Augusta, GA -- The heart is an amazing, hard-working muscle, beating more than 3 billion times during the average lifetime. It never rests. In fact, during the holiday season, the heart works harder than ever since lifestyle choices such as overindulging put stresses on the heart.

This holiday season, give your heart a holiday by making smart lifestyle choices that will help keep you on the track to good health.

Food
From roast turkey and dressing to lavish pies and desserts, the holidays center around food. And it is easy to overindulge in foods high in saturated fat and sugar. “It’s just one day” becomes a common phrase. But during the holidays, when there are multiple parties, get-togethers and celebrations, that one day can stretch to several weeks, several more pounds and additional stress on the heart when the New Year comes around.

The American Heart Association recommends that daily saturated fat intake should be less than 10 percent of a person’s total calorie intake per day. That means if a person consumes 2,000 calories per day, he or she should take in less than 22 grams of saturated fat and less than 65 total grams of fat.

So make smart choices this holiday season. Instead of filling up on fat-heavy stuffing, gravy and buttery mashed potatoes, choose lean turkey (without the skin) and fruits and vegetables. But also remember that you do not have to give up your favorite foods. Take smaller portions so that you can keep fats at the recommended levels and still enjoy the holiday table.

Exercise
During the holidays, it becomes easy to slack off on exercise programs and even harder to return to them. But just as lifting weights helps develop arm and leg muscles, aerobic exercise strengthens the heart muscle. Regular exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes at least three times a week promotes a healthy heart.

During the holidays, try to incorporate exercise into fun activities for the family. Walk or bike to enjoy the holiday decorations. If you enjoy outdoor recreation, plan golf or tennis outings, or play a few rounds of touch football or basketball with the family. Take advantage of time off from work during the holidays to try out new indoor recreational opportunities, such as swimming at area indoor pools, ice skating or racquetball, and check gyms for special holiday discounts on memberships.

The holidays are a special time that are meant to be enjoyed by family and friends. By making a commitment to heart health, you will help ensure that your holidays will be happy and healthy for years to come.

MCG Health System is composed of three separate organizations -- MCG Health, Inc. and the clinical services offered by the faculty employees of the Medical College of Georgia and the members of the Physicians Practice Group. The physicians of MCG Health System are community physicians, faculty employees of the Medical College of Georgia, and employees of the Physicians Practice Group, not employees of MCG Health Inc. MCG Health, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation operating the MCG Medical Center, MCG Children’s Medical Center, the MCG Sports Medicine Center, MCG Ambulatory Care Center, the Georgia Radiation Therapy Center and related clinical facilities and services. MCG Health, Inc. was formed to support the research and education mission of the Medical College of Georgia and to build the economic growth of the CSRA, the state of Georgia and the Southeast by providing an environment for faculty employees of the Medical College of Georgia and the Physicians Practice Group and community physicians to deliver the highest level of primary and specialty health care. For more information, please visit www.MCGHealth.org.