Your heart is the most critical organ in your body, but there are many ways we can cause it strain.
It works by pumping blood and nutrients through the different cells of your body. It’ll be challenging for anyone to function correctly or live comfortably if they have poor heart health.
However, regardless of how good your heart is, there will come a time when it’ll start to deteriorate. Aging, for example, can weaken your heart, making it susceptible to countless cardiovascular diseases, such as heart failure, rheumatic heart disease, and stroke. Although no human being is immune from aging, there are many ways we can minimize the effects of aging on the heart and ensure that it still works appropriately, even during our senior years.
Heart Health and You: Taking Care of Your Heart
Taking care of your heart is essential and should be your priority even when you’re young.
Your heart is perhaps the most crucial organ in your body, as the rest of your internal organs, including your brain, wouldn’t be able to function without it.
This is because your heart is responsible for pumping nutrient-rich blood to all parts of your body. About 2,000 gallons of blood per day!
And this vital organ never rests, even when you sleep, which is why taking care of your heart is so important. The healthier your heart is, the better it will function, and the better you will feel.
Just keep reading to learn all you need to know about keeping your heart healthy!
Improve Your Diet
The importance of a proper diet cannot be overstated. Your body obtains nearly all of its nutrients through diet, and the amount of nutrients you consume determines how you feel. If there’s room for improvement in your diet (and no doubt there is), it’s time to start.
First, let’s talk about what you should be eating. Regardless of height, weight, or age, there are some universal rules to a good diet.
If you can, avoid the aisles of the grocery store entirely. The foods in boxes, cans, and other containers are usually packed with additives, sugars, and salts. High amounts of salt and sugar are particularly harmful to your heart and your overall health.
The majority of your diet should consist of whole, nutrient-dense foods. This means plenty of fruits, vegetables, and lean meats.
It would help if you also pack your diet with as much fiber as possible. High-fiber foods include oats, apples, black beans, and avocados.
Aside from fiber, your diet should also contain foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, magnesium, and folic acid. All of these vitamins and minerals support the functions of your heart, safeguarding it from developing illnesses and diseases.
A proper amount of protein is essential for strong, healthy bones and muscles at any age. Finding the right products for your lifestyle is critical, but many protein shakes can contain harmful lectins. For a great product without lectins, check out this proplant complete shake discount.
If you take multivitamins for better heart health, if you live a hectic lifestyle and no longer have the time to prepare meals from scratch, these products contain all the essential vitamins and minerals for your heart to function correctly.
While you can supplement your diet with a few vitamins for heart health, your body absorbs nutrients more efficiently through food and drink, meaning you should never rely solely on vitamins for nutrition. To attain better heart health, a well-balanced diet and multivitamins should work hand in hand.
Get More Physical Activity
Physical activity is right next to a healthy diet in importance. The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes of physical activity per week at the very least. You should aim for at least 300 minutes per week for further benefits.
If regular exercise is still new for you, make sure you start slowly and don’t engage in rigorous activities immediately. Ideally, it would help if you look for more straightforward exercises and then gradually progress. If you’re motivated to try out extreme routines in the future, consider having an AED at home. This will ensure that sudden medical emergencies are addressed and attended to as soon as possible.
The more you can get your body moving, the better. Instead of sitting on the couch while watching TV, consider riding a stationary bike or doing housework. If you have a full-time job, wake up early to run or hike around your neighborhood or accomplish these activities when you arrive home from work. You’d be surprised at how big of a difference something as simple as taking the stairs at your office instead of the elevator can make.
If you can, make an effort to get cardio and strength training. Strength training can take your health and fitness to the next level for two or three days a week. This is because the more muscle mass you have, the more calories your body burns, helping you maintain a healthy weight, heart, and fitness level.
That said, don’t feel pressured to go to the gym if that isn’t something you enjoy. The more you look forward to your exercise for heart health, the more likely you will stick to it. So take a walk with a friend or your dog, go for a swim, or play a game with your children.
Whatever makes you want to get up and move is what you should do!
But remember, you should always get the approval of your cardiologist before beginning a new exercise regimen, especially if you have atrial fibrillation or another underlying condition.
Work On Your Mental Health
Many people put themselves and their well-being on the back burner daily. However, this is a huge mistake. Your mental health is invaluable, and taking care of it should be among the top items on your priority list.
Allowing your mental health to fall to the wayside can lead to chronic stress, anxiety, and anger, which can seriously damage your heart. Mindset is everything – if you maintain a positive outlook on your life, you’ll be happier and healthier.
Diet and exercise can help you do this, but you should also take time out of each day to do something for yourself. Call a friend to have a good laugh, listen to your favorite songs, or engage in a hobby!
Believe it or not, adopting a pet can also do wonders for your health. The unconditional love and joy shared between you and your pet lowers your risk of heart disease and boosts your mental health.
Limit Alcohol and Abstain from Smoking
There are few things more detrimental to your health than smoking. If you’re serious about taking care of your heart health and you’re a smoker, quit immediately. Tobacco products like cigarettes contain harmful chemicals that break down your heart, lungs, and other organs.
Not to mention, tobacco use is linked to a whopping 40% of cancers. Yes, quitting any addiction is tough, but the benefits of doing so make it well worth it in the end.
Good thing there is an alternative to smoking tobacco. It is known as smokeless nontobacco pouches that you can try. It is genuinely satisfying chewing tobacco alternatives that have no nicotine.
As for alcohol, you’ll be relieved to learn that drinking it in moderation is fine. A bit of red wine can be beneficial to your heart health. But massive amounts of alcohol are still harmful to your body, so you should always drink in moderation.
Taking Care of Your Heart Will Improve Your Overall Health
Taking care of your heart is essential to a long, happy life. If heart health alone isn’t enough motivation for you to change your lifestyle, consider that you will also improve how you look and feel in your day-to-day life!
By making strides to better yourself through diet, exercise, and lowering stress, you’ll notice improvements in your energy levels, mood, and even your appearance, in no time!
