Heart disease, high cholesterol, hypertension, strokes, heart attacks…..
Unfortunately those words have been uttered too many times in my family. I’ve had relatives die unexpectedly and others who are diagnosed with having heart disease, hypertension or high cholesterol. I have hypertension and currently take medication for it. My cholesterol is ok though, so I’m trying to keep it that way by eating better and exercising.
How about you? Do you know your cholesterol number? If you don’t, it’s really important that you find out. The number one cause of death for women is coronary heart disease. While cholesterol is a major contributing factor to heart disease, it is also the most easily controlled. You can easily alter your cholesterol levels by simply changing your eating habits. You’ve seen those commercials for Cheerios where eating a bowl a day helps to lower cholesterol levels, right? Well, they work.
Cheerios is not only advocating eating to lower cholesterol, they are also working to raise awareness for heart disease and to provide free cholesterol screening for women in need through it’s partnership with WomenHeart. Inside specially marked boxes of Cheerios cereal, now through January 31, 2010, there will be codes that you can enter at www.cheerioshelpinghearts.com. For every code entered, Cheerios will donate $1, up to $200,000 towards providing free cholesterol screening for women in need.
I learned about this initiative when I received this specially marked box of Cheerios and a beautiful freshwater pearl bracelet with a heart charm from Charity Charms, which donates a portion of the proceeds from its charms to various charities. I have enjoyed wearing my bracelet since I received it and it’s been a great reminder for me to make heart healthy choices daily. Don’t you want one for yourself?
You can earn a chance to WIN A CIRCLE OF HELPING HEARTS BRACELET by simply doing one or all of the following (each will earn you an entry to the drawing):
- Leave a comment and tell us what you do to maintain a healthy heart
- Twitter this contest. Copy and tweet the text below:
RT: @JMom is giving away freshwater pearl bracelet for a good cause http://tinyurl.com/ddzg64 - Stumble this post (leave your SU ID)
- Blog about this contest (leave the link to your post)
You have until April 5 to enter this contest. Three winners will be chosen randomly and will be notified by email. You will have three days to respond with your name and mailing address otherwise a runner up will be chosen to receive the bracelet instead.
Thanks to My Blog Spark and Cheerios Circle of Helping Hearts for sharing this information and making this Giveaway possible!
i love pearls! but i’m afraid i am not in the position to give good advice as to how i take care of my heart, sadly:( i know i should…esp. with my family’s health background:( and how we cannot say no to crispy pata!!!!! and bulalo!!!!!yikes!:) can you believe it, i have this box sitting in my cupboard for months now? bad…tsk tsk…
I first all am on medication to help. I walk 7 days a week and do a cardio work out 3 times a week. I have started knitting as a hobby to help relax. I have totally changed my eating habits, ie no diet coke in over a year, coffee down to 2x a day, nothing fried sort of miss that however I do overcook everthing so it is always crunchy., fresh fruit and veggies 5x a day. In the beginning it was hard but when you look at the big picture, there is nothing harder then your family having to mourn you.
This is a great thing that General Mills is doing. Thanks for letting us know about it!
I did workout 5 days a week at the gym until my injury-now I’m anxiously waiting until I can go back! I also try to eat healthy!
I eat Cheerios for breakfast, drink plenty of water and walk 1.5 miles 3 times per week.
I try to eat a lower fat, high fiber diet and get plenty of exercise. I also try to relax and enjoy life, since I believe a happy heart is a healthy heart.
Thanks for letting us know about the Cheerios code, I’ll look for one of those boxes next time I buy Cheerios.
Stumbled! Divalasd
My mom had valve replacement and bypass surgery 7 years ago. She is now 85 and goes to Curves 3 times a week. What an inspiration. I have a treadmill which I use, bicycle, walk outside and go to NIA class. My husband and I try to eat a healthy diet and include lots of fruits and vegetables in our diets. I am blogging about your giveaway!
Have recently changed my eating habits to include a heart healthy diet. Have also started on cholesterol lowering meds…. but hope that the healthier diet will allow me to get off them!
After reading Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma, I’ve changed my eating habits. And I’m currently training for the EIF REVLON Run/Walk for Women in NYC on May 2. That means I’m cross-training three days a week and running three days a week, with a day off to recuperate. It feels good to get back out there and run since I haven’t seriously run since I was on my high school track team.
Stumbled!
tasteasyougo
Blogged: http://www.tasteasyougo.com/2009/03/circle-of-helping-hearts-giveaway.html
I have been working on being healthier because I know I need to. I have quit smoking, started exercising more (I do 30 minutes on my Wii Fit a day, and walk a mile 4 days a week for cardiovascular activity), and am trying to eat better. I do eat my Cheerios too, not only because it is good for heart health but they taste good too and I like them. Doing my exercising and eating better to lose some pounds so it won’t put a strain on my heart from excessive weight. I think that is about all I do, now going to go blog this on my food blog and spread the word. Thanks for being part of this great cause and I am honored to do the same.
blogged:
http://cre8tivekitchen.blogspot.com/search/label/Circle%20of%20Helping%20Hearts%20Giveaway
tweeted:
cre8tivekitchen on twitter
tweeted from my accounts: pffirewall snowbirdstatus and jessemichelsen
by the way, your Twitter logo “Follow Me” points to Twitter.com not to your twitter page.
Thanks!
I’m not in US but it doesn’t matter (here I’m, courtesy of Shelby (HoneyB), really hope she’ll be ok today after the surgery!), just posted a link to this article in my section of events http://www.sweetsfoods.com/2009/03/giveaway-contest-free-cooking-recipe.html, stumbled and for low cholesterol I’m a runner and do aerobic workouts plus healthy eating, when is possible.
Brenda Campbell is spreading the word to come on over for a visit, so hear I am. I am a diabetic and the doctor has me on cholesterol meds but I also consume yummy cherrios to help keep my heart in good shape.
Thanks, everyone, for entering the giveaway!
Jesse, thanks for pointing out the twitter badge. I’ve fixed it now so it goes to my profile.
That’s so cool. My kids love Cheerios. Maybe I’ll start eating them, too. 🙂
I take long walks with my son at least three times a week…I also eat tons of fruits, veggie’s and of course Cherrios….I have a toddler so we have cheerios on hand
Hi – stopping by from Mom Bloggers Club! Congrats on your first giveaway!
I’m on a whole other healthy eating thing – trying to eat more fiber, low fat, high in protein type foods. As a matter of fact I’m eating lunch at it’s Progressive Minestrone soup, Wheat Thins with some Pepper Jack cheese, Breyer’s Light Yogurt.
Thanks for the giveaway! stop by my blog if you want – I have 2 going on!
Here’s my tweet: http://twitter.com/pricousins/status/1395078225
To maintain a healthy heart I try to incorporate foods in my diet that are high in fiber.
Between choosing healthier foods and attempting to get in activity, I try to treat my heart better.
I walk the dogs a few times a day.. and I have just ordered a belly dancing fitness dvd. Can’t hurt, right? 🙂
I try to walk several times a week, eat low fat, use olive oil, and eat fruits & veggies, etc.
I take a low dose aspirin everyday, gave up coffee and I eat my Cheerios!
hondaray6 at hotmail dot com
I twittered
http://twitter.com/hondaray6/status/1407520302
I keep my heart healthy by eating a vegetarian diet that includes tons of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, beans and meat analogs like veggie burgers etc. I love to walk on the trails by my house, sometimes Hubby comes with me, and I bring my camera and take pictures of the wildlife!
I have been a Vegetarian for 20 years and it works for me!!
Leslie!
LeslieVeg is following you on Twitter and left a tweet
http://tinyurl.com/dyhynf
Leslie
I was HONORED to stumble this post! My StumbleUpon Name is LeslieVeg
Leslie
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