Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States?
There are many key risk factors, including an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and high blood pressure. These lifestyle choices and medical conditions can build up deposits of fat along the walls of your arteries, restricting blood flow to your heart.
The good news is that by living a heart-healthy lifestyle, you can fend off these complications. With a proactive approach and a positive mindset, follow these tips to enjoy all the benefits of a healthy heart.
Heart-Healthy Lifestyle
Managing your stress plays an active role in keeping your heart healthy.
One good way to manage stress is to stay active. Walking, stretching, and aquatic therapy can all make positive impacts on the health of your heart.
Another effective way to manage stress is to stay positive. Did you know that counting your blessings by keeping a gratitude journal where you write down what you’re grateful for on a daily basis has proven health benefits?
It’s also important to ensure you get enough good quality sleep. Seven to nine hours of solid rest every night will help keep your immune system strong. To help with that, avoid heavy meals a couple of hours before bed, and use the hour before sleep for quiet time.
Eat Fresh
Living a heart-healthy lifestyle goes beyond managing stress.
One of the best ways to take control of your health is to improve your diet.
Studies show that a diet full of rich, leafy greens can make a positive impact on your health. Making a conscious effort to include fresh vegetables in your meals can reduce your risk of heart disease and even improve memory function. Try to focus on eating more vegetables like spinach, collard greens, kale, and cabbage.
Eating heart-healthy proteins is another way to live a healthy lifestyle. Salmon, tuna, and trout are high in omega-3 fatty acids and great sources of healthy protein.
You can also buy organic meat and local vegetables to ensure freshness and higher quality. Eat unsalted nuts like almonds and pistachios, to try and limit your sodium and sugar intake. Also, avoid salty snacks, sweetened drinks, and candy.
Healthy Habits
Another way to improve the health of your heart is to cut out bad habits, including smoking and excessive drinking, which are destructive to vital organs. Focusing on healthier ways to spend your time will spare your heart needless damage.
There are plenty of ways to replace bad habits with healthy ones. Community outings and spiritual growth activities can provide you with a more positive, enriching experience. You can also practice the other tips above, which will be much more productive for a heart-healthy lifestyle.
Feel Your Best
Managing your stress, improving your diet, and cutting out bad habits can go a long way to ensuring a heart-healthy lifestyle.
Feeling your best is always worth the effort, but sometimes you can’t do it alone. If you found these tips helpful, please feel free to connect with us to learn more about our services and let us know how we can meet your needs.
