Have you been told by a doctor that you need to pay more attention to or take better care of your heart? Have you ever wondered just “how” it is that you are supposed to manage a care plan for your heart, when you have little to no access to your doctor outside of an appointment once a year? The Gahanna, OH weight loss doctor in-house at your local Options Medical Weight Loss is capable of helping you with some of the bigger overall ideas relating to a healthy weight, and heart health.
In order to illustrate how a weight loss doctor can help, we decided today was a great opportunity to present some basic healthy lifestyle ideas. Take a look at what our Gahanna, OH weight loss doctor has to say, and please let us know what you think.
A Healthy Diet And A Healthy Weight
The first step in a the journey toward a healthier lifestyle is an improved diet. Here are some guidelines to help you make smart changes to your eating, even before you meet with our Gahanna, OH weight loss doctor:
- The calories you ingest count
The weight loss doctor in our Gahanna, OH weight loss clinic will explain that being overweight is one of the primary risk factors for heart disease, so be sure your calorie intake is appropriate to achieve or maintain a healthy weight.
- Eat plenty of fiber
For potential weight loss patients, it is important to understand that a high fiber diet will help you control your appetite, until you can meet with us in-house to be evaluated for the appropriate weight loss program. Daily fiber can also help you maintain healthy cholesterol levels.
- Eat fruits and vegetables
The addition of fruits and vegetables to your pre-weight loss program diet can help you suppress your appetite. They are also a good source of antioxidant nutrients that help protect your heart.
- Emphasize healthy fats.
A weight loss diet does not necessarily need to be a diet with no fats. A diet which includes monounsaturated fats can help lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and other risk factors. Monounsaturated fats are olive oil, avocadoes, and nuts such as almonds.
- Watch your sodium
Diets high in sodium can lead to high blood pressure and increased water retention. The dietary guidelines for Americans from the USDA recommends limiting your sodium intake to 2300mg per day, but most Americans eat about twice that much. Those with high blood pressure are advised to reduce sodium to 1500mg a day.
- Limit your intake of candy and refined carbohydrates
Your Gahanna, OH weight loss doctor will explain that foods that are high in sugar and refined carbohydrates, this includes many low-fat foods, can create sharp spikes in blood sugar and ultimately increase your risk of both heart disease and diabetes. Choose whole grain foods whenever possible and consume sweets occasionally or not at all. For a naturally sweet treat, enjoy fresh fruit.
To learn more about living a healthy lifestyle and understanding food, contact us today and get a consultation set up. We would be happy to hear about your goals, as well as answer any questions you may have about our different diet programs.