Cardiovascular health is so important – and we are told this by most health professionals. Go to your doctor, your nearest health store or other health care practitioner and they will all tell you the same thing; heart health is vital and like everything else prevention is always better than cure. However, as much as we understand this in our minds, being proactive about incorporating such preventative measures into our daily lives is a different story. Most of us have a tendency to say ‘we will start tomorrow!’ and then tomorrow always becomes the day after that. So what is it that you can do to change have a health lifestyle and hence a health heart? We look at some of the things you can do below;

Heart Health #1 – Quit smoking!

Ah, how many times have we heard this and yet how many of us take head to the importance of this? Although smoking itself is a complex addiction which although we may fully understand the implications of what we are doing to our bodies, we still crave the need to smoke; physically but mostly psychologically! If you are a smoker and struggling to quit then take some steps to put yourself in the right direction. Join a support forum – there are numerous on the website, read up on what smoking actually does to you, and start being aware of what your relationship is to smoking. Start a smoking journal to help you work through your thoughts and feelings about why you smoke in the first place – aside from the nicotine addiction.

Heart Health #2 – Be open to affection

There is scientific evidence to support the health benefits of love and affection. A study was conducted that revealed those who gave and received a loving touch can significantly lower heart problems than the control group. So being open to affection, love and kindness really will do the health of your heart wonders.

Heart Health #2 – On your marks, go!

We all know this but not all of us carry it through; exercise, exercise, exercise! One can never over-emphasize the infinite benefits that exercise gives us both physically and mentally. Go into the fresh air, involve yourself in jogging, swimming, walks, hikes, sports… there are so many choices you are bound to find one that suits you. This will keep your heart working optimally now and when you get older. So what are you waiting for?!

Heart Health #3 – Indulge in fruit and vegetables

We all know the mantra of eating our fruit and vegetables but these foods provide such vital nutrients that our body needs. In terms of heart health, it has been shown that the more colourful the vegetables the more they contain heart protective antioxidants; particularly vegetables that are yellow, green, red or orange. Go wild with whole grains, fish, beans, seeds and yogurt. Seaweed and garlic are also known to control blood levels while supporting overall cardiovascular health.

So when in comes to heart health the best way is to lead a generally healthy lifestyle that will go a long way to preventing heart problems while keeping you in shape both inside and out for years to come!