Hearth health is among the most important reasons to take a look at your diet. Surprisingly, simple and tasty substitutions can be all that are needed to help your heart keep pumping.
Most everyone knows that regular exercise increases your heart rate,
and thus is a great way to improve heart health. These exercises develop great strength and that is very important for the body to help the heart stay healthy. Perhaps more surprisngly, building, maintaining, or regaining hearth health absolutely requires a carefully planned diet. Healthy heart tissue lends itself many more heart beats and a lot more energy. A full, healthy life awaits you, when you can manage to make the heart's job as easy as possible.
Exercise alone cannot repair the damage that a diet full of trans-fat or high-cholesterol foods can cause to your system. Dr. John Cooke, a head of Stanford Medical School's vascular unit says that diets rich in antioxidants and nutrients, such as Vitamins B, C, E, and folate are best. These foods have properties that improve nitrate acid levels, and thus, your cardiovascular health.
As you may have guessed, the worst offenders in the high-cholesterol department are red meats, dairy, and eggs. The rule of thumb seems to be that all the tasty foods are the worst for you, don't you think? It's not entirely true, but there does seem to be a relationship between the two. Among the worst offenders are some of our favorite snack and party foods. These include candy bars, chips, ice cream, and cake. The relationship is that the fat is where much of the flavor comes from, and generally, higher cholesterol levels are found in the higher-fat foods.
I can hear your sigh from here. I know you're thinking that you'll starve trying to incorporate healthier foods into your diet, aren't you? It really isn't quite as hard as it might appear on the surface. Fresh vegetables and fruit are a fantastic snack or side for a meal - and yes they do taste good. To reduce your beef intake, substitue it with more chicken and fish. Save the steak (as lean as you can find) for rare occasions. Whole-grain foods are the choice you should make when there is a choice. Stick to unrefined sugars and whole grain flours, breads and rice. Stick to canola oil, olive oil, corn oil, walnut oil, and avocado oil, and avoid butter and lard.
Cutting back on, or even eliminating, foods that have always been a big part of your diet may be necessary in order to find a diet that is healthy for your heart. Even altering recipes to substitute healther choices can take you a long way. All in all, the rewards are fantastic, given these substitutions still have great flavor. Your cholesterol numbers will reach a better balance as you commit to sticking with this diet, leading to better health and a longer life. Take care of your heart, as it is the only one you have.
