Heart Healthy Month

This month we are reminded in many ways to take care of your heart! Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, but there are several different steps that you can take to prevent it:

• Volunteer and Give back! Helping others can make you happier and healthier.
• Do not smoke
• Exercise regularly
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Control your blood pressure
• Avoid saturated and trans fat which is found in many fried foods, baked goods, and dairy products made with whole milk.
• Decrease your sodium intake

Being aware of how much salt (sodium) you eat means more than just avoiding the salt shaker. Many foods have hidden sources of sodium, which is used as a preservative. Deli meats, canned soups, and frozen foods may seem like healthy choices, but can have almost your entire daily allowance of sodium in one serving! Make sure that you check the nutrition label and pick items that have less than 140mg per serving or are labeled “low sodium.” GBFB is committed to providing healthy foods and promoting healthy lifestyles. GBFB has three Registered Dietitians on staff and we adhere to specific nutrition standards for all the food we purchase. 26% of the food we distribute is fresh produce. Fresh fruits and vegetables are part of a heart healthy diet and should fill up at least half of your plate at each meal. Learn more here about GBFB’s Nutrition Team. Learn more about heart disease and prevention at www.heart.org