Three Tips for a Healthy Heart

Did you know that heart disease is the number one killer for both men and women in the United States, leading to over 700,000 deaths each year? That may be a scary statistic, but the good news is heart disease can be prevented.

Good Nutrition

At the heart of good health is good nutrition. The key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle is to manage your portion sizes and eat a well-balanced diet.

Foods to keep your heart healthy include:

• Fish
• Chicken
• Nuts
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Whole grains
• Foods high in fiber

These are all great examples of foods that will help keep your heart strong. Personally, I like to start my day with a healthy breakfast of steel cut oatmeal, fruit and low fat yogurt.

Physical Activity

To keep your heart strong and healthy, it’s important to do some type of physical activity every day. The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes of cardiovascular exercise per week. While you work out, be sure you are breathing hard, but still able to carry on a conversation. It’s also helpful to find exercises that you enjoy doing so that it’s easy to make it an everyday habit.

My favorite forms of exercise are biking, rowing and jogging. There are many other great ways to get in your 150 minutes of physical activity each week.

Reduce Stress

Stress in our lives is normal, so it is important to find ways to manage it.

Way to reduce stress:

• Exercise
• Eating a healthy diet
• Getting enough sleep
• Not smoking
• Not drinking too much caffeine

For me, managing stress means making time for things I enjoy like fishing, riding horses and spending time with my family.