February is Heart Health Month.  With Valentine’s Day approaching, we have “hearts” on our minds; remember to focus on cardiovascular health too.

More than 41 million women in American women have heart disease.  In fact, it’s the leading health problem that kills women (not cancer — a common myth).  But the good news is that just five lifestyle guidelines can cut heart attack risk by a whopping 92%, according to a Swedish study of more than 24,000 women.

 Top Five Lifestyle Guidelines:

• Moderate Alcohol
• A Healthy Diet
• Daily Exercise
• Normal Body Weight
• Not Smoking

 These five guidelines are not new and most of us probably think about exercising daily and eating healthy, but how many of us actually do it?  Start by setting goals, making them reasonable and measureable.  Small steps can make a big difference.

As we think about Valentine’s Day, think about ways to make your heart healthier too.  Focus on RED fruits and vegetables; they have a lot of nutrition and vitamins.  Serve a fruit salad with raspberries, red grapes, strawberries, and cherries.  Add red pepper to a salad.  Drink RED wine in moderation; it has resveratrol, an antioxidant, which may protect the heart.  Eat dried cranberries or add them to salads.  And, my personal favorite, make dark chocolate covered strawberries for your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day.

 For more tips on a heart healthy Valentine’s Day, watch here:

Dietetics instructor shares great ways to be sweet to your loved ones while protecting their heart: http://t.co/icEtz0dY