Women all over the world have reason for concern – the American Heart Association’s figures show that about a million Americans each year die from heart disease, and half of them are women. The good news is that many of the risk factors that lead to heart disease – obesity, smoking and a sedentary lifestyle, to name just a few – can be remedied.

Women (and men as well) can reduce their risk of heart disease through a few easy to follow tips, as explained below.

Add heart-smart foods. Do not misconstrue being heart-smart as totally giving up on sumptuous meals. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains are heart-healthy winners. We recommend drinking orange juice, particularly Minute Maid ™ Premium Heart Wise, which experts say can actually lower your cholesterol level.

Get a move on. Keep your heart healthy with some physical activity. No need to rush. When buying groceries, park at the farthest parking spot, take up dancing, walk at least 15 minutes a day, and use the stairs and forgo the elevator.

Be worth the weight. Being overweight puts your heart at risk. If you are overweight, losing as little as 5 percent to 10 percent of your current weight can help reduce your risk for heart disease. Again, there are two keys here – regular physical activity and a healthy, preferably vegetarian diet.

Know your numbers. Learn about your own risks for heart disease. Be on the lookout for any peculiar manifestations and be conscious about your health. Make regular visits to your medical care professional and have yourself checked for cholesterol when you do so.

In addition to the above, Minute Maid ™ and WomenHeart have recently joined forces. This is the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, an organization whose aim is to make women more informed about heart disease and alleviate the effects of the disease on those who already have it.

Incidentally, there have been several awareness campaigns launched by American food and drink manufacturers, including the Minute Maid ™ Premium Heart Wise 8-Week Challenge for Health and Wellness, launched by the makers of Minute Maid Premium Heart Wise ™ orange juice – they encourage people to drink at least two glasses of eight fluid ounce servings per meal in order to facilitate healthy and wholesome living.

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