FOR NATIONAL HEART MONTH, MAKE HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES

February is National Heart Month, when good nutrition is truly at the "heart"of the matter.

A healthy heart is the result of good genes, the right food choices, plenty of physical activity and knowing how to deal with stress.

While you can't do much about your genes, regular physical activity, making the right food choices and dealing with stress are lifestyle behaviors you can control. When it comes to heart-healthy eating, one key is monitoring the type and amount of fat you consume.

Limit foods high in saturated fat, which can increase LDL or "bad" cholesterol levels. Instead, eat more plant proteins, fish, poultry and low-fat dairy foods. Cook with moderate amounts of olive or canola oil instead of butter, margarine or shortening.

Some examples of foods for heart health include:

• Beans, peas and barley
• Soybeans, other soy-based foods (not soybean oil)
• Fruits and vegetables
• Salmon, tuna, sardines and mackerel
• Red grapes and purple grape juice
• Nuts such as almonds, walnuts, pecans and hazelnuts
• Green or black tea
• Onions, scallions, shallots, garlic and leeks.

Maintain or improve your weight. The more excess body fat you have, the greater your risk for heart disease. If you're overweight, losing weight can help you lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol, which is especially important if you have high triglycerides and/or low HDL cholesterol and carry excess abdominal fat. Those who carry a "spare tire" around their abdomen have a higher cardiac risk than those with extra padding around their hips and thighs.

Get active! Physical activity offers many rewards, from heart health to strong bones and stress relief. Regular, moderate activity helps keep your blood cholesterol levels normal. It helps lower blood pressure, helps your body control stress and helps control body weight as you burn calories. More vigorous exercise actually gives your heart muscle a workout, too, which ultimately helps your whole cardiovascular system work more efficiently.

Unless you have a health problem, you probably can start moving more now. Talk to your health-care provider if you have ongoing health issues like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, arthritis or obesity.

For more information on heart-healthy eating, visit www.eatright.org/healthyheart.

From the American Dietetic Association