For a healthy heart, up your fiber intake
Quinoa is a grain high in fiber. Credit: Quinoa is a grain high in fiber.
February is American Heart Health month, and because heart disease is the leading cause of death among American men and women, claiming more than 600,000 lives annually according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, paying attention to your heart and cardiovascular system is crucial.
One way that you can stay on top of your heart health is by increasing your fiber intake. Fiber helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels in addition to aiding digestion and weight-loss.
"Fiber helps control blood sugar, especially people with diabetes. It helps lower cholesterol," said Keri Glassman, a nutritionist and author with a practice in Manhattan.
Glassman, who is also a spokeswoman for the fiber supplement Konsyl, said that on average, women need 21-25 grams of fiber per day and men need 35-38 grams.
Dr. Felicia Stoler is an NYC-based dietitian and exercise physiologist. She agrees that increasing your fiber intake is one way to keep your cholesterol at a normal level. Stoler says for the most part, being in control of what - and how much - you eat, is all you need.
"We Americans don't appreciate moderation," she said. "Sometimes with heart disease, we take for granted you might be healthy today, but foods you eat now might harm you [in] 20 years."
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