American Heart Association Says New Dietary Guidelines Will Help Establish a Healthier Roadmap for Americans

Dallas, TX – The American Heart Association (AHA) applauds the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA) on the release of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

“The new federal dietary guidelines give Americans more flexibility in their diets without sacrificing their health. By providing a valuable source of nutrition information, the standards are part of a roadmap to help build a ‘culture of health’ in America. This healthier culture will help reduce our risk for heart disease and stroke – the two leading causes of death in the world,” said Mark Creager, M.D., president of the American Heart Association.

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New American Heart Association Guidelines recommends Diets high in Fruit, Vegetables, Whole Grains and Nuts among factors to lower first-time Stroke Risk

Dallas, TX – Eating Mediterranean or DASH-style diets, regularly engaging in physical activity and keeping your blood pressure under control can lower your risk of a first-time stroke, according to updated AHA/ASA guideline published in the American Heart Association’s journal Stroke.

“We have a huge opportunity to improve how we prevent new strokes, because risk factors that can be changed or controlled — especially high blood pressure — account for 90 percent of strokes,” said James Meschia, M.D., lead author of the study and professor and chairman of neurology at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.

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American Heart Association says skipping Breakfast may increase Coronary Heart Disease Risk

The timing of meals, whether it’s missing a meal in the morning or eating a meal very late at night, may cause adverse metabolic effects that lead to coronary heart disease.

Dallas, TX – Here’s more evidence why breakfast may be the most important meal of the day: Men who reported that they regularly skipped breakfast had a higher risk of a heart attack or fatal coronary heart disease in a study reported in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.

Researchers analyzed food frequency questionnaire data and tracked health outcomes for 16 years (1992-2008) on 26,902 male health professionals ages 45-82. [Read more]

Tennessee Department of Health says “Get Your Plate In Shape” for Better Health

March is National Nutrition Month®

Nashville, TN – We all know exercise is a great way to get our bodies in shape. But don’t forget about nutrition! The Department of Health urges Tennesseans to “Get Your Plate in Shape” starting this March during National Nutrition Month® by including healthy items from all food groups at each meal. [Read more]