Changing diet key to heart health

A lot of Canadians still don't understand that diet can make a big difference in lowering their bad cholesterol to a healthier level, says registered dietitian Leslie Beck. "The studies show many Canadians aren't eating that well and for some it doesn't become a reality until they've had a scare at the doctor's office when told their cholesterol is sky high," she says. The prolific author of eight nutrition books with a new one just released is convinced that people can lower their risk of high blood pressure, obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart attacks by changing their unhealthy eating habits. The release of Beck's Heart Healthy Foods For Life: Preventing Heart Disease Through Diet and Nutrition (Penguin, $24) coincides with February Heart Month by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. - Halifax Herald