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Today is Valentine’s Day and many of us are rushing out to the store and buying chocolate sweets of some sort for our loved one. Perhaps you should stop before grabbing that heart shaped box of chocolates and pick up a healthy alternative such as a basket of fruit or better yet, prepare a healthy home cooked meal for your special someone. With February being American Heart Month, we need to start taking action now so that we can be healthy and be able to enjoy many years to come with our valentine.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Coronary heart disease is the most common in the US and it often appears as a heart attack. Following are a few statistics that show how serious this disease is and how it is claiming far too many lives:

• In 2006, 631,636 people died of heart disease. Heart disease caused 26% of deaths—more than one in every four—in the United States.¹
• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. Half of the deaths due to heart disease in 2006 were women.¹
• Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease. In 2005, 445,687 people died from coronary heart disease.²
• Every year an estimated 785,000 Americans have a new coronary attack, and about 470,000 have a recurrent attack. About every 25 seconds, an American will have a coronary event, and about one every minute will die from one.³
• In 2010, heart disease will cost the United States $316.4 billion.³ (This includes the cost of health care services, medications, and lost productivity).

These numbers are staggering. Knowing that each and every one of us could be at risk, it is vital that we take action to reduce our risk by learning how to help prevent such conditions and knowing the warning signs and symptoms. People who have survived a heart attack can work to reduce their risk of having another one. There are many tools and resources available to us so there is no excuse not to learn more. Also, it would be a good idea to talk to your doctor about your current health status and discuss family health history with them to see if you have more of a risk than others.

Over the next month we will be posting information about what conditions affect your heart or increase your risk of heart disease, what the signs and symptoms are and how a healthy diet and lifestyle are mandatory weapons to help protect your heart.

So if you are running out to buy a box of chocolate for your sweetheart during your lunch hour today, think twice and reach for that fruit basket. Take care of yourself and your loved ones and have a wonderful and healthy Valentine’s Day.

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1. Heron MP, Hoyert DL, Murphy SL, Xu JQ, Kochanek KD, Tejada-Vera B. Deaths: Final data for 2006   [PDF–2.3M]. National Vital Statistics Reports. 2009;57(14). Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics.
2. Heron MP. Deaths: Leading causes for 2004   [PDF–3.2M]. National Vital Statistics Reports. 2007;56(5). Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics.
3. Lloyd-Jones D, Adams RJ, Brown TM, et al. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2010 Update. A Report from the American Heart Association Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee. Circulation. 2010;121:e1-e170.

The following information is provided by cdc.gov:

CDC urges women to take 400 mcg of folic acid every day, starting at least one month before getting pregnant, to help prevent major birth defects of the baby’s brain and spine.

About folic acid - Folic acid is a B vitamin. Our bodies use it to make new cells. Everyone needs folic acid.

Why folic acid is so important - Folic acid is very important because it can help prevent some major birth defects of the baby’s brain and spine (anencephaly and spina bifida) by 50% to 70%.

How much folic acid - a woman needs 400 micrograms (mcg) every day.

When to start taking folic acid- For folic acid to help prevent some major birth defects, a woman needs to start taking it at least one month before she becomes pregnant and while she is pregnant. Every woman needs folic acid every day, whether she’s planning to get pregnant or not, for the healthy new cells the body makes daily. Think about the skin, hair, and nails. These – and other parts of the body – make new cells each day.

How a woman can get enough folic acid- There are two easy ways to be sure to get enough folic acid each day:

1. Take a vitamin that has folic acid in it every day. Most multivitamins sold in the United States have the amount of folic acid women need each day. Women can also choose to take a small pill (supplement) that has only folic acid in it each day. Multivitamins and folic acid pills can be found at most local pharmacy, grocery, or discount stores. Check the label to be sure it contains 100% of the daily value (DV) of folic acid, which is 400 micrograms (mcg).

2. Eat a bowl of breakfast cereal that has 100% of the daily value of folic acid every day. Not every cereal has this amount. Check the label on the side of the box, and look for one that has “100%” next to folic acid.

Fact Sheet  - Download and print this fact sheet.

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5 Ways to Turn Back the Clock (www.prevention.com)

Nighttime is the right time to take years off your face

“Hormonal changes boost blood flow to the skin, brightening it overnight,” says Melvin Elson, MD, a clinical professor of dermatology at Vanderbilt School of Nursing. Skin temps are higher, too, so age-fighting potions seep deeper for better results. And even though you’re resting, your skin is hard at work. Studies show that cell turnover is 8 times faster at night, softening wrinkles.

On the flip side, as anyone who’s pulled an all-nighter can attest, the consequences—pasty-looking skin and dark circles—aren’t pretty. “Even worse, not getting the recommended 8 hours increases levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which may slow collagen production, promoting wrinkles,” says Jyotsna Sahni, MD, a sleep medicine doctor at Canyon Ranch in Tucson. To maximize your beauty sleep, follow this routine nightly to wake up with the complexion of your dreams.

Wake Up to Better Skin
Your complexion works hard to repair itself while you rest. Here’s how to take advantage of this natural healing process.
By Patricia Curtis

1. Keep It Clean

Washing your face plays two important roles: it removes damaging dirt and makes your night cream work harder
Removing makeup, oil, and other impurities helps keep pores tight and skin blemish free. Anti-aging treatments can also penetrate deeper on a clean surface. For dry skin, look for a creamy cleanser; for acne-prone or oily skin, a gel formula. If your skin is sensitive, wait 10 minutes after cleansing before applying anti-agers. (continue reading…)

Below you will find a very valuable tool provided by WebMd.com, that will help you to learn proper food portion sizes. Many of us may find ourselves going out to dinner and having a large plate full of food placed in front of us. Unfortunately, many of us eat the entire serving all in one sitting which makes it hard for our bodies to digest properly. If our portion sizes are too large on a regular basis, we are putting ourselves at risk of having health and weight issues. WebMD has provided printable portion size guidelines for us to have for our wallets when we are away from home and for our refrigerator. These guidelines will help us avoid the common portion-size pitfalls. Knowing our portion sizes will help us to control our weight loss and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Click here for your wallet-sized portion control and size guide. Click here for your fridge-sized portion control and size guide.

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