Unfortunately, there is one thing we can’t really control when it comes to heart health, and that is genetics. Some of us are more prone to heart issues due to genetically high blood pressure and cholesterol. Good news: aside from exercise, there are a bunch of things we can do to avoid succumbing to some of the health consequences associated with those genetic factors. First thing is not smoking. Smoking exponentially increases our risk of developing heart disease, coronary artery disease and suffering a heart attack or stroke. If you need help quitting, there are a ton of resources at smokefree.gov and quit.org. Another thing we can control is our diet. A heart healthy diet is high in fiber, low in sugar and cholesterol, lower in calorie, and nutrient rich. This means consuming lots of dark leafy greens, legumes, fish, healthy fats like nuts and avocados, whole grains, and colorful fruits and vegetables. Monitoring sodium levels in food is a good way to keep blood pressure down. Saturated and trans fats are the enemy here, try to limit these as much as possible. If you need more nutrition information, schedule your free wellness consultation with Nicole. High stress, alcohol, and not enough sleep can also be detrimental to heart health. Meditation and exercise are great ways to minimize stress and improve sleep. For more information, visit mindful.org or chat with Nicole for more tips.
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