Eat Your Way to a Healthy Heart

heart health

You are what you eat, right? Put the cupcake back because the answer is yes. What we put into our body is the fuel that keeps us going. That’s not to say you can never have a cupcake, but everything in moderation. Truth is, what we eat can impact our health, and the goal of having a healthy heart. And with your heart beating 2.5 billion times over your lifetime,* it needs all the help it can get.

Here are a few heart healthy eating tips:

  • Reduce Your Sodium Intake: Salt increases your blood pressure, limit your use or use other seasonings instead.
  • Eat More Whole Grains: Adding more whole grains to your diet can reduce your blood cholesterol level.
  • Decrease Portion Sizes: Increased portion sizes can lead to weight gain which puts more pressure on your heart. This can also lead to other health problems.

Try out this heart healthy recipe to get you going:

Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken or Pork

Barbecue Sauce:

  • 14.5oz canned, no-salt-added tomato sauce
  • 1 Tbsp. brown sugar (optional or flavor with a no calorie sweetener)
  • ¼ Cup cider vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp. yellow mustard
  • ½ tsp. garlic powder
  • ½ tsp. onion powder
  • ½ tsp. chili powder
  • ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp. black pepper
  • ¼ tsp. cinnamon
  • ½ tsp. paprika

Chicken or Pork:

  • 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast or tenderloins (pork loin, tenderloin or centerloin), all visible fat discarded
  • 1 Cup water

Directions:

  1. Barbecue Sauce:  Whisk together all ingredients in a medium bowl
  2. Chicken or Pork: Place Chicken or pork in slow cooker, pour water and Barbecue Sauce over meat.
  3. Cover and cook over low setting for 8-10 hours, or over high setting for 3-4 hours. Chicken may break apart easily with fork once cooked.

Recipe courtesy of The American Heart Association: https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/slow-cooker-barbeque-chicken-or-pork

*https://www.health.harvard.edu/topics/heart-health