How Can I Tell If My Heart Is Healthy?
You can find more about heart-health benchmarks by visiting the American Heart Association at this link: www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200002 |
Regular aerobic exercise is a major factor in your cardiovascular health, so find a form of exercise that gets your heart pumping and do it regularly. You’ll find it’s a lot easier to start exercising — and stick with it — if you find a FUN activity that you enjoy, like tennis, biking, walking vigorously, jogging, or aerobic dancing. Or mix it up, and try something different each day of the week. Your mind, body, and spirit can all benefit from engaging in regular physical activity. For your body, exercise helps to protect against the development of chronic diseases, supports healthy bone density, supports healthy weight management, increases heart and lung function, and has a positive effect on cholesterol levels and blood pressure. And for your mind and spirit, exercise decreases muscle tension, can enhance feelings of wellbeing, improves your ability to handle stress, and often improves self-esteem and elevates mood.
For more information about exercise recommendations, please visit this American Heart Association link: www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200013. |
Foods That Support Heart Health Your diet can play a huge role in maintaining cardiovascular health. A diet rich in antioxidants, beneficial fats, and fiber, can pay off in the long run. Specific nutritional supplements may also support heart health, help maintain healthy cholesterol and blood lipid levels, and help keep vessels and arteries clean. Chronic inflammation is believed to be the culprit behind many degenerative diseases including heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and cancer. Increase your servings of anti-inflammatory foods such as colorful fruits and vegetables, spices, and dark chocolate, which all contain powerful flavonoids that have antioxidant properties. For more advice about a heart-healthy diet, please visit the American Heart Association at this link: www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200010 . |