How to keep your heart healthy to live longer.
The heart is a very vital homeostatic organ of the body in which other parts of the body depends on to function, so I've listed these ten ways to keep your heart healthy
Your heart is in your hands. Each year on your birthday, schedule a checkup to have your blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels checked, and ask your doctor to help you reach or maintain a healthy weight. Be sure to follow your healthcare professional's recommendations, including taking prescribed medications as directed.
Step, march or jog in place for at least 15 minutes a day while watching your favorite TV shows. Increase your activity by five minutes each week until you're getting a minimum of 30 minutes most days of the week.
If exercise and diet do not get you to your goal, ask your doctor about adding medication.
Keep your numbers in check: Get Physical
water pitcher3. Drink More Water
Take a water bottle with you wherever you go. It'll keep you hydrated and the bottle's weight will strengthen your arms.
Keep packages of unhealthy food hidden. Put raw veggies and fruits in front in the refrigerator and healthy snacks in the front of the pantry, so that's what you see first. If you grab healthy foods for a minimum of 21 times, healthy choices will become a habit.
American Heart Association red and white checkmarkAlso, look for the American Heart Association red and white heart-check mark. This easy, reliable grocery shopping tool helps you identify foods that can be part of a sensible eating plan.
Keep your numbers in check: Diet and Nutrition
fruits and vegetablesEating foods high in saturated fat, trans fat or cholesterol can lead to high blood cholesterol. To help keep your cholesterol levels down, eat foods low in saturated fat and trans fat, such as lean chicken or turkey (roasted or baked, with skin removed), fruits and veggies, low-fat or fat-free dairy products and whole grains.
Look for cookbooks that focus on heart health in your local bookstore and check out the American Heart Association's recipe section at www.heart.org
To help lower high blood pressure, watch your salt intake. It may be disguised in food labels as sodium alginate, sodium sulfite, sodium caseinate, disodium phosphate, sodium benzoate, sodium hydroxide, monosodium glutamate (MSG), or sodium citrate.
Try this four-step way to kick your habit:
On Day 1, cut the number of cigarettes you smoke by half
On Day 3, cut the number of cigarettes you smoke in half again
And on Day 5, cut your smoking in half again
On your Quit Day... quit!
Keep your numbers in check: Quitting Smoking
Excess weight increases your risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. To achieve steady, painless weight loss, take it easy. Each day, if you eat 200-300 calories less than you would normally consume, and exercise at least 30 minutes on most or all days of the week, you'll get closer to your goal and be able to achieve weight loss that's steady and painless.
If you get off your exercise schedule, have a cigarette, or eat a fattening meal, immediately get back on track toward re-establishing a healthy lifestyle.
To maintain momentum with exercising, losing weight, or quitting smoking, keep track of your achievements and reward yourself by doing something you enjoy.
1. Schedule a Yearly Checkup
Your heart is in your hands. Each year on your birthday, schedule a checkup to have your blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels checked, and ask your doctor to help you reach or maintain a healthy weight. Be sure to follow your healthcare professional's recommendations, including taking prescribed medications as directed.
2. Get Physical
Step, march or jog in place for at least 15 minutes a day while watching your favorite TV shows. Increase your activity by five minutes each week until you're getting a minimum of 30 minutes most days of the week.
If exercise and diet do not get you to your goal, ask your doctor about adding medication.
Keep your numbers in check: Get Physical
water pitcher3. Drink More Water
Take a water bottle with you wherever you go. It'll keep you hydrated and the bottle's weight will strengthen your arms.
4. Eat Healthy
Keep packages of unhealthy food hidden. Put raw veggies and fruits in front in the refrigerator and healthy snacks in the front of the pantry, so that's what you see first. If you grab healthy foods for a minimum of 21 times, healthy choices will become a habit.
American Heart Association red and white checkmarkAlso, look for the American Heart Association red and white heart-check mark. This easy, reliable grocery shopping tool helps you identify foods that can be part of a sensible eating plan.
Keep your numbers in check: Diet and Nutrition
5. Control Cholesterol
fruits and vegetablesEating foods high in saturated fat, trans fat or cholesterol can lead to high blood cholesterol. To help keep your cholesterol levels down, eat foods low in saturated fat and trans fat, such as lean chicken or turkey (roasted or baked, with skin removed), fruits and veggies, low-fat or fat-free dairy products and whole grains.
Look for cookbooks that focus on heart health in your local bookstore and check out the American Heart Association's recipe section at www.heart.org
6. Cut Down on Salt
To help lower high blood pressure, watch your salt intake. It may be disguised in food labels as sodium alginate, sodium sulfite, sodium caseinate, disodium phosphate, sodium benzoate, sodium hydroxide, monosodium glutamate (MSG), or sodium citrate.
7. Quit Smoking
Try this four-step way to kick your habit:
On Day 1, cut the number of cigarettes you smoke by half
On Day 3, cut the number of cigarettes you smoke in half again
And on Day 5, cut your smoking in half again
On your Quit Day... quit!
Keep your numbers in check: Quitting Smoking
8. Maintain a Healthy Weight
Excess weight increases your risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. To achieve steady, painless weight loss, take it easy. Each day, if you eat 200-300 calories less than you would normally consume, and exercise at least 30 minutes on most or all days of the week, you'll get closer to your goal and be able to achieve weight loss that's steady and painless.
9. Stay Positive
If you get off your exercise schedule, have a cigarette, or eat a fattening meal, immediately get back on track toward re-establishing a healthy lifestyle.
10. Give Yourself Credit
To maintain momentum with exercising, losing weight, or quitting smoking, keep track of your achievements and reward yourself by doing something you enjoy.
Comments
Post a Comment