If you live in the Western world and are part of the norm, then you most likely eat too much processed and refined food that is loaded with excessive sugar, sodium and saturated fat. Eating like this increases your risk for stroke, heart attack and a whole host of other chronic diseases.

Instead we should go more towards a heart-healthy diet by eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, whole grain, fish and lean poultry and meat. It isn’t that hard to do but it does take some time to plan out what groceries you are going to need, going to the store to get those groceries and then cook them up into meals.

Yes, I know it is easier to swing by a fast-food place after work and pick up something, but know it is slowly killing you one mouthful at a time. If you want to live a long healthy life, then switch to a heart-healthy diet … now before it is too late.

Eating a diet that supports your heart health will help you reap other benefits too, namely managing your weight. Eating five correctly portioned meals per day of heart-healthy food helps you lose weight as many of these items are low in calories, but high in fiber so you stay feeling fuller longer, thus reducing the urge to snack on unhealthy food between meals. Also, by eating five times per day, your metabolism always has food it can process so it stay functioning at a higher level.

Some people try to lose weight by skipping meals. This means there are periods of time where your stomach is empty. Your metabolism senses this, thinks food may be scarce and goes into “starvation mode” because it is trying to conserve what calories it has left to use including body fat.  Eating five small meals per day and still staying within your daily calorie count is the best way to lose weight. Once at goal, increase your calorie intake just enough to maintain the weight you want.