Easy Ways to Be Heart Healthy
By Sara Butler
Your heart is the literal heart of your entire body’s operation. So, making sure you’re taking care of it should be at the top of your priority list. Some people may think that to properly take care of your heart you need to run a marathon or eat only steel cut oatmeal every day, but that’s simply not the truth of the matter. There are some very easy things you can do to care for your heart and here are a few of them!
Why Your Heart Health is Important
When you care for your heart, you’re taking steps to keep from developing heart disease, reduce your blood pressure, prevent strokes, and lower your cholesterol. Basically, caring for your heart improves your quality of life and increases your chances of staying healthy as you age.
Heart Tip No. 1: Eat Foods Rich in Calcium
Everyone knows that calcium-rich foods are important for the health and strength of your bones, but not everyone knows that these foods are good for the old ticker, too. To help your heart stay healthy, you need to eat natural sources of calcium in your diet, such as kale, spinach, broccoli, and dairy. Don’t think you can sneak by with a supplement because studies have actually found that taking calcium supplements can be dangerous for your heart and increase your risk of heart attacks, especially if you’re a woman. That's not a good tradeoff.
Heart Tip No. 2: Get Plenty of Antioxidants
A study out of Sweden found that women who consumed higher amounts of antioxidants have a lower risk of stroke than women who didn’t. So, make it a priority to get your antioxidants from sources such as vegetables and fruits, whole grains, tea, and even dark chocolate! If you throw in some artichokes, lentils, apples, beans, and berries then you can ward off inflammation too, which protects your heart even further.
Heart Tip No. 3: Don’t Skimp on the Herbs and Spices
Variety is the spice of life, and if you want to keep your heart healthy, then cook generously with herbs and spices. It reduces the need for salt, which can have a negative impact on your blood pressure, and also offers a few other health enhancers. Herbs often have more concentrated amounts of antioxidants than even many fruits and vegetables!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.