One month into the New Year and how are those resolutions working for you? Make 2012 "your year to become physically fit and keep your vascular system healthy,” said Anil Hingorani, MD, a member of the Society for Vascular Surgery®. “Winter sports burn calories, increase your heart rate, and keep your blood flowing at a healthy rate.”

As the New Year is ushered in, millions of people will make resolutions to eat better and lose weight. In our fast-paced society, it is important to place an emphasis on eating healthy while on the run, in order to be successful at those goals. Recent research reported by the United States Department of Agriculture reports that Americans are now spending around 40 percent of their food budget on eating outside of the home. What’s more, a study in “Obesity Reviews” reports that those eating out of the home tend to consume more calories and less nutrition.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children view around 40,000 television commercials per year. Most are for high-calorie snacks and sugared cereals. Research has shown that these ads lead children to ask for more junk food, which may be contributing to the fact that today around a third of the nation’s children are considered overweight or obese (a rate that has more than tripled in the last three decades). Further, it is reported that teens ages 14-18 are consuming an average of 34 teaspoons of sugar per day.

The holidays are here, and the quest to find the perfect gifts for friends and family is on. This year, give the gift that really does keep on giving – the gift of good heart health. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and while that is not a pleasant thought this time of year, “You can help prevent heart disease by making healthy choices and managing any medical conditions you may have,” says Philip Troyer, M.D., cardiologist at Bradenton Cardiology Center.