February is National Heart Month and the Texas Beef Council is working with the American Heart Association's (AHA) Go Red for Women initiative to celebrate!  Reducing the risk of heart disease is about shifting to a healthier lifestyle for the long term which includes making sensible choices about the foods we eat.  The new year is the perfect time to think about health and wellness and the best part is that you don't have to you sacrifice flavor! 

The AHA Go Red for Women campaign encourages women to take charge of their lives by being active and eating a healthy diet.  Heart disease is the number one killer of women, but there are steps like these that everyone can take to lower their risk of heart disease: 

• The American Heart Association recommends enjoying a wide variety of foods from all food groups including whole grains, fruits and vegetables, low-fat and non-fat dairy and lean meat such as beef. 

• Go lean with protein and choose from any of the 29 lean cuts of beef such as tenderloin, t-bone, sirloin and many of your favorite cuts.

• When choosing lean beef cuts, as a general rule, look for the words "round" and "loin" in the name of the cut such as sirloin or round tip.

• Use heart-healthy cooking methods like grilling.

• Take the Go Red Heart Check-Up! Instituted by Go Red for Women, this online tool provides a 10 year personal heart disease risk assessment and is available at GoRedForWomen.org.

• For more information on a heart-healthy diet, visit our Live Heart-Healthy section at http://www.txbeef.org/healthy_living/live_heart_healthy.

Start living heart-healthy today and try this flavorful Steak with Ginger Plum Barbecue Sauce recipe.  Hearty vegetables, lean beef and jasmine rice combined with a savory, Asian-inspired sauce, this dish will make you fall in love with choosing heart-healthy! http://www.txbeef.org/recipe_book/steaks/steak_with_ginger_plum_barbecue_sauce