are some examples of what choosing Guiding Stars earning products can help you accomplish.
Limit Saturated Fat
Whole milk dairy products, higher-fat animal meats, and coconut milk/oil are the primary sources of saturated fat. It can also be found in packaged products. When we consume too much saturated fat, we’re more likely to maintain an elevated LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. Over time, elevated LDL cholesterol can cause plaque to build up in our arteries. And this plaque may narrow our arteries and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Seek Guiding Stars earning foods to lower your intake of saturated fat.
Avoid Trans Fats
Trans fats align with an increased risk of heart disease. In fact, the FDA banned their use in packaged products in the U.S. However, they may still be present in commercially prepared baked products (or doughs), fried foods, and shortening or margarine. They can also be found in very small amounts in some animal products (cheese, meat, butter, milk). Avoiding trans fats can be a bit tricky. Look for “partially hydrogenated oils” in the ingredient list. The presence of these oils lets you know a product likely contains trans fats.
Reduce Added Sodium
It’s important for us to reduce our salt intake, yet most Americans consume significantly more than is recommended. Luckily we have Guiding Stars to help us easily find lower-sodium foods. This is particularly helpful when there are many options to choose from.
Limit Added Sugar
As with sodium, many Americans also consume too much added sugar. Many foods contain added sugar, including certain savory products. We may not always have time to read food labels to assess if a product has too much added sugar. Thankfully, Guiding Stars does it for us.
Increase Omega Fats
Omega fatty acids provide many benefits to our bodies, including reducing inflammation and heart disease risk. Guiding Stars earning foods are higher in three types of omega fatty acids (ALA, DHA, and EPA). A product’s nutrition facts panel only reflects the amount of ALA in a product. But Guiding Stars goes beyond this to highlight foods with beneficial DHA and EPA as well.
Add More Whole Grain & Fiber
A diet high in fiber from whole grains, fruits, and vegetables aligns with a reduced risk of heart disease. Most of us do not consume enough fiber. Guiding Stars helps us locate fiber-rich options on store shelves so that we can meet the recommended daily amount.
Assessing Your Risk
Despite our best efforts, we may struggle to reach a health goal. Advanced age and/or family history may inhibit our ability to achieve certain health markers (such as lowering our LDL cholesterol level). In these instances, it’s helpful to think of each risk factor as a puzzle piece. All together, these pieces create our personal health picture. Remember that one small piece doesn’t have to impact the whole picture. There are many things we can do to empower ourselves and improve our health.
- Commit to regular fitness/body movement
- Maintain a consistent sleep pattern
- Engage in meditation and other ways to reduce stress