6 Easy Do’s and Don’ts for Keeping Your Heart Healthy
February 6, 2024
In this Healthy Insight:
- Heart Health Do’s
- Exercise Regularly
- Avoid Processed Foods
- Eat lean
- Unplug Before Bed
- Heart Health Don’ts
- Smoking
- Get Regular Check-Ups
- Final Thoughts
Do
- Exercise regularly. We know. No one really wants to, but start small – like a quick walk at lunchtime – and build from there. Also limit the amount of sitting you do since it damages blood flow and increases chances of clotting. Take the stairs whenever possible and if you work at a desk, be sure to get up and move every hour.
- Avoid processed foods. They’re tasty, cheap and have a long shelf life, but processed foods contain harmful trans fats. These are the worst for your heart because they raise bad cholesterol (LDL) and lower good cholesterol (HDL). They also contribute to plaque buildup that clogs your arteries. Yuck!
- Eat lean. Choose to eat leaner meat and reduced fat options, especially when it comes to dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt).
- Unplug before bedtime. By now you’re probably familiar with how blue light from your digital device affects melatonin, the sleep hormone. To avoid this, simply turn off electronics an hour or two before bedtime. Those news flashes, videos and emails can wait till morning.
Don’t
- Smoke. Easier said than done, but if you’re going to do one thing for your heart, make it this one. Smoking causes your blood vessels to thicken and reduces the amount of oxygen in your blood, making your heart work extra hard and putting additional pressure on arteries and veins.
- Skip annual check-ups. Even though you may feel just fine, be sure to keep all recommended medical appointments since early detection of any potential problem is key to staying healthy. Keep tabs on your numbers – blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.
One Final Do!
For a naturally healthy heart, consider supplements like garlic, allicin, oat bran, policosanol and CoQ-10 . CoQ-10 is especially important to support your heart’s high energy needs since these levels drop with age and statin medications deplete them even further. As always speak to your healthcare provider for what’s best for you.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Individual results may vary.
