Weight Free Living - A Healthy Heart

In recent decades, a great deal has been learned about how to keep your heart healthy throughout your life. This is great news, because although genetics play a part, we now have a set of sensible guidelines to follow. We can greatly reduce our risk of heart attack by following these guidelines.

What you eat plays a major role in maintaining the health of your heart. One of the most important things you need to eat to maintain a healthy heart is foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These include cold-water fish, walnuts, and the favorite of many modern chefs, olive oil. Other good foods include whole grains (so no more white bread!), and fresh vegetables, particularly tomatoes and eggplant. You don't have to skip desert, either - grab a bowlful of blueberries and your heart will be healthier.

Another important ingredient for both a healthy heart and weight loss is exercise. Get rid of the excess fat, particularly from the abdomen, and you'll improve your overall health enormously. Fat on any part of your body is bad news, but it's particularly hard on the heart when it's belly fat. This secretes harmful proteins out through your bloodstream, and they head straight for the heart. The key to exercise is to find something you enjoy and then keep on doing it. You don't need fancy equipment or to pay high gym fees, simple activities like running, swimming, walking and biking are all beneficial. You can do one long session, or a number of small sessions throughout the day.

Of course, there are other factors in keeping your heart healthy, apart from losing some weight and getting fitter. Give up smoking, and as well as lowering your risk of lung cancer, you also improve the health of your heart. Smoke contains chemicals that irritate the circulatory system, which leads to inflated arteries, and your heart suffers.

A more recent discovery is that gum disease and tooth decay may also be linked to atherosclerosis, which causes heart disease. So although it's a good idea to brush your teeth twice daily and floss at least once a day for the sake of your teeth, we now know it's also good for your heart. It appears that the bacteria which cause gingivitis (bad breath) also have a negative impact on your heart. So having healthy teeth means a healthy heart too.

While many of us go on diets to lose weight simply because we want to look slimmer, the good news is that we're also helping to keep our heart healthy too.