Adopting a heart-healthy diet is crucial in maintaining a healthy heart and preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD).
The importance of this has been reiterated against the backdrop of World Heart Day, commemorated on Sunday, 29 September. This was Heart Awareness Month.
According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA (HSFSA), awareness is essential to impact the health decisions of current and future generations.
The foundation revealed that in South Africa 215 people die daily due to heart disease or stroke; further flagging high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, as a major risk factor for heart disease – affecting more than 45% of adults in the country.
In support of adopting a heart-healthy practice, the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) has released practical guidelines and steps to follow. These include eating more vegetables, fresh fruits, fish, nuts and low-fat dairy products, and eating less red meat or reducing one’s salt intake. Less than one teaspoon of salt per day is recommended, as well as limiting one’s sugar intake to maintain a healthy weight.
“Our actions will determine whether we can turn the tide of heart disease in South Africa, where heart disease, stroke and hypertension remain prevalent,” said Ryan Snodgrass, CVD product manager for Pharma Dynamics, highlighting a need to maximise prevention and treatment.
