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The Silent Killer: High Blood Pressure and Heart Disease / 55
Just five to ten extra pounds can undermine
cardiac health.
When a person is diagnosed with a heart disease like coronary artery disease
or high blood pressure, she must remember that it’s not too late to make
improvements in her heart health. Any weight loss, any increase in exercise,
and any heart-healthy diet modifications, no matter how small or gradual,
can actually reverse some ravages of heart disease. Cardiovascular benefits
Make Connections:
Calories
When we discuss Calories in food, we talk about
Calories with a capital “C”. This stands for kilocalorie.
It’s the amount of energy needed to heat one kilogram
of water (approximately 1 liter or 4.25 cups) one
degree Celsius. A small calorie, or calorie with a lower-
case “c,” is the amount of energy needed to heat one
gram of water (approximately 1 milliliter or 20 drops
from an eyedropper) one degree Celsius. There are one
thousand small calories in one food Calorie.