The heart is the most important organs in the human body, which is responsible for pumping blood through the blood vessels in rhythmic contractions. It collects de-oxygenated blood from the body through veins and pumps purified blood back into the body.
Therefore, it is very important to take good care of your heart. Poor eating habits, increased stress levels and lack of exercise can contribute to disrupting the normal functioning of the heart. This article will give you some tips on how to protect your heart in easy-to-understand language.
General Guidelines about Protecting your Heart:
- Diet
Avoid fatty and salty food in your heart. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables to replenish and balance the nutrients in your body. Instead of packed juices, use fresh fruits to prepare juice every day. Eat green, leafy vegetables that will give your body the essential nutrients. Drink lots of water throughout the day to clean out all the toxins from your body. Use alternatives such as green tea instead of regular tea or coffee. Replace your regular vegetable or groundnut oil with olive oil as it a healthier option. - Exercise
Ensure that you include proper exercise in your daily routine. Start your day by warming up to wake up your muscles and other important organs and improve the blood circulation. You need not necessarily go to the gym everyday; you can exercise through other activities such as, brisk walking, dancing, gardening, climbing the stairs, playing with children etc. - Smoking
If you want to protect your heart, you need to stop smoking at once and also ensure that you do not passive-smoke. Smoking is not only an expensive habit, it also increases the risk of heart failure and heart attacks. If you quit smoking, you can reduce the chances of getting cardiovascular diseases.
- Stress
Control your stress now and don’t wait till you realize that you are undergoing stress. Start acting now and take preventive measures to reduce stress in your life. Stress management, meditation and deep breathing exercises can help you handle stress in a better way. - Sleep
Follow “early to bed and early to wise” routine; go to bed by 10 at night. You can drink a cup of chamomile tea along with or after your dinner to induce sleep. You could also try listening to soothing music or taking a relaxing bath before you go to bed. - Cholesterol
Check your cholesterol levels at regular time intervals. Keep your good cholesterol (HDL) level up and make sure the level if your bad cholesterol (LDL) is low. Get your lipid profile done too and ask your family physician for some tips on maintaining your cholesterol levels. - Blood Pressure
It is very important to get your blood pressure (BP) checked regularly if you want to protect your heart. A high BP can lead to heart failure or heart attacks. Take appropriate medication on your doctor’s advice if your BP levels are not normal. - Check-ups
Go for routine check-ups to your family physician and don’t forget to follow up. This is one sure shot way to protect your heart and thus the overall health of your body. - Positive Outlook
Maintain a positive outlook in life. Think positive and keep yourself and others around you happy. Focus on all the positive aspects in your life. Pick up a hobby like singing or reading to take your mind off your worries and stay healthy.
Read below natural remedies and know more about how to protect your heart from ailments and diseases:
- Use ginger in your diet as it is considered as one of the most natural remedies for heart-related ailments. It has been proven to lower BP levels and cholesterol as well.
- You should also use fresh crushed garlic in the food you cook to protect your heart.
- Include Omega-3 supplements such as soybean oil, walnut oil, canola oil etc. in your diet.
- Eat blueberries, which are known to have high levels of vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants that can prevent arteries form hardening.
- Coenzyme Q10 is an oxidant that helps increase the energy in cells and also helps prevent blood clots.
- Hawthorn is another natural ingredient that is used for treating many heart conditions such as high BP, congestive heart failure and angina. It helps the blood vessels to pump blood more effectively. However, take this supplement for protecting your heart only after consulting your doctor.
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I love eating oily and fatty food before. One time, i felt my heart was palpitating and my BP is high and my doctor told me to stop eating those foods and advised me to take Omega 3 Fish Oil Ultimate to help my body to protect my heart and boost the health of my cardiovascular system. So, i decided to try it and it is effective together with proper diet and exercise.