PICKING YOUR PROTEINS                                                                                                                                                                                       According to the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Kentucky. In 2001, approximately 38 % of all deaths occurred from cardiovascular disease (heart disease - 30 % and cerebrovascular disease - 7 %). Approximately 14,500 Kentuckians died from cardiovascular disease in 2001. Kentucky ranks fourth highest for cardiovascular mortality in the nation, fifth highest for heart disease mortality, and twelfth in the nation for stroke mortality.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Can proteins be heart-healthy? Experts say yes. It’s also important to eat the proper amount of different types of protein. For example, the American Heart Association reports that many Americans get more protein than needed from meats high in saturated fats. A number of studies suggest that by replacing high-fat meats with heart-healthy proteins like fish, beans, poultry, nuts, and low-fat dairy you may help prevent heart disease. The nutrients in these protein-rich foods can help lower cholesterol and blood pressure and help you maintain a healthy weight.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The Menifee County SNAP-ED assistant presented the lesson Know the Limits for Every Body from the Healthy Choices for Every Body Curriculum to a group of nine Menifee County residents on Face Book Live and demonstrated the cooking through the calendar recipe for February-Easy Peasy Mac and Cheesy, which contained tuna. One participant stated she made the recipe for her family and a family member asked, if there was chicken in the recipe. She stated that it was tuna. The family member responded and said they had never eaten tuna before, but to their surprise they really liked the tuna in the recipe. As a result of the family member engaging in the Face Book Live Healthy Choices for Every Body lessons and preparing the calendar recipe, a member of their family tried something new.