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Heart-healthy diet: 8 steps to prevent heart disease
6. Reduce the sodium in your food
Content
1. Control your portion size
2. Eat more vegetables and fruits
3. Select whole grains
4. Limit unhealthy fats
5. Choose low-fat protein sources
6. Reduce the salt (sodium) in your food
7. Plan ahead: Create daily menus
8. Allow yourself an occasional treat
2. Eat more vegetables and fruits
Vegetables and fruits are good sources of vitamins and minerals. Vegetables and fruits are also low in calories and rich in dietary fiber. Vegetables and fruits, like other plants or plant-based foods, contain substances that may help prevent cardiovascular disease. Eating more fruits and vegetables may help you cut back on higher calorie foods, such as meat, cheese and snack foods.
Featuring vegetables and fruits in your diet can be easy. Keep vegetables washed and cut in your refrigerator for quick snacks. Keep fruit in a bowl in your kitchen so that you'll remember to eat it. Choose recipes that have vegetables or fruits as the main ingredients, such as vegetable stir-fry or fresh fruit mixed into salads.
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