Page 18 - Florida Sentinel 2-14-20

Health
February is American Heart Month, a time to raise awareness of heart disease - the number one killer in the United States - and a disease African Americans are more susceptible to.
Nearly 44 percent of African American men and 48 percent of African-American women have some form of car- diovascular disease that in-
cludes heart disease and stroke.
High blood pressure, obe- sity and diabetes are the most common conditions that in- crease the risk of heart disease and stroke.
The good news is simple lifestyle changes and under- standing your risk can can help prevent and manage these dis- eases.
CONSUME LESS SALT
According to the American Heart Association, you should have no more than 2,300 mil- ligrams of sodium a day. For most adults, an ideal limit of no more than 1,500 milligrams per day is recommended. Stay away from foods that are high in sodium, such as processed foods, natural foods with a higher-than-average sodium content like cheese, seafood, olives, some legumes, table salt, sea salt, and some over- the-counter drugs. If in doubt,
read the label!
EAT MORE HEART- HEALTHY FOODS
Learn what foods are heart-friendly and how to pre- pare them. Follow these guide- lines to help you choose heart-healthy foods, as well as learn what foods to avoid.
– Read nutrition labels when buying prepared and prepackaged foods
– Eat more fruits and veg- etables
– Eat fruit and raw vegeta- bles as snacks
– Select unsalted nuts or seeds, dried beans, peas and lentils
– Select unsalted or low-
sodium fat-free broths, bouil- lons or soup
– Avoid using canned veg- etables with added salt when making homemade dishes
– Avoid salt during cook- ing. Try the food before you add salt for taste.
GET MOVING!
Aside from heart health, exercise has been proven to improve your mood, lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels and help manage weight.
The American Heart Asso- ciation recommends 2 1⁄2 hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week. Try to aim for a total of 40 minutes of moderate to vigorous activ- ity three to four times each week.
SEE THE BEST IN YOUR PARTNER AND THE RELATIONSHIP
Research on perception and at- tention shows that we see more of what we look for, so if you’re look- ing for signs of kindness, that’s more likely to stand out to you. How you think about and interpret your partner’s actions, intentions, and words also affects how you feel and understand a situation with them, which in turn affects how you behave toward them.
PAGE 6-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020