We think of February for Valentines day and a short 28 day month. But February is Heart Health Month. Theheartfoundation.org states:  Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Every year, 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease. The good news? Heart disease can often be prevented when people make healthy choices and manage their health conditions. Communities, health professionals, and families can work together to create opportunities for people to make healthier choices. Make a difference in your community: Spread the word about strategies for preventing heart disease and encourage people to live heart healthy lives.

We at John Henry’s echo that cause. We exist to help people make healthy choices and make a difference in our community. Heart health has become a huge issue to me in the last few years. I had concerns for my dad when he had his first heart attack. But it became real when my cousins wife suddenly died at age 40 of a sudden heart attack. It’s sad that many of the symptoms we did not know, may have prevented her death. And I have come to realize that the symptoms are different for males than it is for females.

For Men it is mostly:

1. Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.

2. Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

3. Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.

4. Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

For Women:

1. Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.

2. Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

3. Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.

4. Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

5. As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.

6. Most women feel they have acid reflux or the flu.

I had experience with my dad having two heart attacks in his 70’s and with quick response and proper care he was ok. Shortly after my cousins wife died, my brother turned 40 and he had his first heart attack. Again, knowing the symptoms he was treated and is ok. He is 47 now and has had 4 episodes that he went in right away, procedures were done and he is “fine” now. About a year and a half ago, my first cousin (male) at the age of 40, died suddenly with a heart attack and this summer we buried another first cousin (female) at 52 with a heart aneurysm.

So I want to share with you what I have learned to help you make Heart Healthy Choices.  While your dinner plate should include a variety of fruits and vegetables, fish and poultry add delicious flavor and can provide lean protein, zinc, iron and B vitamins. Protein may help people feel full and satisfied until the next meal. Protein is essential for building muscle and keeping strong – especially as a person ages. The American Heart Association recommends eating skinless poultry and fish cooked using healthier methods. If you choose to eat red meat, select the leanest cuts available.

Poultry

Healthiest choices are:

* Skinless chicken and skinless turkey with visible fat removed

* Lean ground turkey or chicken

* Some ground turkey can add saturated fat to your diet. Choose at least 90% or 95% lean.- John Henry’s is    breast and thigh meat- no fillers.

* Wild game can be lower in fat than animals raised for market.

Budget Tips:
* Buy chicken or turkey parts with skin-on or bone-in, which tend to be    less expensive. Just remove the skin and all visible fat before cooking.

* Even better, buy an entire chicken or turkey and cut apart the pieces yourself. Choose birds that have not been injected with anything.- (Our Poultry is free range and has never been fed Soy, GMOs or antibiotics in their feed, their special diet and active life makes them very lean.)

Pork & Beef

If you choose to eat red meat, select the leanest cuts available (Our grass fed & finished cuts are great options.)

A portion of meat should be 3 ounces cooked (4 ounces uncooked). This is about the size of the palm of your hand or a deck of cards.

Instead of frying, prepare lean meats by baking, broiling, roasting or stir-frying.

Healthiest choices are:

* Beef and pork labeled “loin” and “round” – they usually have the least fat.

* For hamburgers or meatloaf, choose 95% extra lean ground beef. If you have to purchase ground beef that is 90% lean or less, pour off the fat after browning.

Budget tip:

The healthiest cuts of meat that are also the least expensive are beef sirloin, lean ground beef, flat-iron steak and bone-in-pork loin chops.

That is what I love about John Henry’s. With the quality of meat we raise, knowing it is grass fed and finished. We know our meats are the leanest available. Our poultry is also very lean and healthy and its from our high quality food and how they are able to roam.  So wear Red on February 5th the day we nationally recognize to wear red and promote heart health. And Eat Heart Healthy John Henry’s Meats.