Your heart is an important organ that keeps the blood moving through your body and helps your body to run efficiently and smoothly. The heart controls the supply of oxygenated blood and the elimination of carbon dioxide.
When the heart is not functioning properly the health of your whole body is in jeopardy. Having a healthy heart is imperative to having a happy and healthy life.
Your Diet is Key For a Healthy Heart
One of the best things you can do for your heart is to maintain a proper diet. The foods that we eat have a huge effect on the health of our hearts. Be sure to eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruits and heart healthy whole grains.
Fish such as salmon is another heart healthy food that contains omega-3. Soy protein has been found to be heart healthy and is said to help prevent cardiovascular disease. Other foods that are said to be good for the heart include green tea, dark chocolate and berries.
Smoking and drugs are very bad for the heart. To keep your heart as healthy as possible avoid all illegal drugs and all tobacco. Excessive drinking is also bad for your heart, although a moderate amount of red wine, about one glass a day, has been proven to be beneficial to heart health.
Red wine contains heart healthy ingredients known as polyphenols which help to prevent the build up of plaque on the smooth muscle cells of the heart. They also can help to prevent blood clots.
Another way to keep your heart healthy is to have a positive outlook on life. If you have a healthy physiological system in place it will go a long way in ensuring that you have a healthy heart. One way to do this it to find things that you really enjoy doing and make it a habit to do those things on a regular basis.
Get out and garden. Go fishing. Volunteer for a charitable organization. Spend time around those whom you love the most. By getting out and making a difference and doing something you love you will not only help yourself, but you will help others as well.
Healthy Heart Foods
Maintaining a proper diet is instrumental in having a healthy heart. But don’t worry, eating a heart healthy diet does not mean that you will be doomed to eat carrot sticks and celery for the rest of your life.
There are many heart healthy foods that can be eaten and enjoyed. It is a simple matter of replacing bad foods that are not good for your heart, with good foods that are more heart healthy.
Some Good Healthy Food Choices:
- Skim milk and dairy products
- Whole grains and pastas
- Fruits and vegetables
- Healthy unsalted nuts and seeds
- Lean meats and fish
- Low fat cheeses.
A lot of the problems that are associated with diets are not due to the foods that are eaten, but rather with how they are prepared.
So instead of frying your foods try baking them. Instead of eating your vegetables in a cream or butter sauce try steaming them instead and enjoying the natural flavor of the vegetables.
Enjoy a nice fresh salad and instead of drenching it with dressing have it on the side and dip your fork into the dressing before you take each bite. This will allow you to still have the flavor without consuming so many calories.
Exercise To Keep Your Heart Healthy
A great way to keep your heart healthy is to get regular exercise. Exercise helps your heart by getting your circulation going and increase your metabolism. If you are not accustomed to exercising start off small and slowly build up. You don’t want to overdo it and injure yourself.
Taking a nice walk is a great way to get outside and enjoy nature while giving your heart some good exercise. A good walk will invigorate your body and help you to feel energized and confidant.
Any exercise that gets your heart rate going will be beneficial. Try to find something that you enjoy doing. The key to success is consistency and routine. If you find an exercise that you really enjoy it will make it easier to keep doing it, even when you don’t feel like it. Follow a heart healthy diet to reduce your risk of coronary disease.
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