Guide to Heart Healthy Restaurants in Tucson

February is Healthy Heart Month, a perfect time to explore heart-healthy dining options in Tucson. After experiencing a heart attack, bypass surgery, and heart failure, I’ve become even more mindful of what’s on my plate. Heart disease is the number one cause of death worldwide and is largely lifestyle-related. Should you have any type of heart condition with or without surgery, hospital staff or your physician may encourage a plant-based lifestyle. Take charge by changing your palate. Excessive fat, sugar, and salt in processed foods can hijack our taste buds. I didn’t realize how delicious an apple tasted until after a week of cleansing my palate as a consultant at the Pritikin Longevity Center. From a young age, I recognized the importance of both my psychological and physical health. I had four brothers in a military family along with an early exposure to alcoholism and smoking. At one point, six people in my family smoked cigarettes, cigars, or cannabis. Later, many developed alcoholism — several died as a result. I decided to run toward health. What did that look like? I consciously chose my alcohol intake, did not smoke, avoided fast food and processed food, was physically active, and ate as healthy as possible. Despite these choices, I still experienced the shock of a heart attack. According to my doctors, my heart attack was largely due to genetic factors on both sides of my family, but also because many women, including myself, who don’t get early screenings and accurate diagnoses. My Texan mother could surely cook a Southern meal. We ate fried chicken and plenty of red meat and potatoes. This emphasis was balanced by our frequent moves to various locations: Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, Myanmar, and Italy. Growing up in many military families means you eat everything on your plate before asking permission to leave the table. As kids, we were forced to eat our vegetables. Myanmar’s culture and cuisine had the biggest impact on life. In seventh grade, I watched our Burmese cook prepare plant-based dishes with curry spices, which awakened my curiosity about anti-inflammatory food. Cows were revered — and also primarily working animals — and were protected from slaughter. When I took river trips cows boarded the boat first before people. This respect for animals impressed me and remains a strong value. The combined impact of these moves and my five years with Intel Corporation in Asia and Latin America enriched my appreciation for culture, adventurous dining, and how food connects us. It opened my eyes to the humane treatment of animals. I developed a respect for the power of nutrition in my lifestyle. In my adult years, I gradually chose a mostly vegetarian lifestyle and later a plant-based, whole-foods lifestyle with fish. At times, I’m a flexitarian and still enjoy parts of dishes that are not 100% vegan or plant-based. If one of your goals for the new year is to eat more protein, including animal or plant-based, you’ll find it easy to do at the following restaurants.