Our heart plays a vital role in keeping our bodies both healthy and alive. This imperative organ first pumps blood to our lungs in order to retrieve oxygen, then, it pumps that same oxygen into our blood and transports it around the rest of our body. When our hearts are in great condition, our bodies work like a charm.
Caring for your heart is extremely important, and is something that should never be ignored. Here are five Heart2Heart tips that will help you with the process of looking after your heart:
Tip One: Exercise Everyday
You don’t need to be a fitness fanatic in order to exercise every day. In fact, simply walking for around 30 minutes a day will decrease your chances of experiencing a heart attack by 33%! If your daily exercise routines easily slips your mind, set a reminder on your phone so that you never forget!
Tip Two: Drink Alcohol Moderately
If you are an avid alcohol drinker, you may want to reconsider reducing your alcohol intake. Alcohol affects both your liver and your heart. Limiting your alcohol consumption by 3-4 glasses a week will benefit you in the long run.
Tip Three: Stop Smoking
Smoking is one of the leading causes of heart complications. Smoking increases your heart rate, tightens major arteries and can cause an irregular heartbeat. Avoid smoking altogether (including second hand smoke) and start working towards a healthier you. There are many avenues in which you can take that can assist you with the process of quitting, such as:
- Finding a new hobby
- Speaking to one of our specialists
- Understanding what the risks are
- Finding less harmful alternatives
Tip Four: Eat Dark Chocolate
Whether you are a chocolate lover or not, it is highly recommended that you dabble in a bit of dark chocolate here and there. It has been proven that dark chocolate is extremely good for the heart when it is eaten in moderation. The cocoa powder in dark chocolate is found to decrease oxidized LDL cholesterol in men. This is due to the powerful antioxidants found in cocoa.
Tip Five: Refrain From Eating Too Much Salt
Salt is a great way to add flavour to food; however, consuming too much salt is unsafe for your heart. Your chances of experiencing heart failure will rise dramatically if you are eating too many salty foods.
The Benefits of Having a Healthy Heart
Everybody should strive to have a healthy heart and fully functioning heart:
- A healthy heart works more efficiently than an unhealthy heart. This means, it beats at a lower rate and refrains from getting worn out easily.
- Having a healthy heart reduces your risk of experiencing heart diseases.
- Your lifespan is increased if your heart is healthy.
- You will have the ability to exercise without feeling extremely weak.
Having a healthy heart is the key to having a long and prosperous life. Your heart is an integral part of your body and needs to be fully functioning so you can be the best and healthiest version of yourself. Our Heart2Heart experts are prepared to help you get started and make these positive life changes. Give us a call today at 1-866-260-2790 or visit one of our locations for more information about your heart and it’s needs.
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