Health Choices

Because of the pattern of eating and lifestyle of millions of Americans ninety percent have at least one risk factor for heart disease. Nearly all Americans have at least one risk factor such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, being obese, or working out too little.

Since the 1990s Americans have continued to pack on the pounds. As a result more people are getting heart disease and diabetes. Thousands of Americans between the ages of 25 and 74 participated in the study. The outcome showed that only one-tenth of Americans had low risk scores in all five categories. These results are extremely valuable because the No. 1 killer in the U.S. and many other countries is heart disease.

It appears that this isn’t just a crisis for Americans. Obesity rates are also climbing in many other parts of the world. And this is causing diabetes, high blood pressure, and Body Mass Index (BMI) to rise in the wrong direction. Although it seems like every person is on a diet and trying to eat healthier but there hasn’t been much of a a change.

Nevertheless, now more than ever people are either exercising, getting surgical procedures, or going on far fetched diets to discard those pounds. Despite these efforts, the waistlines don’t seem to be decreasing but slowly growing.

There are so many temptations when it comes to the world of cuisine. Especially, since we live in such a busy world. We are on the run 24/7 and sometimes the only thing we can get to eat is a fast food combo meal that has as many calories crammed into one greasy sack as we should eat all day. Plus there are always those little munchies and soft drinks that creep past our lips.

It actually is true “what you consume in private shows in public.” What makes this even more difficult is that it’s so easy and cheap to buy the high in calories food that tastes good but it’s expensive and time consuming to cook your own meals, although this radically cuts down on your daily fat intake. Here are 5 straightforward ways to cut down, trim your waistline, and stay healthy.

1. Drink Water
Drink no less than 64 ounces of water. Water helps clean out your system, keeps your body hydrated, and also helps you manage you’re eating.

2. Eat Fat Burning Foods
When you’re snacking have healthy foods. Sample fat burning foods like almonds, grapefruits, oranges, and berries. As well as vegetables are generally pretty filling, have very little fat, and put you on the path to healthy eating.

3. Take Extra Steps
Do exercises when you can. You don’t have to spend hours at the sports club. Try parking further away from the building, walking to get lunch, or even exercising on your lunchtime break. A few extra steps you take will end up saving you calories.

4. Record What You Eat
By recording what you eat, you are going to eat a smaller amount. It is a proven fact that if you write down all the stuff you eat, you will eat less. Because when you see what you have consumed in writing, it’s easy to add up the calories, make some changes, and know when to stop eating.

5. Chop out the Soda
I myself am a huge sodaholic but if you can make some small adjustments you are bound to see results. Just by altering to a diet version of Pepsi, Cola, Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper or others will cut out a lot of calories. Also if you cut out soda totally, you can lose 15 pounds. It may be difficult, but you will see results.

Ninety percent of Americans have at least one factor leading to heart disease. Even though the figures aren’t good there are steps that Americans can take to become healthier. These 5 tips can help you get rid of weight and lower your risk factors for heart disease.

Diane Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Utah. She likes to write about the news, politics, college degrees, education online, and the college experience