Why is it so important for individuals to make sure they are keeping a healthy heart by living a healthy lifestyle? Well, not only is heart disease is the no. 1 cause of death in men and women, eating healthy also goes hand in hand with the environment. In order for you to put quality food in your body, it’s important for you as a consumer to support quality food through your purchases.
According to recent American Heart Association research, over 64 million Americans have one or more forms of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This means the chances of you or your loved ones living with or developing heart disease in the future are greater than ever. Along with supporting eco-friendly farming practices, what more information do you need to know to change you diet? Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to significantly lower your chances of developing heart disease and increase your eco-friendly efforts.
Maintaining a heart-healthy diet and managing your weight can drastically reduce your chances of developing a heart-related condition. However, many people today have ignored this truth, leading to the fact that 65 percent of American adults over the age of 20 are overweight or obese. This problem comes from a combination of factors, such as increased meal portion sizes, consumption of more processed foods that contain fewer nutrients and leading more sedentary lifestyles.
Luckily, you can work to control and even stop this problem. The next few sections will highlight some of the best weapons you have to live a greener and healthier lifestyle.
Watch Your Calorie Intake
One of the most important rules to remember about watching your diet is to use up at least as many calories as you take in. Preparing smaller portions can help you, and you will also have more leftovers to eat during the week.
In order to do this, you must always be aware of how many calories you should be eating and drinking to sustain your appropriate weight (based on your age, physical activity level and whether you want to gain, lose or maintain your weight) and how much physical activity you must do to burn up that number of calories.
The average adult should aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day. This time can be spread into three 10-minute intervals throughout the day.
Follow a Heart-healthy Diet
Your diet should consist of nutritious foods from all of the food groups. These healthy foods are filled with vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients that are important to keeping your body healthy. It’s also beneficial to choose organic foods that are free of pesticides and other harmful chemicals.
Foods you should eat include vegetables, fruits, whole-grain products and fat-free or low-fat dairy products. Green, leafy vegetables and vitamin C rich fruits are especially beneficial, because they use their antioxidant abilities to protect your heart against disease.
Another item on the menu that should be added to your diet is fish (preferably wild fish or farm fish raised in more controlled environments that reduce pollution and disease). Fish contains omega-3 fatty acids that, according to recent research, may help you lower your risk of death from coronary artery disease.
Adding nutritious foods to your diet can help you control your weight and your blood pressure.
