American Heart Association

Definition

The American Heart Association (AHA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. It offers resources, guidelines, and advocacy to improve cardiovascular health and reduce the number of deaths caused by these conditions.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The AHA provides dietary guidelines that emphasize reducing saturated fats and trans fats to improve heart health.
2. They recommend consuming a variety of nutrient-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
3. The AHA advises limiting the intake of added sugars and sodium to lower the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.
4. Physical activity is promoted by the AHA as crucial for maintaining heart health; they recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.
5. The AHA's Heart-Check Food Certification Program helps consumers identify heart-healthy foods in grocery stores.

Review Questions

• What types of fats does the American Heart Association recommend reducing in your diet?
• How much physical activity does the American Heart Association suggest for maintaining heart health?
• What is the purpose of the AHA's Heart-Check Food Certification Program?

Related terms

Cardiovascular Disease: A class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels.

Saturated Fats: Types of fat found in animal products and processed foods that can raise cholesterol levels.

Trans Fats: Artificially created fats found in some processed foods that are harmful to heart health.