FARGO — Local dietitians are using February to promote heart-healthy diets in an effort to reduce the risk of heart disease during American Heart Month.

Makenzie Schmitz, a registered dietitian with Sanford Health, recommends limiting sodium, sugar and trans or saturated fats — not just in February but year-round. Instead, she encourages people to focus on whole-based foods, including whole grains, lean proteins and low-fat dairy products.

Healthy options include fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and cooking oils such as olive, canola, peanut and avocado oil, she said.

As for portion sizes, Schmitz notes that they can vary depending on individual factors like food allergies, high blood pressure, or other health conditions. However, she emphasizes the importance of developing heart-healthy eating habits from a young age.

“Get a good half of that plate, those fruits and vegetables, maybe sticking to a quarter of that plate to be more so the protein source, and then trying to get a quarter of the plate more so the grain option, or the starchy vegetable, and then dairy can always be on the side with that, too,” Schmitz said.

For more heart-health tips, visit

heart.org

.

My name is Anne Sara, better known as Sara.
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