Healthy Habits for a Healthy Heart
By Donna Stark
By now, you have know that February is American Heart Month, so let's take some time to talk about what that means. For some, it may mean that it's time to decorate their home and office with heart-shaped cutouts. And although there is nothing wrong with that, it's not the direction we are looking to go. Instead, we are going to travel down a road that places the health of our hearts high on its priority list. Let's take a look at a few of the ways we can do that.
Exercise Every Day
One of the goals of daily exercise is to get your heart pumping but to do so without actually straining it too much. High-intensity and high-stress workouts have their time and place, but for the most part, all you need is 30 minutes of moderate activity every day. That's something you can do, right?
Find Ways to Relax
Stress is one of the worst things for the heart, so it is vital that you find effective ways to manage it and learn how to relax. Making time for nature is one of the easiest ways to do this. Spending time outdoors and getting some sunshine on your face has been shown to lower blood pressure and reduce the levels of your body's stress hormones.
Consume Heart-Healthy Foods
You know there are certain foods that are good for the health of your eyes and your brain, but did you know there are foods that are good for the health of your heart too? Nutrient-dense foods that are anti-inflammatory and contain healthy fats, omega 3, and other important vitamins and minerals are key to keeping your heart beating without any issues. Try to incorporate as many of these into your diet as you can. Here are a few examples.
- Steel-cut oats
- Fatty fish
- Avocadoes
- Blueberries
- Beans
- Tomatoes
- Walnuts
Get Your Sleep
Your body needs the time you are sleeping to heal itself from the day it just had, and your heart is part of that equation. Getting inadequate amounts of sleep can be hard on the heart and may lead to an increased risk of heart disease. Try to shoot for at least seven hours of undisturbed sleep each night. If you need to make changes to your lifestyle to achieve that, do so as soon as you can.
Keeping Your Heart Healthy All Year Long
Just because February is American Heart Month doesn't mean you should ignore the health of your heart throughout the rest of the year. By staying consistent with the suggestions above during the rest of the months, you can stay on the path to optimal health and wellness!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Upland, Calif.