Heart disease is the number one cause of death for people of most ethnicities in the United States, including African Americans, Hispanics, and whites. Every year, about 715,000 Americans have a heart attack, and about 600,000 people die from heart disease in the United States annually. February is American heart month but it isn’t just about the season of love or Valentine’s Day. It is the best time to save and protect your heart from heart disease.

Here are some suggestions to protect your heart:

• Eat  fruits and veggies everyday
• Focus on foods low in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol.
• Eat high fiber food in your diet. It can help prevent high cholesterol.
• Be active and maintain a healthy weight
• Control your blood pressure by limiting salt
• Stop smoke and limit alcohol use
• Walk regularly – each step you take helps your heart become healthier.