#TrainWithGrainsTips for your heart
February is heart month to bring awareness to heart disease in Canadians. Heart disease is currently the second leading cause of death in Canada, and 90% of Canadians have at least one risk factor to develop heart disease (Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada). Below are four #TrainWithGrainsTips to help reduce the risk of heart disease in your family.
- Exercise: there are many benefits to being more active including reducing your risk for heart disease and risk and helping to prevent risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes and obesity. Try choosing activities you enjoy like hiking, yoga or swimming. Even walking for 10 minutes on your work break can help!
- Reduce stress: 1/4 of Canadians say they have a high level of stress and stress is a leading risk factor to heart disease. Reducing stress isn’t easy but the best way to start is to determine the stressors in your life and remove or limit them from your life. Read more stress management tips at HeartandStroke.ca.
- Whole Grains: Whole grains have been shown to be very beneficial to reducing your risk of heart disease. Whole wheat foods, oatmeal, cooking with wheat berries or barley are all ways to include whole grains in your diet.
- Get enough sleep: Getting enough sleep is as important as exercise and a healthy diet to reduce your risk of heart disease. The average adult needs 7 – 9 hours of sleep each night. Try setting up a strict sleep schedule, remove electronics from your bedroom and find relaxing bedtime activities like reading, light stretching or meditation.
A healthy heart is a happy heart. Try to reduce your risk of heart disease this month as we bring awareness to heart disease during Heart Month.
