She had found our Nutrition Links page while researching information and strategies for teaching her students.  Stories like these make us so proud and happy that we can be a part of bringing information like this to people, families, and educators around the world.  As always, feel free to email, call, or get in touch - let us know if there's anything else we can do to make YOUR job as educator/student/community leader EASIER!

We all need protein in our diet. However, too much protein isn't the best thing for us. Our friends at The American Heart Association recommend about 46 grams of protein for adult women and 56 grams for adult men.

What's a good gauge for that? Well, a 3-oz piece of meat has approximately 21 grams of protein. So if you eat two pieces per day, you're almost done with the amount of protein you need daily! AND if you limit yourself to only one piece of meat daily, you're leaving more room on your plate for other good sources of protein like milk, yogurt, and beans (which are high in fiber and GREAT for your heart).

Tip: Try going vegetarian for one meal.

Hey everyone!  Please join me in welcoming Stef Morisi, our very *first* and *fabulous*        Puppet Treehouse Intern!  Stef came to us as a writer, performer, and all around awesome gal who shares our passion for bringing fun and positive messages to all communities.  She's going to be a vital part of our programming and development moving forward - so stay tuned to hear about her awesome adventures with Puppet Treehouse!

If you're having heart trouble (or hear everything people say as song) ... this might not be the best hospital for you.

Cigarettes are the biggest preventable cause of premature death in America, and heart disease is big on the list of risks from smoking. Giving up smoking is difficult, but the effects of doing so on your health are almost immediate.

Our friends at the American Heart Association tell us that "Smokers have a higher risk of developing many chronic  disorders, including atherosclerosis - the buildup of fatty substances in the arteries - which can lead to coronary heart disease, heart attack (myocardial infarction) and stroke. Controlling or reversing atherosclerosis is an important part of preventing future heart attack or stroke."

Their website also has an incredibly useful list of resources when and if you do decide to quit smoking - including American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, and Nicotine Anonymous.

You know what's actually really good for your heart? Some Elvis Presley. Yeah. I know, right?

One of the best ways to maintain a healthy heart is to get a bit of physical activity outdoors each day - but some people don't like going running or lifting weights. Find a way to keep your heart happy and have fun too - a walk down your favorite street, playing basketball or "horse" with some friends, or flying a kite! The best way to make sure you do something active every day is to have a buddy to do it with you.

Heart palpitations are no joke ... unless it's in a Lenka song. Then it's okay.

Too much stress is bad for your heart. When pressures at work or pressures at home are getting to you, try and find ways to relax your body and mind. Some people find yoga very good for relieving stress, and it's also a physical activity that is good for your heart. Meditation can also be very helpful - even if it's just ten minutes of sitting quietly, relaxed, with your eyes closed.

To try and reduce stressful elements in your life, watch out for negative thinking and stimulus - either from those around you or from yourself (instead of thinking "No one will help me and I'm so overwhelmed," think "Who can I ask for help, or at least to listen while I unload my thoughts?").

If you feel like there are just too many things you have to do or keep track of, write them all down, and write down how long you think each item will take. If an item on the list is especially complicated, break it down into smaller portions and address each portion individually.

And - here's the best part - whenever you've completed an item on your list, or eliminated a stressful element from your life, reward yourself. Listen to a song you like, have a (heart-healthy) snack, give your cat a big squishy hug, or play a silly game on your smartphone. And then - get back to work!

But above all, remember -

Though heart disease is one of the major causes of death, and in fact the number one cause of death in women, there are some things you can do to prevent heart disease. We'll discuss more of these later, but our friends at the American Heart Association tell us that you can modify or control six of the main causes (or aggravators) of heart disease:

     *Cigarette and tobacco  smoke                                         *Physical Inactivity
     *High blood cholesterol                                                      *Overweight or obesity
     *High blood  pressure                                                          *Diabetes

Isn't it great to have so much power?