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Today’s tip comes from Healthy Monday.

Eat Right and Eat Well after National Nutritional Month!

Did you know heart disease is the number one cause of death for both men and women in the U.S.? And that about 2/3 of Americans are now overweight or obese? President Obama is constantly citing the healthcare burden facing our nation: the U.S. spends about $2.4 trillion on healthcare each year and 75% of that goes towards treatment of chronic diseases, many of which are preventable. A healthy diet and lifestyle is the best approach to preventing chronic diseases. As we near the end of National Nutrition Month, we should remember to continue to stay smart about nutrition, and therefore our health. Luckily, the American Heart Association has many tools and resources available all year long to help you stay on top of your nutritional game.

Among these resources is an entire campaign dedicated to fats. Indeed, fats are an important part of our diet, but they can be problematic: saturated and trans fats, found in animal products and fried foods, raise LDL cholesterol levels which increase your risk of heart disease. Also, all fats have a high caloric value – 9 calories per gram compared to 4 calories per gram for proteins and carbohydrates. The Face the Fats campaign educates consumers about different types of fats in the foods we eat, and their corresponding dietary value. Central to this campaign is a cartoon family of Fats: the bad fats brothers, Sat and Trans, and the better fats sisters, Poly and Mon. Watch the Fats here and learn why Sat and Trans will ‘break your heart’, while Poly and Mon can actually help your heart by reducing risk of heart disease.

Also, see their guides to live fat sensibly and start choosing healthier options while eating in or eating out. And, use the fats translator, a personal dietary guide, to get information on daily calorie intake, fat limits, and food recommendations that will help you make the switch to a healthier diet.

The nutritional info does not stop there – the heart association offers a ton of healthy recipes as well as a healthy lifestyle guide to help you eat right, exercise, and manage your weight.