February is American Heart Month and a University of Illinois Nutrition Educator has some things for us to keep in mind for a healthier heart.

Caitlin Mellendorf says when discussing better heart health she focuses on four areas including types of fats, sodium reduction, added sugar reduction, and increasing fiber intake.

For Mellendorf, she breaks down fats into saturated and unsaturated fats. She says saturated fats can lead to higher cholesterol so she encourages trying to find ways to swap out those saturated fats for unsaturated fats.

Too much sodium can increase your blood pressure which increases your likelihood of things like a stroke. Mellendorf points out sodium often is higher in packaged foods so she encourages watching the labels of those packaged foods you may be purchasing and watching for the sodium levels.

When it comes to added sugars, Mellendorf notes there is an interesting correlation where people that consume foods with a lot of added sugars have higher risks of heart disease. She encourages keeping track of those things that are high in added sugars and not eliminating all of them but finding areas you could cut back on them.

Fiber is a carbohydrate that the body does not digest. Mellendorf indicates folks with heart disease or high cholesterol should consider upping their fiber intake. She adds you'll find good sources of fibers in plants.