WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) - The American Heart Association held its annual "National Wear Red Day" on Friday to raise awareness about the number one killer in women: heart disease.
The campaign targets women, who often under estimate the danger heart disease poses to them. Cardiovascular illness, including heart attacks and stroke, will take the life of one in three women each year. Although ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease, the good news is that many of these can be prevented or reversed.
For the first time, the American Heart Association has defined what it means to have ideal cardiovascular health. They have identified seven health and behavior factors to help women live healthier and longer.
- Don't smoke
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Engage in regular physical activity
- Eat a healthy diet
- Take charge of cholestrol
- Keep blood sugar, or glucose at healthy levels
Chef Dave Willard ,the Director of Culinary Services with Sodexo Health Care, shared with 9 NEWS NOW's Anita Brikman some key basics when it comes to healthy food substitutions. He said, "The important thing is, you want to take away the salt and you want to take away the fat. But you don't want to take away the flavor. So we want to add things back in to replace those taken out."
Chef Willard demonstrated how to do that with heart healthy recipes for clam chowder, hummus, and cupcakes.