Our hearts should be on our minds more often than just Valentine’s Day. Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of Americans.

With that in mind, CCEFM nutrition educators are presenting a new class to help area residents cook their way to a healthy heart.

Heart Smarts will be presented for the first time Tuesday, Feb. 15 at 6 p.m. at the Shirley J. Luck Senior Citizen Center at 109 E. Main St. in Johnstown. The cost is $12 (free for CDPHP members).

The new Heart Smarts workshop will present the very latest information about eating for heart health and provide participants with new heart-friendly ways of cooking.

According to the U.S. Department of Health, 81.1 million Americans have cardio cardiovascular disease. This disease can be prevented almost completely through diet and physical activity.

Some of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease include but are not limited to high blood cholesterol and other lipids, type 2 diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), metabolic syndrome, overweight and obesity and physical inactivity.

The Heart Smarts class includes hands on activities and food preparation. Call 763-3909 x. 101 to register.