You know that exercise and a good diet can keep your heart healthy. But what else can you do to keep your ticker going strong? Here, cardiothoracic surgeon Marc Gillinov, MD, recommends five key things you need to do every day to help your heart work most efficiently. Incorporate these habits into your lifestyle and your heart health will be the best it can be for you.
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Follow these five tips and you’ll be doing your heart a favor. You’ll feel better and be able to stay active with a heart-healthy lifestyle.
It’s best to exercise before or after your fast, instead of during it
If the flakes are undisturbed, pristine white and come from the top layer, it’s typically safe to indulge in a scoop
Snacking can bring benefits with healthy food choices and planning
Absolutely! In fact, in many ways, exercise is key to recovery
You can counter the risk of prediabetes-related heart attack or stroke by eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, as well as exercising regularly
LDL cholesterol and lipoprotein (a) cholesterol are more likely to stick to your arteries and lead to dangerous heart events
The exercise — which you’ve probably been doing since grade school — can be intimidating, but proper form can help
Cardio is great for improving cognition, but strength and balance training are just as important
A healthy diet can easily meet your body’s important demands for magnesium
A super high heart rate means you’re burning more than fat
Type 2 diabetes isn’t inevitable with these dietary changes