Keep a food diary
Maintaining a food diary can help you track your eating habits and make healthier dietary choices. It’s a useful tool for managing weight, a key factor in heart health.
Lifestyle and Wellness
Read food labels
Understanding food labels can help you make healthier choices. Look for foods low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars. Pay attention to serving sizes and the number of servings per container.
Avoid crash diets
Crash diets can be harmful to your health, especially your heart. Opt for a balanced diet with a variety of nutrients to support heart health and maintain a healthy weight.
Know your blood pressure readings
Understanding your blood pressure readings and what they mean is important for heart health. Regular monitoring can help detect hypertension early and prevent heart-related complications.
Use heart-healthy cooking methods
Healthy cooking methods like baking, broiling, steaming, and grilling are healthier alternatives to frying. These methods help retain the nutritional value of food and reduce unhealthy fat intake.
Exercise regularly
Regular physical activity is key to heart health. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise each week, such as brisk walking, swimming, or cycling. Regular exercise can help control your weight, reduce blood pressure, and improve your cholesterol levels.
Avoid exposure to tobacco smoke
Secondhand smoke can increase the risk of heart disease. Avoiding environments with tobacco smoke and encouraging smoke-free spaces is important for heart health.
Get 3 regular health screenings
Regular health screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and diabetes can help detect problems early and prevent heart disease. Follow your doctor’s recommendations for these tests, and maintain a schedule for regular check-ups.
Stay informed about heart medications
If you are prescribed heart medications, understand how they work and the importance of taking them as directed. Regular consultations with your healthcare provider can help you stay on track and address any concerns.