Heart-Smart_Recipes_2016_

6 Heart-Smart Recipes

BEAT

Stay on the cut ing edge of

what scientists know about

keeping your heart in tip-top

shape. With a lit le know-how,

you can reduce your risk of

cardiovascular disease and stop

a potential problem in its tracks.

TARGETING

HEART

HEALTH

heart disease overview

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a powerful

antioxidant that helps support heart

health. Aging and taking statin drugs

(to lower

cholesterol) can

signifi cantly

reduce the body’s

natural levels of

CoQ10. Ask your

doctor before

taking a CoQ

supplement;

it can interact

with some

medications,

including warfarin

(a blood thinner).

You can play

an active role

in controlling

cardiovascular

disease risk by

tracking your

critical health

levels measured

at routine doctor

visits. Here are

recommended

targets.

>>>

TOTAL CHOLESTEROL

<200 mg/dL

HDL CHOLESTEROL

>50 mg/dL (men)

>60 mg/dL (women)

TRIGLYCERIDES

<150 mg/dL

BLOOD PRESSURE

<120/80 mm Hg

BODY MASS INDEX (BMI)

18.5−24.9 kg/m^2

A1C (AVG. BLOOD GLUCOSE)

<5.7%

FASTING BLOOD GLUCOSE

70−100 mg/dL

FEEL

THE

47%

OF AMERICANS

HAVE AT LEAST

ONE OF THE THREE

KEY RISK FACTORS

FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE:

UNCONTROLLED HIGH BLOOD

PRESSURE, UNCONTROLLED HIGH LDL

(BAD) CHOLESTEROL, AND SMOKING.

—National Center for Health Statistics

Heart Helper: CoQ

BY MARSHA MCCULLOCH, M.S., RD

ILLUSTRATIONS BY SARA FRANKLIN