As promised, here are some more tips to help you love your heart.
- Get moving – oh yes, I mentioned this last week – and I am doing it again because it really is just that important!!!
- Vitamin D – get some sun. Don’t overdo it and burn (that’s just not clever). But inadequate vitamin D has been linked to high blood pressure and poor vascular health and increased diabetes risk (plus soo many other issues). Vitamin D has been shown likely to actually help repair cardiovascular structures that get damaged with heart disease and heart attacks (if your Dr is concerned about your cholesterol, then Dr is concerned about your heart health) AND be protective. Supplementation may be necessary if you never or rarely expose yourself to the sun without sunscreen or protective clothes, work mainly indoors or have a liver that really needs a bit of love. The level of supplementation required is something you really need to get specific advice on.
- Sesame seeds – be liberal. Or you can get the benefits with tahini (sesame seed paste) and have it as a dip, mixed with other dips (such as hummus), add it to salads as a dressing, use it as a sauce. With its high fatty acid content, it may inhibit formation of atherosclerotic lesions and improve your cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
- Pomegranates – the juice has been shown to decrease the formation of plaques, lower inflammation and help unclog arteries. Having the juice regularly, over a period of time can slow the progression of cardiac-related disease. Just take care to watch the sugar content if you are having it as pre-made juice.
- Beetroot – helps dilate blood vessels and helps decrease blood pressure.
- Green leafy veg – the folate content (and the other goodies) helps lower both stroke risk and help your heart. It helps break down homocysteine (which is inflammatory and damages artery walls) in the blood.
- Stress, stress, stress – yes, you need to work on lowering this. It affects blood clotting, messes with adrenaline and cortisol release, increases inflammation and deposits in the arteries, – oh and also messes with your sleep, which can actually increase your cardiovascular disease risk.
Don’t ignore your heart. Love your heart.