Be Proactive About Your Heart Health

Your heart works hard to continuously pump blood, non-stop, to other parts of the body. Incredibly, it pumps 2000 gallons a day and beats about 100,000 beats a day! This rhythmic pumping ensures the circulation of a fresh supply of oxygen-rich blood to all organs, tissues and cells of the body.

Your heart is your lifeline, and heart health should be a priority. Certain lifestyle choices we make can have consequences for our hearts, which can also affect the functions of other important organs and tissues. For optimal health it is important that we adjust our lifestyle, and make choices to promote heart health.

Taking steps in the right direction have had positive and proven benefits for heart health. Here are some tips to help keep your heart healthy.

• Watch your diet. Maintain a low fat diet and include lots of fruits and vegetables. The Recommended Daily Allowance for fruits and vegetables is at least 2 to 3 cups a day. Eating green leafy vegetables is also highly recommended. Include fatty fish at least twice a week in your diet.
• Maintain a healthy weight. It is a known fact that blood pressure increases as your weight increases. Eating a healthy balanced diet is the first step towards achieving your normal weight limit for your height and age.
  In addition to maintaining a healthy weight, doctors recommend that we watch the waistline! An expanding midriff can also put extra pressure on your heart. As a general guideline, men should keep their waistline within 40 inches; women, within 35 inches.
• Physical activity. Get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. Aerobic exercises or even a brisk walk will help strengthen the heart and support blood circulation. A stronger heart means the heart can pump more blood with less effort. It is important to establish a regular exercise pattern and remain consistent. Consistency will give you the maximum benefits from your exercise regimen. You should always check with your doctor before beginning any exercise regimen, especially if you are over 40, a smoker, or suffer from any medical condition.
• Monitor the intake of sodium in your diet. Many processed foods (including vegetable juices) contain high amounts of sodium. Read labels carefully. You may want to avoid adding more table salt to your food. Instead, try adding ground herbs and spices for more taste. You can also try eating more fresh foods since cooked and processed foods are likely to contain more sodium.
• Moderate your consumption of alcohol. Moderate consumption of alcohol is considered acceptable by most medical experts. Excessive drinking can have multiple adverse effects on cardiovascular health.
• Quit smoking. Smoking can be harmful to the heart. Medical experts agree that total abstinence from smoking is a positive way to maintain heart health -- this includes second-hand smoke too.
• Reduce stress. Try to get eight hours of sleep a night. If you are under unavoidable stress, find ways to help de-stress. It can be as simple as including time for your favorite hobby during the week, watching your favorite TV program, getting together with friends or even a relaxing massage.
• Have a good laugh. There is something to the old adage, â€A merry heart works like medicine.†Dr. Michael Miller, who led studies at the University of Maryland, School of Medicine, suggests a 15-minute daily dose of heartfelt laughter to support heart health.

• Natto-kinase, a Japanese herb that has traditionally been used as nutritional support for proper blood circulation and heart health.
  
• Hawthorn leaves also support healthy blood circulation.
• Vitamin D supports healthy functioning of the heart.
• Taurine is an antioxidant.
• Folic acid and phytosteroscial for both heart and blood health, according to the American Medical Association.

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