Last Saturday, my husband and I (pictured left) participated in the American Heart Association (AHA) Heart Walk to help raise money to fight heart disease. The Dallas Heart Walk set a record this year with around 50,000 walkers and total contributions of more than $3.3 Million! Frito-Lay also set a record of our own by raising more than $250,000 for AHA this year – more than we’ve ever raised in years past!
As a dietitian, it was exciting to see so many people getting out and being active. People often do not realize that just a little exercise is good for your heart; you don’t necessarily have to spend hours on the treadmill to see beneficial effects. If you aren’t exercising now, I recommend you start slow and gradually work your way up to 30 minutes per day, most days of the week. Physical activity is not only good for your heart, but it is also builds stronger muscles and bones, helps you sleep better at night, can decrease your chances of becoming depressed, and can even increase your chances of living longer.
I encourage you to get moving at your local AHA Heart Walk or find another type of exercise that you enjoy. And, if you’re looking for the perfect post-workout snack, I recommend SunChips multigrain snacks, made with 18 grams of heart healthy whole grains per serving.* (Read more about the benefits of whole grains on the AHA website.)
With the great success of the Dallas Heart Walk this year, I’m already looking forward to next year’s walk!
- Danielle
*Diets rich in whole grain foods and other plant foods, and low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.
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