Keeping Your Heart Healthy

You probably had a teacher when you were a kid who told you to clench your fist and look at it. Once your fist was clenched, they informed you, "This is what size your heart is." You could do this same exercise right now, but even though you might still be surprised to find how small your heart is, you surely will not be surprised to know how important it is. Without the heart, the body receives no blood, and without blood the body cannot function. Because of this, a healthy heart is one of the most important things you can maintain in order to have a healthy body. Even though the heart can seem like an abstract object hidden away in your chest, there are many tangible things you can do to keep a healthy heart.

Eating healthy is a big part of maintaining a healthy heart, but there is more to this than just plain eating healthy; you also have to know what foods are good for your heart. If you want to decrease calcification in your arteries, eat leafy green vegetables; if you want to keep abnormal blood clotting from occurring, you should add salmon to your diet. Also, such fruits as apples are good for preventing blood clotting, and almonds are good for regulating the heart rhythm. Oats and green tea both help to lower cholesterol, and green tea can have the added benefit of relaxing your arteries. You can watch both your heart and your body begin to perform better as you learn what goes into a heart-healthy diet.

You can also help your cardiovascular system by taking a variety of specific supplements. In order to reduce inflammation of blood vessels, you should take Omega-3 essential fatty acids. You can find Omega-3 essential fatty acids in some foods, but you can also find them in supplements that are designed especially to provide your body with this beneficial element. Two other important supplements that can aid your heart are magnesium and Vitamin B6.

Knowing the foods and supplements that will help your heart is the first step in making it more healthy, even before you can start exercising or doing other activities to help your heart. Once you begin to learn what these foods and supplements are, you will be firmly on the path to a healthy heart.