February is Heart Month

Even though it is still winter, the anticipation of spring is here. My daffodils are starting to pop up in my flower beds and the days are getting a bit warmer so I am getting out in my yard to do some winter clean up and prepping for springtime. I start thinking about this time of year right after Christmas.

February is American Heart month. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention America's heart disease burden is about 600,000 people die of heart disease in the United States every year–that’s 1 in every 4 deaths. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. More than half of the deaths due to heart disease in 2009 were in men. Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease, killing more than 385,000 people annually. Coronary heart disease alone costs the United States $108.9 billion each year.3 This total includes the cost of health care services, medications, and lost productivity.

To read more click here to CDC heart Disease

For the past 80 years heart disease has been a number one cause of death in the US. We can see why there is so much emphasis on this health issue as it continues to be a leader in our country.

One of my good friends had to go into the hospital for a heart procedure earlier this month and I got to meet his doctor. This petite, athletic lady was his specialist cardiologist. She was great and fixed up my friend and sent him home. I asked her to talk with me on my radio program, The Fresh Cafe, and she said she would be happy to. We just did the recording yesterday so it will be aired on Wed. February 26th at 12:30 MST or you can catch it at: KAFM Fresh Cafe program

February is also World Spay Day. This event was started by Doris Day back in 1995 to bring awareness of the need to spay and neuter animals to reduce the overpopulation on the streets and that end up in the shelters. I decided to get involved the past few years and started a nonprofit last year called Grand Valley Pets Alive to help animals in our community. It is a lot of work, and all volunteer, but it is the proven way to humanely affect change in a community and help animals. I work to raise funds to spay and neuter animals and I have put together 2 event this month to bring awareness to the need to help animals.

Lastly, our local newspaper featured me with vegan and raw foods at the GJSentinel. It was so much fun having the food editor, Dixie Burmeister to my home and work with my friend Stephanie to whip up 5 dishes for this back page article. What a great way to share this fabulous cuisine and my book in my community.

February is a great month so get involved in your community. You can make a difference where you live.

Take good care,

Rhonda

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