The latest governmental dietary recommendations suggest that Americans eat up to nine servings of vegetables and fruits daily. And the American Heart Association solidly supports a low-fat, high-veggie diet.
In its 2006 updated report, the American Heart Association states that cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States.
Heart-related diseases accounted for 37.3 percent of all deaths, or one of every 2.7 deaths, in the United States in 2003, the most recent year data were examined.
February, being National Heart Health Month, is a great time to start eating healthy.
Across the board, physicians, dietitians and other health professionals agree that Americans can improve heart health by eating foods that are lower in saturated fats, by exercising and, as dietitian Jennifer James says, by “piling on the greens and beans.”
In particular, it’s the fresh vegetables, fruits and legumes such as beans and lentils that are most beneficial to the body, studies show.
Adding more fruit to the diet, too, is easy, the dietitians say.