Nature's Prescription For A Healthy Heart

Diet is important because of the far-reaching effects it can have on heart health. This is true because people with poor diets are at much higher risk for obesity and diabetes, which in turn are closely linked to heart disease. Thus, maintaining a heart-healthy diet is one of the best things anyone can do to reduce their chances of suffering from heart disease.

• Eat to live, do not live to eat.

Excess weight puts a strain on the heart and worsens heart disease risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides.

• He who follows nature is never out of the way!!

Whole grain cereals, pulses & legumes, fruits & vegetables with their edible skin are excellent sources of fibre. A high fibre diet reduces blood cholesterol & triglycerides.

• Clean up the oily mess

Use unsaturated fats (PUFA & MUFA) in moderation. These fats help lower total cholesterol & LDL (bad) cholesterol. PUFA sources include sunflower, soyabean oil. Omega 3 fats (heart-healthy PUFA) are found in salmon, flaxseeds, walnut, etc. MUFA sources include olive oil, peanut oil, gingelly oil. Avoid saturated fats (egg yolk, butter, coconut oil, ghee,) & foods high in cholesterol (egg yolk, organ meats & red meats)

• Excess salt & stimulants are harmful

Salt contains sodium, which increases fluid retention and makes the heart work harder. Coffee increases stress hormones in the body, putting coffee drinkers at greater risk of heart disease.

• Don't miss out on the miracle fluid

People who drink 5 or more glasses of water a day have a much lower risk of fatal heart disease compared to those who drink less than 2 glasses per day.

Did you know?

The human heart can create enough pressure that it could squirt blood at a distance of thirty feet.