The American Heart Association celebrates Eat Smart Month in November
ROBBINSVILLE Healthy for the holidays? Yes, it’s possible and more important than ever during this indulgent season. Join the American Heart Association in celebrating Eat Smart Day on Nov. 1 and Eat Smart Month the rest of November as first steps in winning the winter months and being Healthy For Good.TM
During the holidays, many people help themselves to an extra side here and there, which adds up. Many count on New Year’s resolutions to balance the scale, but studies show half of that gain sticks around at least until summer. Being healthy over the holidays doesn’t necessarily mean ditching your favorite meal. Look for ingredient substitutions and add color with seasonal fruits and vegetables like apples, pears, pumpkin and broccoli.
“The holiday season is a time for celebration, but that doesn’t mean we need to overindulge,” said Mandy Unanski Enright, MS, RDN, RYT, volunteer for the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association and media representative for the New Jersey Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “Instead of reaching for foods filled with fats, sugar and sodium, choose healthier options that are good for your heart. Eat Smart month is a great time to learn more about making heart-healthy decisions.”
November is also recognized as National Family Caregivers Month and National Diabetes Awareness Month. The American Heart Association encourages everyone to eat smarter, but those with chronic health conditions, like diabetes, and those caring for a loved one should be extra mindful to eat healthy.
According to the American Stroke Association, there are an estimated 2.2 million stroke family caregivers in the U.S. and millions of other family caregivers who are caring for a loved one with a chronic disease. It is important to recognize that family caregivers not only help their loved one, but also need to find time for self-care. This includes eating smart, as well as exercising and taking time to relieve stress. The American Heart Association Support Network is a good place to connect with others going through a similar journey.
“Caregivers should take extra steps to eat mindfully and take care of themselves,” continued Enright. “We also encourage those living with chronic health conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, to choose healthier options, especially during the holiday season when temptations abound.”
Diabetes can affect many major organs in your body, which can lead to an array of serious complications if left untreated. In fact, the American Heart Association considers diabetes to be one of the seven major controllable risk factors for cardiovascular disease and estimates that adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to die from heart disease than adults without diabetes.
New Jerseyans can celebrate Eat Smart Month this November with the American Heart Association’s Healthy For Good movement which offers mindful eating tips, tools and information to help you stay prepared and motivated as we approach the holidays. Join the American Heart Association and companies, schools and organizations throughout New Jersey by kicking off the month on Eat Smart Day, Wednesday, Nov. 1.
To learn more about Eating Smart and living Healthy For Good, visit www.heart.org/healthyforgood. To request a FREE Eat Smart Day toolkit, email rosie.kelly@heart.org or call 609.233.3781.
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
About the American Stroke Association
The American Stroke Association is devoted to saving people from stroke – the No. 2 cause of death in the world and a leading cause of serious disability. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat stroke. The Dallas-based association officially launched in 1998 as a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-888-4STROKE or visit StrokeAssociation.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association receives funding mostly from individuals. Foundations and corporations donate as well, and fund specific programs and events. Strict policies are enforced to prevent these relationships from influencing the Association’s science content. Financial information for the American Heart Association, including a list of contributions from pharmaceutical companies and device manufacturers, is available at http://www.heart.org/corporatefunding.
For Public Inquiries: (800) AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and strokeassociation.org
