If you're planning to share your heart with someone, be sure it's worth sharing.
One of the best gifts you can give your loved ones is a healthy you. That's reassurance to them that you'll be there to share life and care for them. And one of the best ways to start is by taking care of the most important muscle in your body -- your heart.
Learning to eat better, exercise often and control your risk factors for heart disease can add years to your life. These tips from the American Heart Association and the Mayo Clinic will help you love your heart a whole lot smarter:
Eat Heart-Smart
Better eating habits can reduce your risk of heart disease. Choose the right foods and prepare them in a healthy way. Strive for a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products. Legumes, low-fat sources of protein, and certain types of fish can reduce your risk. And limit your intake of saturated fats (primarily found in beef, butter, cheese, milk and coconut and palm oils) and trans fats (think: deep-fried fast foods, bakery products, packaged snack foods, margarine and crackers).
Get Moving
Regular, moderately vigorous physical activity can reduce your fatal heart disease risk by a quarter. It increases blood flow to your heart, which strengthens contractions and enables it to pump with less effort. Getting 30 to 60 minutes of moderately intense exercise most days of the week is the current federal guideline, but even less is better than none. Taking the stairs, walking the dog, doing housework and gardening all count toward your daily total.
