Heart disease is still the leading killer in America today. Why? With all of the research out there, it is believed now that stress may be the contributing factor. Our mental health is a result of our lifestyle choices in many ways. Lets face it. We all have stress. Stress is a part of life. I believe it is not really the stress we have in our lives, but how we choose to deal with that stress. There are some great natural and lifestyle ways to handle keeping a healthy heart. It all begins with your own personal stress management plan. Our lifestyle choices will directly determine how well our health will be. So we must choose wisely. Let’s look at some basic tips to keep our heart healthy in the middle of life’s most difficult challenges.
1.Your Network Matters
Who we choose to spend our time with truly matters. We must spend time with those that keep us encouraged and have our best interest at heart. Healthy relationships create a healthy heart. Just like stressful relationships can actually create damage to our heart and overall health. It matters.
2.Your Eating Matters
When it comes to eating for your heart there are some core principles that make the difference. Eating real natural, unprocessed foods as listed in my anti-inflammatory diet will get you on the right path. It includes equal amounts of lean protein sources, low glycemic carbohydrates, and healthy fats.
3. Your Exercise Matters
You have to get moving. Stop telling yourself that walking the dog and gardening are healthy activities. They are better than sitting on the couch. Yes. However, they will not generate the kind of heart healthy benefits that you are looking for. Focus on getting out and doing some form of strenuous exercise that gets your heart rate up.
4.Your Sleep Matters
If you are not sleeping, then you are headed toward some potential challenges with your heart health. Numerous studies have been performed to show us how important sleep is to our body’s ability to recover from the stress of the day and keep our heart performing at its best.
