This February it’s likely you’ve seen friends and colleagues “Go Red” for women’s heart health or noticed an uptick in news reports about caring for your heart. It’s all part of the mission behind American Heart Month.
Fruits - like fresh berries - are rich in antioxidants that protect your heart.
At Medical Weight Loss Clinic, it’s a part of our mission every single day.
Destiny Kleeman, a medical assistant at our Toledo clinic location, helps patients take extra care of their cardiovascular health. She knows how very important it is.
“Being overweight causes your heart to work overtime to pump blood through your body, which leads to hypertension,” Destiny says. “Losing the weight takes the strain off the heart muscle allowing it to function more efficiently. This will regulate blood pressure and, in some cases, eliminate the need for hypertensive medications.”
Medical Weight Loss Clinic professionals are here to help you find the best path to support cardiovascular health, this American Heart Month and beyond.
The personalized programs at Medical Weight Loss Clinic are designed to help reach each patient where they are and progress toward individualized goals. Professionals like Destiny take into account the different challenges, schedules, food cravings and daily concerns of each patient. Yet, Medical Weight Loss Clinic programs do so much more than help patients reach a smaller number on the scale. Our highly-trained staff members guide them toward a healthier life – heart health included.
“Following a properly balanced diet can help reduce or eliminate risk factors of heart disease by lowering blood pressure, improving cholesterol and lowering blood sugar,” Destiny says.
When it comes to following a heart-healthy diet, she shared two of her favorite foods that are sure to make a big impact: salmon and tuna.
“They are high in Omega-3 Fatty Acids which reduce inflammation, risk of blood clots and lower heart rate and blood pressure,” she says. “This helps pump oxygen-rich blood to the heart.”
Salmon is a super food when it comes to heart health.
But she doesn’t want patients to forget about the benefits of fruits and vegetables.
“Dark, leafy greens like spinach, arugula and mustard greens are full of vitamins, minerals and nitrates that help open blood vessels,” Destiny says. “Fruits and veggies that are rich in Vitamin C – like broccoli, red peppers, strawberries or kiwi – work as antioxidants. They will help slow or prevent atherosclerosis, a buildup of plaque in the arteries from cholesterol.”
While following a healthy and balanced diet is important for everyone, it’s especially important for women. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women here in the United States and, Destiny says. And it can impact women of any age.
“The risk significantly increases after menopause, due to hormonal changes,” she adds.
Adopting a healthy lifestyle will certainly benefit heart health. For those patients who struggle to reach their goals or understand how best to incorporate the right foods, movement and more into their routine – our staff is here to help.
“We offer enhancement products with heart health benefits,” Destiny adds. “Our ThermoPLUS helps lower LDL cholesterol and stimulate blood flow, supporting a stronger heart, arteries and capillaries. Also, Medical Weight Loss Clinic MIC Lipo booster injections contain B-12, a vitamin that decreases the risk of heart disease.”
With access to products, supplements, personalized guidance, easy recipes and custom programs, we’re ready to help better protect your heart. Are you ready to get started? Sign up for a free consultation today at mwlc.com.
