Heart disease can catch up to you if you don't watch what you eat
By Leslie Beck, RD
(NC)-Cardiovascular disease accounts for more deaths than any other disease in Canada. According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, someone dies every seven minutes from heart disease or stroke in this country. If that isn't scary enough, major risk factors for the disease can strike anyone at any age.

And it seems they are. It's estimated that 80 per cent of Canadians have at least one risk factor for heart disease or stroke - risk factors that can be prevented or controlled with proper diet and exercise. Elevated LDL (bad) cholesterol, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes are also increasingly showing up in children and teenagers.

Many of us know that we should be eating less foods with saturated and trans fats, and that we should cut back on sodium to help maintain a healthy blood pressure. But there are a number of foods that you also need to add to your diet to protect your heart:

. Whole grains - diets rich in whole grains may reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke and may even delay the build-up of fatty deposits in arteries.

.Monounsaturated fats -olive oil, canola oil, peanut oil, almonds and avocados.

. Omega 3s - salmon, trout, sardines, herring, and fish oil supplements.

. Nuts and legumes - nuts, lentils, and beans can help lower blood pressure and keep blood sugar levels in check.

An excellent way to add whole grains to a heart healthy diet is new Dempster's Healthy Way with ProCardio Recipe - the first ever heart-smart bread that's 100 per cent whole grain, a good source of cholesterol-lowering soluble fibre, and low in sodium.

A healthy diet is our best defence in the fight against disease. And when it comes to heart disease, it's never too late - or too soon - to start making heart smart food choices.

Leslie Beck is a Toronto-based dietitian at the Medcan Clinic and author of the new best selling book Heart Healthy Foods for Life: Preventing Heart Disease through Diet and Nutrition.

- News Canada