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The number one cause of death among Americans is heart disease. The American Heart Association recently published seven lifestyle changes that we can make to improve our cardiovascular health. Even small changes can put you on the path to a healthier lifestyle. Known as “Life’s Simple 7,” the AHA recommends making the following changes in your life to improve heart health:
 

Life’s Simple 7

1. Don’t smoke
2. Maintain a healthy weight
3. Engage in regular physical activity
4. Control blood pressure
5. Manage cholesterol
6. Keep blood sugar (glucose) at healthy levels
7. Eat a healthy diet

A Healthy Diet Goes a Long Way

Number seven is where Pita Jungle can help. Our menu items are prepared with a healthy balance of lean proteins, fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains and healthy fats, such as olive oil, to provide the nutrition your body needs to lower your risk of heart disease. Sadly, people who develop heart disease tend to have one thing in common: A poor diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol and lacking in fresh fruits and vegetables. Whether you are dining out or cooking at home, making small changes in your diet can go a long way to preventing heart disease.
 

Tips for Improving Heart Health

Follow the tips below to help improve the health of your heart:

• Reduce your meat intake: Animal products are high in saturated fat, so reducing your meat intake can help improve overall heart health. Begin by replacing one meat-based meal per week with a plant-based one.
• Replace red meat for other lean protein: Red meat is high in saturated fat, so substituting chicken or fish can protect against heart disease. At the very least, you should reduce your portion sizes of red meat.
• Count the fat grams in your food: Read labels on all packaged food and avoid those products with more than two grams of saturated fat per serving or more than one gram of trans fat per 100 calories.
• Eat more fresh fruits, vegetables and plant-based foods: Plant-based foods contain the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber your body needs to keep your blood pressure low and prevent damage to your arteries.
• Watch your weight: Maintaining a healthy weight is essential to ensuring optimal heart health. A recent study in Denmark revealed that for each four-point increase in BMI (body mass index), there was a 26 percent increase in the risk of heart disease. Thus, an obese person with a BMI of 32 is 52 percent more likely to develop heart disease, than a person with a healthy BMI of 24.

Pita Jungle’s Healthy Menu

At Pita Jungle, we are doing our part to prevent heart disease and promote a healthy diet and lifestyle by offering heart-healthy dishes at affordable prices. We have developed an extensive menu of healthy Mediterranean, Greek and Lebanese dishes that will help to keep your heart strong and healthy while keeping you on the path to a healthier lifestyle.

Visit a Pita Jungle location near you and discover “The Art of Eating Healthy®”.