Heart & Stroke Deaths due to Preventable Factors
I had high cholesterol. A bit odd to admit since I am passionate about healthy eating. Familial hypercholesterolemia is a rare (treatable) condition but high cholesterol is quite common.
My specialist asked me to become a vegan. I said no. He asked me to consider being a pescatarian (a vegetarian who eats fish). I said I’d give it a go. Why is this relevant to you? The World Health Organization listed two of the leading risks of heart and stroke disease as: high cholesterol and low intake of vegetables and fruit. [1]
Think about this for a moment. Two of the top three risks of heart and stroke disease in North America are from eating not enough vegetables and too many animal products (saturated fat and cholesterol found in meat and full-fat dairy products).[2] I was horrified by this because eating is completely within your control.
The Standard American Diet (SAD) is too much animal, not enough plant.
Reduce Your Risk
- Start by making a batch of mung bean soup. It is easy to make, delicious, and filling.
- Start some seeds with tips from The Snarky Gardener to grow your own herbs and vegetables this summer.
- Stay tuned for more ideas and suggestions!
Thank you to everyone who replied last week. I was encouraged and up lifted. Will you answer this one question today by clicking reply or posting a comment: what is your biggest concern about eating more vegetables?
References:
[1] http://www.who.int/cardiovascular_diseases/en/cvd_atlas_03_risk_factors.pdf?ua=1
[2] http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/symptoms-causes/dxc-20181874
