It is the top cause of death among women across the United States. In celebration of Heart Health Awareness Month, NBC News health editor Madelyn Fernstrom provides six tips that you should incorporate into your routine.

How did healthy eating get difficult? There are a myriad of food lists that list “good” and “bad” items, and the same level of precision that prescriptions require. Eating healthy, especially for your heart, does not need to be difficult. If you can master the basics and techniques, you can have a balanced diet that’s not just for your heart, but also your digestive system, your brain and your immune system as well.

Keep in mind the fact that eating healthy is like runnimarathon,athon not an athletic race. Therefore, you’ll reap the rewards by taking the first important step of making it a lifetime commitment. Your habits of eating in a regular manner, not daily, are what matter most. This relieves some of the pressure of being “perfthe perfect”er.

In the spirit of Heart Health Awareness Month, review these six suggestions that are worthy of incorporating into your routine. Since cardiovascular disease has been identified as the top cause of death among women across the United States, killing 301,280 women in the year 2019, which is approximately one out of five deaths of females. There’s no long list of food items or biology classes. No need to learn anything, just an intention to eat mindfully.

Be aware that food is not medicine. It can help maintain a healthy body as well as regular medical check-ups. Your doctor will appreciate your healthy lifestyle; however, the prevention of medical problems is equally important.

1. Reduce the amount of animal fats

It’s not just the amount of fat you consume that is a problem for heart health, but the kind of fat.

The most significant sources of saturated (artery-blocking) fats are from animals of all kinds;   you’ll want to reduce that amount as much as you can. That’s around 12 grams a day if you’re on a 2,000-calorie diet.

If you’re a meat fan, search for “round” or “sirloin” cuts. You can also skip cuts that have apparent gras (marbled). Choose low-fat or non-fat dairy products, such as dairy, yogurt and cheese. Also, remove the skin from the poultry.

Try substituting plant oils with butter when cooking and baking. Only tropical oils, like palm and coconut oil — are prohibited as plant oils since they’re mostly saturated fat.

2. Reduce the amount of processed and packaged foods.

The best general rule is to abide by the rule of thumb, “If it’s grown, eat it.” Simple, freshly prepared food is the best way to go. Likewise, the convenience of processed and packaged food items is attractive. Be sure to read the labels in order to make the best decision when using these items.

Over 75 percent of the salt you consume comes from packaged, boxed and processed food items. Plus, a myriad of sugars hidden in the food and oils often accompany healthy food items.

The only way to make wise choices with regard to processed and packaged foods is to scrutinize labels on nutrition carefully. Find the amount of your daily recommended intake to get the most accurate idea of the food you’re eating. For instance, if a saturated fat intake is listed as being 70 percent of your daily recommended intake, this is a red flag to reduce or eliminate the food item.

Be aware that processed and packaged food items are also the primary source of trans fats, another cholesterol-causing fat that you should be wary of. This is a simple one to identify since the nutrition label will tell you the amount of trans fats present.

3. Select any type of vegetable or fruit.

Making a colorful plate can add rich phytochemicals that are nutrient rich. The color is derived from a variety of antioxidants. Produce of every kind offers significant value addition to the minerals, vitamins and water as well as fiber that is found in both vegetables and fruits.

If you’re concerned about calories, you should focus on eating more vegetables that do not contain the sugars naturally present in fruits.

Keep in mind that canned or frozen vegetables and fruits (without the addition of salt, sugar or added sugars) are a good alternative for non-seasonal fruits and vegetables. They’re also often more delicious.

The first thing you should do is consume one more serving that you consume now! You should aim for five servings per day.

4. Make sure you are getting enough fiber from your food.

Nature has two types of fiber in food items to support an ideal digestive tract. They are insoluble and soluble. Insoluble fiber is helpful to maintain LDL (the “bad”) cholesterol. Insoluble fiber acts as an effective colon cleanser.

Produce is an excellent source of fiber; different natural resources offer the highest levels of fiber. They are available in whole grains that keep all of nature’s nutrients within the outer layers of all grains.

Oats and oat bran are both rich sources of fiber that is soluble and whole grains of wheat, rye and rice are popular as sources for insoluble fiber. Legumes and beans are good sources of insoluble and soluble fiber.

Be sure to choose foods that satisfy your fiber requirements. Not fortified bars or other supplements. While they can boost your fiber levels, they should be used to complement, not substitute, foods.

5. Control your portion size.

When it is about food, the size is important. It’s not just the food you consume but also how much you consume. Even the calories in healthy foods can accumulate quickly.

Dietary health is a two-step procedure: (1) swapping unhealthy food items for healthier ones (allowing the occasional treat in the process) as well as (2) smaller portions in the event of weight loss.

It’s difficult to “eyeball” serving sizes, and most of us can’t determine serving sizes accurately even after years of training. It is important to be aware of the amount of servings you’ll need and the size.

Try smaller bowls and plates to trick your eyes into “seeing” a larger portion. Try eating only one serving of food to enjoy the extra pleasure of having “the whole thing.” When you’re searching for more, consider vegetables or fruits or some protein that is lean, both high in protein, to ensure you are feeling full and satisfied.

And don’t let dining out interfere with your efforts. The majority of main dishes can be enough for two persons. You can split a main course with your dining partner and each of you choose a soup or salad to serve as an appetizer.

It is important to strive to be content (satisfied; however, you can eat more) and then stop there, not feeling full.

6. Make sure you are eating in conjunction with the appropriate exercise.

Although the right diets help maintain a healthy heart and body, exercising will strengthen your heart and assist in maintaining the overall health of your body. It’s also a fantastic relief from stress.

Moving more often can help you shed weight or keep your weight in check. Both are important for a healthy heart. Your heart won’t need to work as hard if the weight you carry is healthy.