I know the holidays can be difficult for many people especially those attempting to be health conscious. Did you know that the ER has a spike of heart attack patients during the holidays? According to a national Circulation study published in 2004, heart-related deaths increase by 5 percent during the holiday season. Fatal heart attacks peak on Christmas, the day after Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Why is that you ask? Well, during the holidays we drastically increase our consumption of fat and salt which slows down the circulation of blood to the heart. Check out this informative video here from NutritionFacts.org one of my favorite websites for REAL nutrition information.
Apparently, chest pain also known as agina, occurring after a meal in patients with known heart disease has been a phenomenon studied since the 1950s. What is happening is the blood actually becomes thick and slows about 4-5 hours after a high fat meal. Individuals who already have heart disease and less than optimal blood flowing to the heart already are at the greatest risk. The lower blood flow can be just enough to send the person into cardiac arrest. According to the CDC “coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease, killing over 370,000 people annually. Every year about 735,000 Americans have a heart attack. Of these, 525,000 are a first heart attack and 210,000 happen in people who have already had a heart attack.” That is equivalent to one heart attack every 42 seconds! Heart disease is the number one killer of American men and women with over 600,000 deaths annually.
However, there is hope and heart disease can be halted and many times reversed with a change in diet and lifestyle choices. If you know anything about me you know how I love to share the power of a whole foods plant based diet in changing live radically. Such a simple concept that can save your life and those you love. So this holiday season check out some alternatives that will heal your body and taste delicious. Here are some of my favorite plant-based holiday recipes. Share with me yours too! (Healthy and plants of course! 🙂 )
https://happyherbivore.com/2014/10/plant-based-vegan-thanksgiving-recipes-preparation/
http://www.forksoverknives.com/recipes/thanksgiving-menu-2016/
http://minimalistbaker.com/63-simple-thanksgiving-recipes/
http://ohsheglows.com/categories/recipes-2/holiday/holiday-thanksgiving/
May your holidays be blessed beyond measure! Safe travels and happy eating.
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