Nutrition and Your Health

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the world.

Statistics reveal that nearly 85% of the world's population can expect a rise in blood pressure as they grow older. This condition, known as hypertension, is associated with another disease called atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries that carry the blood from the heart.

While drugs are used to control these conditions, physicians suggest changes in the diet to possibly lower drug dosage, and even adding years to one's life.

In industrialized societies, many people tend to put on excess weight. Weight increase causes much stress on the heart, leading to various health problems. And if the blood pressure is high – or other heart and circulatory conditions are present - a heart attack may happen.

People who are diagnosed by doctors as having signs of heart disease are put on some form of restricted diet to lessen or eliminate foods which are known to contribute to heart disease.

The first step is usually to lose weight, particularly if a person is relatively inactive. Losing weight, simply stated, means reducing the amount of calories, or “food energy.” In conjunction with your doctor or nutritionist, you can arrive at a desirable number of calories to consume by using a food list guide.

A second step to a healthy heart is cutting down on sodium intake. Usually, people have the misconception that sodium is only in salt. While it is true that salt is nearly 40% sodium, most foods contain salt added in processing. This salt must be carefully measured and considered when cutting down to an acceptable level of sodium intake. A recommended level of sodium intake is about five grams per day, compared to an average six to 18 grams most people eat.

Although there is no conclusive scientific evidence for a once-and-for-all diet guaranteed to maintain and fend off disease, common sense dictates that in addition to watching calories and sodium, the consumption of alcoholic beverages, coffee, tea and soft drinks containing high amounts of sugar and caffeine must be limited.

Exercise is a boon to health, and even a small amount of the simplest exercise, such as a 20-minute walk after meals, can do wonders for promoting digestion, improving circulation and increasing well-being. Any program for good health should include some form of moderate exercise.

It cannot be stressed enough that having a program of proper diet and exercise would be more advantageous if a medical practitioner specializing in health and nutrition be consulted to supervise the entire process. Every individual reacts differently to changes in diet and your physician can monitor these changes to make adjustments in your health program.

There is no need to think of dieting as difficult, although it involves changing one's habits. This requires commitment, concentration and honesty with oneself. So, take your time, keep up your enthusiasm, and know that you are working for the greatest goal of all: a long and abundant life.