February is Heart Health Month. Are you doing all you can to keep your heart healthy? Come with me and get some HEALTHY Tips!
Unlock the door to a healthier, happier life by prioritizing your heart health. Your heart, a tireless champion, deserves the best care. You need to start with a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to nourish your heart with essential nutrients. To which added exercise will help support the strength needed.
Did you know that:
- The average adult heart beats 72 times a minute; 100,000 times a day; 3,600,000 times a year; and 2.5 billion times during a lifetime.
- Though weighing only 11 ounces on average, a healthy heart pumps 2,000 gallons of blood through 60,000 miles of blood vessels each day
- Every day, the heart creates enough energy to drive a truck 20 miles. In a lifetime, that is equivalent to driving to the moon and back.
Diet is also an important part of heart health. What you consume is very important.
- Balanced Caloric Intake: Maintain a healthy body weight by ensuring that the calories you consume are balanced with those burned through exercise.
- Fruits and Vegetables: Aim for a variety of fruits and vegetables, both fresh and frozen. Leafy greens like kale and spinach, rich in vitamins and antioxidants, can help lower blood pressure and reduce heart disease risk1.
- Whole Grains: Opt for whole grains over refined grains. These include foods like brown rice, quinoa, and whole wheat bread.
- Healthy Fats: Use liquid plant oils such as olive oil instead of tropical oils like palm oil. Unsaturated fats and oils are beneficial for heart health.
- Protein Sources: Choose healthy protein options such as plant-based proteins, seafood, or lean meats.
- Limit Added Sugars and Salt: Minimize your intake of added sugars and salt.
- Moderate Alcohol: Limit alcohol consumption.
- Minimally Processed Foods: Focus on minimally processed foods to support heart health.
Remember YOU have others that care about you
So, visit your Doctor, eat healthy, and get some exercise, but don’t over do it without medical guidance.