Are you at risk for heart disease? The answer is most likely YES. Our nation has fallen into a health slump and is unhealthier than ever. One of the conditions one must look for in determining their cardiac health would be your cholesterol level. Cholesterol is the fat in our arteries that eventually clog them and cause heart attacks. High levels of cholesterol often indicate a diet based on animal proteins such as meat, dairy, and eggs. The next warning sign one may look for would be an increase in blood pressure. We check the blood pressure on every patient we come in contact with to determine if it is out of normal range. 120/80 (systolic/diastolic) is a normal BP. Finally, diabetes, usually caused by a lifetime of unhealthy eating, significantly increases a person’s chance for having a heart attack. 3 in 4 diabetics end up dying of heart disease.

You can change and reverse that damage caused to your heart simply by changing your behavior. Although on the decline, tobacco use still remains a major contributor to heart disease and one only needs to stop that habit to gain a health benefit. A diet centered around plant-based all natural foods including vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds with very little, if any, meat, dairy and egg products, would be the next step. Physical activity is important to tune our bodies into being food burning machines so those unused calories we eat don’t lead to obesity which 1/3 of our nation is struck with. Finally, alcohol, in excess, can also increase one’s chance of cardiac problems.