7 Simple Steps for a Healthier Heart

Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Despite this unfortunate statistic, there are many easy lifestyle changes that you can make right now to improve your heart health. Here are seven ways to improve your cardiovascular health.

1. Manage Blood Pressure
   High blood pressure puts you at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Lower your blood pressure by maintaining a healthy weight, eating healthy, and exercising regularly.
2. Lower Cholesterol
   Foods high in saturated fats, such as red meat and dairy products, can increase cholesterol levels over time. High cholesterol levels can lead to plaque buildup in the arteries, increasing blood pressure and the risk of heart disease and stroke.
3. Stabilize Blood Sugar Levels
   High blood sugar levels and diabetes can damage the heart over time. If you have hyperglycemia or diabetes, ensure you’re treating it properly to prevent heart disease in the future. People with diabetes are significantly more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than the general healthy population.
4. Be Active
   Exercise is one of the best ways to keep your heart healthy. Incorporate some form of cardio into your weekly exercise routine, whether that’s running, swimming, dancing, or biking. You don’t have to do an intense workout — find something you love and be consistent with it. As long as you raise your heart rate, your heart will thank you!
5. Eat More Whole Foods
   Limit your intake of processed foods, as they are usually high in calories, sugar, and saturated fats and low in nutrients. Incorporate more whole foods into your diet, such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, whole grains, and lean proteins. Instead of eating red meat, switch to chicken, seafood, or plant-based proteins.
6. Manage your Weight
   Obesity is one of the biggest risk factors for heart disease. Maintaining a healthy weight helps regulate blood pressure and reduces the risk of diabetes. MagicKitchen.com offers portion-controlled meals that make managing your weight easy. All the meals are delicious and nutritionally balanced, taking the guesswork out of healthy eating.
7. Stop Smoking
   Most of us know that smoking is bad for our health. If you’ve ever thought about quitting, it’s never too late. Smoking damages the heart and lung tissue and increases the risk of most lifestyle-related chronic diseases, including heart disease.