Obesity is a significant risk factor in heart disease for men, however, according to an eight-year study, women who are even mildly overweight dramatically increase their risk of heart attack when compared to men. Based on current statistics, 38 million women are overweight. According to an eight-year study, women who are even mildly overweight dramatically increase their risk of heart attack when compared to men.
During the holiday season it is important to understand that our stomachs are only as big as our fist. You are probably wondering how I know this tidbit of information, and it comes from attending several autopsies, while I was an EMT-D. As you eat your stomach will expand to approximately the size of your open hand. Wow! In comparison, think about the size of your fist; now picture what you would normally eat on a dinner plate. As you can see you are probably overeating when you compare your fist to the amount of food on your dinner plate. The key is to reduce your portion size and eat often.
I understand this is a touchy subject but if you are a heart patient (and those who don’t want to become heart patients) must eat small meals because the physical stress of a large meal is not good for the heart. Use a salad or desert plate—rather than the generous sized dinner plate—to promote healthier, smaller portions. My husband’s answer to that advice is to pile the food higher on the small plate and go back for thirds. That’s cheating, as I like to share with my patients’ families.
Many cardiac patients tell me how hard it is to lose weight. I make weekly calls to those who are reducing because they need a support system. I coach their spouses, too. We all go together to the grocery to learn different ways of shopping for food, of course, I am doing this virtually due to my location in Norway.
Did you know that the best food for us is placed along the walls of the stores? There we’ll find the most important food groups and the freshest foods. The center aisles have the most dangerous food because it’s processed and contains additives that the human body just wasn’t made to digest and use day after day. The body doesn’t recognize it as food! If the product is in a package, box, bottle, or can, it most likely isn’t healthy—especially when compared to fresh foods.
Eat smart and enjoy the holidays. If you have any tips please feel free to comment, I would love to hear from you. Let me know if you found this information helpful.
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