Life's Simple 7

“If you’re trying to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, fruits and vegetables can help fill you up. It’s almost impossible to overeat fruits and vegetables,” said Rachel Johnson, Ph.D., R.D.

Dinner is not the only meal you may eat away from home. These tips can help you choose healthier breakfasts and prepared take-out foods.

Although dietary guidelines around the world have included whole grains as an essential component of healthy eating patterns, people aren’t eating enough, according to the analysis. In the United States, average consumption remains below one serving a day, despite the long-time recommendation of three servings a day.

Pregnant women who experience persistent blood pressure elevations in the upper ranges of normal may be at high risk of developing metabolic syndrome and increased cardiovascular risk after giving birth, according to research published in the American Heart Association’s journal Hypertension.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form, accounting for up to 95 percent of diagnosed cases in adults. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of death among adults with diabetes.

Patients who experience high cholesterol due to an inherited genetic disorder from one of their parents are much more likely than those with average cholesterol levels to have diseases caused by hardening of the arteries, including an accelerated onset of coronary heart disease by up to 30 years.

High blood pressure (HBP) has many consequences. For instance, it is the second-leading cause of kidney failure. The kidneys and the circulatory system depend on each other for good health.

Dancing is a great way to improve physical fitness, develop social skills and create relationships that improve mental health. The benefits offered by dancing depend on the form you choose.

There are plenty of seasonings out there to bring out the best in what you’re eating without reaching for the salt shaker. Here is a list of foods along with seasonings that complement them. Give them a try!

Eating out doesn’t have to be a health dilemma. Many restaurants offer tasty meals that are low in saturated fat, trans fat, sodium and added sugars.

Everybody needs a break — kids as much as anybody. Recess time has been championed as a way to help combat the nation’s childhood obesity problem. In fact, research shows it helps them learn better in school.

The AHA guidelines currently recommend a systolic pressure of less than 140 millimeters of mercury for most adults with high blood pressure. But doctors say new findings presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2015 support a steeper goal of 120.

When you do occasionally indulge, there are things you can do to reduce the amount of saturated fat from the meat you eat.

Today’s children are more involved with screens than any previous generation, and many schools have eliminated recess and physical education. Getting kids away from their screens and moving their bodies can be challenging.

In a study presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2015, researchers reported that multiple short bursts of high-intensity exercise did more to improve some risk factors for some patients newly-diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes than did 30 minutes of sustained, lower-intensity exercise.

Many people have high blood pressure (HBP) for years without knowing it. Generally, there are no symptoms, but when HBP goes untreated, it damages arteries and vital organs throughout your body. That’s why it is often called the “silent killer.”

Many people who do not have conditions that make them sensitive or allergic to gluten are trying to eat gluten-free because they believe it will help them lose weight or give them energy. But will it?