Stay Heart-Healthy!

In order to reduce the risk of heart disease, it is important to consume a diet with vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid.  To help manage the risk of heart disease:

• Eat a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables - particularly, dark green leafy vegetables.

• Use whole grains such as brown rice, whole-wheat pasta, whole grain cereals, oatmeal and barley instead of refined white flour.

• Try to eat dried beans and peas every day, including split peas, lentils, kidney beans and black beans.

The following is a list of heart-healthy sources of Vitamin B6: baked potato, watermelon, banana, tuna in water, navy beans, spinach, bok choy, avocado, soybeans, trout, turnip greens, turkey, wheat germ, cantaloupe and fortified cereals.

Vitamin B12 is found only in animal products. Lean choices of meat, poultry and fish are good sources.  For vegetarians, fortified soymilk and some fortified cereals are available. Most multiple vitamins contain 100% of the daily-recommended intake of B12.

Folate or Folic acid is found in the following foods: wheat germ, black-eyed peas, parsley, spinach, beans and lentils, beets, broccoli, romaine, htmaragus, orange juice, cauliflower, winter squash and lima beans.

For more information about Heart Health Month or answers to nutrition-related questions, please call MSUE's Eileen Haraminac, Nutrition Educator, at 586-469-6432.