A healthy heart is the key to good health. The heart being a vital organ
of the body needs dedicated care. In order to avoid heart diseases, one also
needs to take care to keep levels of blood pressure and cholesterol regulated.
Ayurveda recommends that a good, balanced and nutritious diet can go a
long way in keeping the heart healthy and preventing heart attacks. It also
recommends that one should follow a healthy lifestyle that promotes a healthy
heart. Here are a few tips on diet and lifestyle to keep heart attack at bay:
Fat
Animal fat is very harmful for the heart. So, one should avoid foods
such as red meat, milk, cheese and butter.
Sodium
Increased blood pressure levels increases the risk of a heart attack.
Reduce consumption of sodium in order to lower level of blood pressure and thus
reduce risk of heart attack. Try and avoid canned food and adding additional
salt to your food.
Fresh Fruits
Fresh fruits contain minerals, vitamins, fibre and antioxidants that keep
the heart healthy.
Fresh Vegetables
Consume fresh vegetables as they too contain various vitamins and
minerals. Try eating them raw or barely cooked as over cooking destroys their
nutrient levels.
Lean Meat
The body needs proteins to strengthen the heart muscles. Consume lean
meat as animal fat can be harmful for health.
Water
Drinking lots of water daily is not only good for the heart but also for
the overall health of your body. Drinking warm water is considered more helpful
than cold water.
Alcohol
Research proves that moderate consumption of alcohol is good for the
heart as it raises the good cholesterol and reduces plaque accumulation in the
arteries. But excessive consumption can have an ill effect as it leads to high
blood pressure, increases fat in the body and weakens the heart.
Smoking
Cigarette smoke contains numerous chemicals that can cause serious
damage to the body. Smoking increases fat levels in the body, damages blood
vessels, damages the artery walls and lead to clotting of blood.
Exercise
Exercising regularly makes the heart stronger, reduces level of fat in
the blood stream and also reduces deposition of plaque in the walls of the
arteries. One must exercise at least 3-5 times in a week.
Stress
In today’s world, stress is an important aspect that everyone has to
deal with. Indulge in stress reduction techniques such as, massage, yoga,
meditation, tai chi, etc. to reduce stress levels.
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