Hearty Advice : 6 Surefire Tips to Get Heart Healthy

By Sarah Scrafford

It’s one of the most important organs in our body, and yet we take such a casual attitude when it comes to taking care of it. We spend so much on external appearance, yet we abuse our heart in every way there is. Is it any wonder that there comes a day when the faithful old ticker gives out on us? Sometimes, it’s just a warning, a wakeup call to let you know that you must treat your heart better than you’ve been doing so far. At others, it’s the final bell tolling for you – your heart gives out because it can’t go on anymore.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that an American succumbs to heart disease every 34 seconds, making it the biggest killer in the country. To prevent becoming one among this statistic, you must take better care of your heart. So how do you go about doing that? Read on to find out:

• Eat healthy food: A good diet comprises 60 percent carbohydrates, 20 percent of protein and 20 percent of good fat. It’s best to stick to wholegrain cereal and other good sources of carbohydrates rather than the ones that make your blood sugar spike. And as for fat, stay away from the saturated and hydrogenated kind. If you must eat meat and dairy products, stick to the lean variety and low fat kinds.
• Exercise regularly: You don’t have to sweat it out and breathe heavily at the gym everyday, just half an hour of brisk walking should do it. A minimum amount of exercise is absolutely necessary for a healthy and happy life.
• Prevent diabetes: If you’re prone to diabetes because of a strong family history and bad genes, you’re likely to be at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease as well. So keep your blood sugar in check by eating the right foods and exercising regularly.
• Give up smoking: Each puff you take decreases your life span. Smoking leads to cancer, lung infections, heart attacks and diabetes. Need any more reasons to quit?
• Keep your weight down: Overweight people who lead a sedentary life are more prone to heart attacks and strokes because of their high body fat content.
• Avoid stress: I’ve known people who were vegetarian, performed yoga on a regular basis, and yet died of sudden heart attacks – all because of stress. High pressure lifestyles, jobs that are full of tension, sudden shocks, and the fast pace of life in general take a toll on your heart and contribute to an early death. Learn to relax and take life slowly. You only have one life – so live it healthily, and live it well.