“Today, you’ve got to take charge of your health. You can’t wait for someone else to do it for you. The key is to get informed and get a game plan to manage your health – just as you would your job, your bank account, your business, or your home,” says Grant. Her four simple heart health secrets include:

1. TAKE FAMILY HISTORY TO HEART. While most people know that a family history of heart disease can mean an increased risk, one thing they rarely consider is how their family’s healthstyle habits can contribute to their health legacy. Look at the habits you’ve inherited regarding eating, activity, smoking and even how you handle stress. Recognizing family habits can help pinpoint areas where you can break family tradition and change those habits to protect your heart and improve your health.

2. SUPPLEMENT YOUR HEALTHY DIET. Getting the nutrients you need to protect your heart through the foods you eat can be a challenge. Using vitamins and supplements that have been studied and have shown real results is an easy way to support a healthy diet. Some of these include:

• Plant sterols and stanols for lowering LDL or “bad” cholesterol
• Fish oil for overall heart health and to keep triglyceride levels in the normal range
• CoQ10, an antioxidant that helps maintain heart health by fighting damage from free radicals

Make sure to choose a reputable manufacturer, like Nature Made vitamins, which are sold nationally at drug and grocery stores. Talk to your health care professional before starting a new program to ensure it’s a good fit for your heart health regimen.

3. LEARN AN EASY WAY TO DE-STRESS. Taking just five minutes a day to relax and “de-stress” has been shown to lower blood pressure and protect your heart. In Taylor’s new book, she teaches a five-minute relaxation trick that uses visualization and breathing techniques that make it easy for anyone to learn to unwind.

4. SAVE YOUR LIFE. Approximately 1.5 million people suffer heart attacks every year and 500,000 of those lead to death. Learn the symptoms of a heart attack and how to be prepared to get the emergency medical care you might need. In her book, Taylor reminds you why carrying a single aspirin at all times might just save your life or the life of someone you love.

This year, Taylor teamed up with Nature Made vitamins to offer a FREE Pocket Health Organizer based on her latest book, “The 7 Questions That Will Save Your Life.” The Pocket Health Organizer lets people record their vital health information in one easy-to-use booklet, be prepared for any emergency and helps them take charge of their health. To obtain a pocket health organizer, please visit www.naturemade.com/heart. For more information on Taylor’s latest book, please visit www.tayloryourhealth.com.

ABOUT TAYLOR GRANT
Award-winning author of “The 7 Questions That Will Save Your Life,” Taylor has been educating consumers about their health for more than 15 years. As one of the nation’s leading consumer health empowerment advocates, Taylor has appeared nationally on more than 250 television and radio programs exploring timely health topics. She has sold more than 2.5 million copies of her health books and also founded two successful businesses developing health programs for multinational corporations, federal, state and local government agencies and major organizations in the health care industry. Taylor’s mission is to improve the health of every American by helping them make informed decisions, get better care and take charge of their health.