Your heart is one of the hardest working muscles in the body that constantly beats to pump one million barrels of oxygenated blood and to provide nutrients to all other tissues and organs over the course of your life. Still, taking care of this muscle is hardly at the top of anyone’s priority list. Most of us take it for granted, even after knowing it is impossible to survive if our heart starts to function improperly.
Neglecting the health of your
ticker may have serious repercussions for your overall health. You may be at
the receiving end of a range of diseases and chronic illnesses with your ticker
lying at the root of it. Contrary to what you may think, these risks are for
everyone, not just seniors. In fact, heart disease is the leading cause of
death of most women in their 20s, and is the number one killer of both men and
women in the United States.
This blog aims to highlight
the secret ingredients to keep your ticker fit and fabulous:
The right foods- Plenty of
fresh fruits and vegetables (spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, Bok choy), foods rich in fiber (whole
grains) and omega-3 fatty acids (fatty fish, such as tuna, mackerel, sardines;
walnuts, ground flaxseed) are an integral part of a cardiac diet. This you
should follow religiously while staying away from foods high in saturated fat
(whole milk, bacon) and trans fats (go for baked or roasted foods instead of
fried stuff, also limit intake of red meat) and foods high in salt (cereal,
condiments, sauces) and sugar (ice cream, cakes, cookies, soft drinks, fruit
drinks, sweetened milk and yogurt).
Workout for your heart- The
American Heart Association recommends exercising for at least 30 minutes. Any
form of aerobic exercise, such as walking, swimming, running will be adequate.
If you already have heart disease or any other chronic condition or haven’t been
exercising regularly, it is best to consult with a physician before embarking
on an exercise regimen.
Apart from aerobic exercise,
your heart can also benefit immensely from resistance training or strength
training.
Break bad habits- It is
true smoking is one of the most stubborn habits to break, but carrying on with
this habit can be detrimental to the health of your ticker. It is a great idea
and always a good time to quit smoking. People who smoke are twice as likely as
others who don’t to have a heart attack.
Manage your weight- Keeping
your weight in a healthy range will help keep your blood pressure in check,
thereby keeping heart disease at bay. Limiting portion size to keep a check on
your calorie intake, being physically active as much as possible, and
consulting with your doctor about your weight if you think that you are
overweight or weigh too little, can all help you achieve your purpose of
maintaining a healthy weight.
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