The Expert: Sylvia Klinger, spokesperson for Love One Today®
Registered Dietitian | M.S., R.D.N., L.D.N., C.P.T.
Q: There are lots of scary headlines about heart disease, especially about the high incidence amongst Hispanics. Is there really anything I can do about my risk?
Sylvia: The high rate of heart disease among U.S. Hispanics is linked to the high rate of high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, obesity, lack of physical activity, smoking and diabetes in our community. The good news is that you can prevent or control most of these risk factors with education and changes in lifestyle – which includes eating better.
Q: How can I eat better for my heart’s health?
Sylvia: A heart-healthy meal should include plenty of fruits and vegetables, healthy fats and less processed foods. Fresh avocados fit perfectly into this meal plan, and are considered a heart-healthy fruit. They contain naturally good fats, and replacing bad fats for good fats in your diet can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Plus, avocados are cholesterol- and sodium-free and a good source of fiber – all good reasons why I recommend eating fresh avocados to promote heart health.
Q: Avocados are fatty? I am trying to avoid fats!
Sylvia: Fats are actually essential to our bodies—they are a major source of energy and help our bodies absorb nutrients from the foods we eat. However, not all sources of fat are the same so it’s important to learn the differences and factor this in when planning your shopping list. The key is to limit foods that contain bad fats (such as full-fat dairy products, processed meats and pastries) and shift to foods that contain predominantly good fats like fresh avocados, peanut butter, nuts/seeds and plant oils.
Q: My husband’s struggle with high cholesterol and high blood pressure puts him at risk for cardiovascular disease, but our family has a hard time sticking to strict diets. How can I create a heart-healthy diet that we will enjoy and keep?
Sylvia: Changing eating patterns can be tough. One way to start is simply adding one more cup of colorful fruits and vegetables to your daily diet. Did you know that the American Heart Association estimates that if Americans ate the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables every day, nearly 40,000 deaths would be prevented each year from cardiovascular diseases, stroke and diabetes? Check out our new collection of heart-healthy recipes for ideas on how to easily add fresh avocado to your menus – your whole family will thank you!
The Expert: Sylvia Klinger, spokesperson for Love One Today®
Registered Dietitian | M.S., R.D.N., L.D.N., C.P.T.
Award-winning author and global nutrition entrepreneur founder of Hispanic Food Communications, a nutrition communications and culinary consulting company. She is relentlessly passionate about helping people fall in love with the process of creating and enjoying delicious but most importantly, nutritious foods.
