5 tips for a healthier heart

How fitting that February is National Heart Healthy Month.  This Valentine's Day, take a serious look at your habits.  Are they really that heart healthy?  Below are 5 tips to prevent heart disease:1.  Get up- especially if you have a desk job.  Studies show that women with sedentary jobs (or sedentary lifestyles) that sit for long periods of time during the day have higher risk of death than those that get up and move throughout the day. Even those that exercise regularly, but sit most of the day were at risk.  Make a point to get up for at least 5 minutes every hour during your work day.2. Enjoy coffee.  Studies find that coffee drinkers have lower rates of heart disease than non-drinkers, especially as they age.  Why?  Coffee is a good source of anti-oxidants, which may be cardio-protective.  Moderate drinkers (2 cups/day) have been found to have lower rates of heart failure as well.3. Eat your oatmeal.  Oatmeal is a great source of soluble fiber, the type that helps lower cholesterol.  In addition, breakfast eaters that have oatmeal VS sweetened cereal have less appetite at their next meal.  Go for non-processed whole oats such as steel cut, old fashioned, slow cooking types.  The instant, sweetened types have at least 3 tsp. sugar per serving.  Pass.4.  Go nuts.  Almonds aren't the only nut to eat to lower risk of heart disease.  Most nuts are high in mono-unsaturated fat, which lowers LDL ("lousy") cholesterol.  The key is serving size.  Keep in mind that a 1/4 cup of nuts packs about 170 calories to your daily intake.  Look for unsalted or lightly salted varieties to limit sodium.5.  Eat more fish. It's not just salmon that helps your ticker.  Science indicates that having two (3-4 oz) servings of fish per week lowers heart disease risk.  Be sure to fix it in a clean manner (baked, broiled, grilled) VS breaded and fried.  And don't discount tuna!  Tuna fish made with light mayo also counts as a fish serving.