Conquering Atrial Fibrillation

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preventive measures

Since her first surgery, Mellanie has taken charge of her health through lifestyle changes. She began eating more healthfully and exercising more, including daily walks on her ranch, and has lost about 85 pounds. Mellanie also has created the American Foundation for Women’s Health and two Web sites—AmericanWomensHealth.org and StopAfib.org—that help fulfill her mission of encouraging women to take charge of their health and read their heart signals.

Four Quick Diet Fixes
Making healthful changes in your diet is crucial to protect your heart. Here are some hints from Mellanie:

Lighten up. If you consume dairy products, aim for nonfat or low-fat products. Look for products that contain cholesterol-lowering plant sterols.

Swap out some sweets. Mellanie makes brownies with fat-free yogurt instead of oil. She suggests making your own trail mix with walnuts, raisins, and other dried fruits. 

Go with the grain. Eat oat-based cereal and whole grain pastas and breads. Sprinkle ground flaxseed over cereal, salads, and casseroles, and into soups.

Snack healthfully. Look for cereal bars low in fat (about 1.5 grams) and with about 120 calories each. They’re good to keep handy for emergency nibbling. Pretzel sticks are another good option. A dozen pretzel sticks typically contain only 1 gram of fat and 100 calories.