Be heart-smart with fall fun

It's no secret that women with healthy hearts live longer. In fact, experts estimate avoiding heart disease extends longevity by up to 16 years. But keeping your heart disease-free also makes those extra years more enjoyable. French findings reveal that a healthy ticker optimizes blood flow to protect against depression, muscle weakness and fatigue. And outsmarting heart disease doesn't have to be hard. These strategies are easy and enjoyable!

- Melissa Gotthardt

Warm up with a bowl of bean soup

Legumes such as pinto beans, red beans and black-eyed peas do more than add stick-to-yourribs goodness to hearty soups, stews and chilis: A report in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests enjoying four servings of beans weekly can significantly reduce your heart disease risk within 12 weeks. Credit goes to the legumes' payload of protein and fiber, which combats climbs in cholesterol and insulin that contribute to heart disease. Other legumes that offer the benefits include lentils, peas and peanuts.

Stroll through a fall festival