Heart Month-Boosting Soluble Fiber to Knock Down LDL

  February is American Heart Month. There are so many ways to be proactive in taking care of your heart health such as exercising, managing stress, reducing sodium intake, switching to healthy fats, and increasing your soluble fiber intake. Are you wondering to yourself “What is soluble fiber?” Soluble fiber lowers LDL (lousy, bad) cholesterol and is found naturally in many types of foods. Try adding soluble fiber rich foods into your meals to help support your heart. Sources of Soluble Fiber Vegetables Certain fruits and vegetables are higher in soluble fiber than others. Brussels sprouts, carrots, winter squash, broccoli, peas, etc. provide soluble fiber. Be inspired by the rainbow when picking produce. Choose different colors to give your body a variety of nutrients. Try this penne pasta dish that is loaded with soluble rich foods including broccoli and garbanzo [...]

Fact or Fiction: Salt

I don’t put salt on my food, so I don’t have to worry about sodium. Fiction. Sodium is found in more than just the saltshaker. In fact, over 70% of sodium in the American diet comes from processed, packaged, and restaurant foods. Sodium is added to a variety of popular foods during processing and preparation. As a result, most Americans consume double the amount of recommended sodium each day. Excess sodium intake can lead to high blood pressure which increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. The good news is that making simple changes can help you stomp out excess sodium in your meals and snacks. What are the top food sources of sodium? Sodium is found in many processed foods including bread, pizza, sandwiches, soups, tacos, condiments (soy sauce, salad dressing, etc.), snack foods (pretzels, chips, [...]