The Heart of Health

This Sunday is World Heart Day!

World Heart Day was founded by the World Heart Federation in 1999 to raise public awareness of cardiovascular disease. This annual observance and celebration held on September 29th is a time for survivors to share their stories, and a chance for people all around the world to commit to improving their heart health.

Exercising frequently, cutting down on alcohol consumption, and avoiding tobacco are all positive ways to improve your cardiovascular health. This year for World Heart Day, Wylie ER is getting to the heart of health by focusing on the risk factors and importance of diet.

Red Meat and Heart Health

It’s no secret that Americans love their red meat. After all, a juicy hamburger is a staple of American cuisine. But you might be surprised just how much red meat affects your heart.

In 2018, the European Heart Journal published a study conducted by a research team at the Cleveland Clinic about the effects of red meat on the heart. The team investigated the dietary byproduct Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a chemical derived from nutrients found in red meat that is known to contribute to heart disease. In this clinical trial, 113 healthy men and women were given three diets at random to follow for a month. All their meals were cooked for them and consisted of either 25 percent red meat, white meat, or non-meat protein sources.

After one month on this diet, the TMAO levels of the participants on the red meat diet were triple that of the participants on the white meat or non-meat diet. However, when the participants quit the red meat diet and consumed white meat or non-meat protein sources in its place for a month, their TMAO levels significantly decreased. This conclusion is promising, as it shows how drastically you can improve your TMAO levels and overall heart health by making minor changes or substitutions in your diet.

So, save the red meat for a special occasion and opt for other protein sources as much as possible to support a healthy heart.

Heart-Check your foods

An easy way to ensure you’re ordering and purchasing heart-healthy foods is to look for Heart-Check’s mark of approval.

Heart-Check has been a trustworthy organization since 1995, identifying heart-healthy foods by adding their signature Heart-Check mark. When you’re dining out or shopping at the grocery store, look for the American Heart Association’s name and a red heart with a white check mark on the menu or package.

This mark indicates the AHA has approved the food or meal for meeting nutrition standards that support a healthy-heart diet. In a study conducted in 2015, people who reported eating foods that met the Heart-Check requirements had less of a risk for heart disease.

Small changes in your diet can have a powerful positive effect on your long-term health and wellness. Clean up your diet by incorporating these Heart-Check certified recipes into your meal plan:

• Farmers Market Omelets
• Whole-Wheat Walnut Pancakes
• Overnight Oats
• Shrimp and Avocado Pasta Salad
• Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
• Grilled Jerk Chicken Sandwich
• Stuffed Quinoa Peppers
• Grilled Pork & Lemon Veggies
• Zucchini Noodles

Make the pledge this Sunday to keep your most important organ in tip-top shape!

And in the case of a medical emergency, Wylie ER’s highly trained staff of doctors and nurses are ready to assist you 24/7. With premier equipment and concierge-level care, you can count on Wylie ER.

Disclaimer: As a service to our readers, Wylie ER and Nutex Health state no content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinicians.

Nutex Health, Inc supports you and your family’s health. You can depend on Wylie ER or any one of our concierge-level, medical facilities to deliver the emergency care you deserve, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.