Million Hearts

Check this article out: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/09/13/140439893/the-next-big-step-preventing-1-million-heart-attacks-and-strokes?ps=sh_stcathdl

Essentially, it's a new public health initiative geared towards reducing the prevalence of cardiovascular disease, stroke, heart attacks and hypertension. Changing behaviors of doctors as well as medical-care strategies are among practices to be put into gear. The FDA will try to work with the food industry to cut back on sodium content of packaged foods. (Restaurant and packaged foods account for 80% of daily American salt intake, by the way).

If you are concerned about your cholesterol levels or blood pressure, there are easy things to cut from your diet to see immediate impacts.

1. Cut back on coffee and soda, alcohol intake, and quit smoking.

2. Try to eat red meat less than 3 times/week and stick to leaner meats such as chicken and fish. I'm no vegetarian, but keep in mind that too much meat on a regular basis (ie, meat at every meal) will drive those cholesterol levels higher. Cholesterol is only present in foods coming from animals, such as meat, eggs, and whole milk. While all of these things offer wonderful vitamins and minerals, they are high in cholesterol and sometimes fat. Choose colorful plant foods like spinach, avocados, tomatoes or sweet potatoes for at least one meal a day instead of a meat-based meal.

3. Try to cut back on canned soups and pre-packaged meals. If you look on the back of these labels, you'll find lots and lots of sodium. It's cheaper, healthier, and more satisfying to make homemade soup from fresh ingredients - if you make a big batch, you'll have homemade soup all week, or you can freeze some for later!