The heart is one of the most important organs in the body that makes sure that each and every corner of our system receives the right amount of oxygen and circulation. Did you know that your heart beats almost 1 lakh times a day? However, the truth is, today’s stressful and fast-paced world is straining our hearts a lot. Additionally, people engage in certain daily habits that are systematically lowering the health and longevity of their hearts. Jeremy London, a cardiothoracic surgeon with almost 25 years of experience, recently uploaded a video in his Instagram handle talking about the habits that he gave up entirely in order to support the long-term health of his heart. Lets learn about these habits in this article.
1. Smoking
Dr. London said that all kinds of smoking including marijuana, vaping and tobacco, can create extremely negative outcomes when it comes to heart health. Indeed, not just our heart, every other organ will also suffer due to this single worst habit. In Dr. London’s own words: “We know that smoking cigarettes is one of the single worst things you can do for your entire body. It increases the risk of lung cancer, dramatically increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. But smoking anything, vaping or marijuana, is dangerous. Please don't smoke.”
2. Sedentary Lifestyle
For long-term physical and mental health, an active lifestyle is necessary. The metabolism and blood circulation in the body of a sedentary individual will go down drastically. As a result, risk of stroke, heart failure and cardiovascular disease will increase significantly. As Dr. London said “Whether it's a structured exercise program with aerobic and strength training or a consistent 10 to 15 minute walk after meals. Daily movement is crucial for my physical and mental health.”
3. Ultra-Processed and Processed Foods
According to Dr. London, we should focus on nutrient-rich and balanced diet with a lot of whole foods. Reduce the intake of ultra-processed and processed foods as much as you can. He said: “Myself and my family try to prioritise a healthy whole foods nutritional plan, but life gets in the way. If we can hit our goals 80 percent of the time, it's a win. Be thoughtful about what you put in your mouth.”
4. Alcohol
Dr pointed out that his decision to stop drinking alcohol was transformative. The reason being that, this single habit can negatively impact and create toxic elements in almost all the cells in the body. Quoting his own words here for better clarity: “We know that alcohol is toxic to every cell in the body and it just didn't make sense to me to exercise regularly and have a thoughtful nutritional plan and then actively poison my body. It increases the risk of head and neck, GI, and even breast cancer. Alcohol is a personal choice. Just think about it.”
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