Six Ways To Protect Your Heartby Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger 09 Oct 2007 03:25 PM There are so many little things you can do that add up to BIG protection for your heart. Here are some tips for keeping your ticker safe and healthy.
- Eat plenty of omega-3 fatty acids. If you have heart disease already, omega-3 fatty acids can help keep inflammation in check, lower blood pressure, and slow plaque growth. Plaque is a mix of fatty substances (including bad LDL cholesterol) that can inflame artery walls. A plaque deposit that bursts can produce an artery-blocking clot and lead to a heart attack.
- Take a low dose aspirin if your doctor says you should. Low doses of aspirin can prevent clots, but aspirin can also be trouble for your stomach and increase your risk of stroke. Your age and family history will help your doctor decide whether or not a low dose aspirin is a good idea for your heart.
- Be careful with your supplements. Recent research shows that too much vitamin A, vitamin E, and vitamin C can be bad for women over the age of fifty who have diabetes. Ask your doctor before adding ANY over the counter supplements to your regular health care routine.
- Make big cuts in your saturated fat intake. Saturated fats should be less than ten percent of your daily calories -- less than seven percent if you can. Be careful to avoid partially hydrogenated fats, also known as trans fats. Read food labels carefully!
- Make small cuts in your calorie intake as you age. After you hit fifty, your metabolism slows down about five percent every ten years. That means your body is burning less energy -- even if you are moderately active. Trim 200 calories a day to help keep your body in balance.
- Indulge in a piece of dark chocolate. Eating just one thirty calorie piece of dark chocolate every day can lower your blood pressure in just two weeks. Your systolic blood pressure can go down as much as three points; your diastolic blood pressure as much as two points. Just don't overindulge -- eating more chocolate won't make your blood pressure go any lower.
heart, heart disease, heart health
|
|
|
|
|
