In today’s face-paced living conditions, people don’t seem to be giving much attention to heart health. With less time for cooking healthy breakfasts, packaged foods or junk items are becoming replacements. Jobs that require us to spend a lot of time on our seats are making many of us sedentary. With social media and digital notifications bombarding our brains with information overload, stress hormones are consistently active in our systems. In fact, a 2019 study by WHO showed that 17.9 million people died as a result of heart related ailments in the year. However, a hopeful truth is that, if we follow a number of expert-recommended habits everyday, we can reduce the risks of developing heart problems significantly. In this article, we will learn about these simple steps.
1. Add More Nuts Into Your Diet
Healthy fats, that are found abundantly in nuts, are important for our hormone function and heart health. Additonally, nuts such as coconuts and cashews are filled with very important nutrients including antioxidants, magnesium and key fatty acids. These components work together to lower your bad cholesterol or LDL, along with increasing good cholesterol or HDL. The result? A heart that has become immune to a number of heart diseases.
2. Avoid Processed and Packaged Foods
If you are a youngster, your parents may have asked you multiple times to stop or reduce the consumption of these food items. Their experiential wisdom is true. Packaged foods come to us with a lot of artificial additives and trans fat. These elements are actually the foes of our heart. Wondering why? They improve the buildup of plaque in our arteries and increase blood pressure. You can replace these packaged snacks with wholesome foods including fruits, fatty fish, leafy greens or whole grains.
3. Let Go of Alcohol for Your Heart’s Sake
Did you know that even a single glass of wine can increase blood pressure and create irregularities in the rhythms of our hearts? Additionally, these beverages will increase our body weight and create stress for livers. All these issues will weaken your heart in the long-term. Hence, if you stop it completely, your future self will be grateful.
4. Engage in Strength Training
A number of folks think that heart health is entirely depended on cardio workouts. But, the truth is, strength training is also equally important. Wondering how? Resistance workouts increase blood circulation, thereby lowering blood pressure. Secondly, an improvement in muscle mass will gift a boost for your body’s metabolism. In short, your heart will remain healthy and happy even when years are passing.
5. Eat More Natural Ghee
How many of us knew the truth that ghee or clarified butter is very good for cardiovascular health? Of course, moderation is important. Pure, homemade ghee has fat-soluble vitamins like A, E, K and D. It is also a good source of saturated fats. These elements support heart function by maintaining arterial pliability and also by improving the intake of antioxidants.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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What is the 1 worst habit for your heart?
Smoking is widely considered the single worst habit for heart health.
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What drink calms the heart?
Water is the most effective daily drink for heart health. Proper hydration prevents the heart from working too hard.
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Which fruit is best for the heart?
Berries, avocados, apples, bananas and so forth are excellent fruit choices for heart health.
