Most of us think of heart health as an exclusively physiological matter. If we don’t smoke, eat right and exercise enough, we’ll be able to avoid serious and even fatal diseases. And there’s no doubt that the heart, which circulations about 2,000 gallons of blood daily throughout the body, is crucial to an healthy and efficiently functioning system. Says Ballard F. Smith, M.D. of the Bradenton Cardiology Center in Bradenton, Florida, “The circulatory system does not just carry oxygen, it acts as an exchange system where oxygen is given, and waste products are removed ,via the kidney, liver and lungs. Without a healthy heart, this system fails.”
But there’s another reason to get your heart pumping productively: It will make you feel better emotionally. Exercise, a key component of a healthy lifestyle, is not only good for your heart, it’s good for your mind. Experts have found that exercise improves your mood, helps relieve stress, lowers blood pressure, and keeps your energy at a high level throughout the day.
Researchers have even discovered that exercise may be more of a preventive factor than weight in heart disease. A study conducted by Nicole Bairey Merz, M.D., of Cedars Sinai Medical Center, found that a sedentary lifestyle, no matter what weight you are, is a significant risk factor in getting heart disease.
In general, Dr.Smith of the Bradenton Cardiology Center recommends 30 minutes of “moderate physical activity” every day. Of course, you should check with your doctor about what level of activity is exactly right for you and how much of each type of exercise—warmup; aerobic or cardiovascular; strengthening—you should do.
Overall, you’ll feel better while you’re exercising (and after you finish!) if you keep an eye on what you eat throughout the day. Dr. Smith recommends eating nutrient-rich foods. Fresh fruits and vegetables, plus sources of lean protein like chicken, will keep you going throughout the day and, unlike high-fat foods, will prevent you from feeling sluggish. (Have you ever had the urge to walk a mile or two after eating the Megaton Combo #3 at your local fast-food joint? We didn’t think so.) Keep an eye out, too, for “empty calories” -foods like potatoe chips, sugary sports drinks that supply a lot of sugar but almost no nutrients.
Plain water is always best.
If you’re like most people, you’ll find it difficult to keep to your new lifestyle at first. Find an exercise and nutrition buddy – the two of you can keep each other on track. And when your exercise seems hard or your food tastes bland, remember how good you’ll look and feel if you stick with it.
That should make you—and your heart—very happy. (And your partner too!)
Heart Aglow
The world is full of wonder,
Of beauty, mirth and whim;
And I must surely say I know
You're definitely one of them!
You fill my head with happy thoughts,
My heart with such delight;
My stomach's full of butterflies,
Your love fills my soul with light.
I'm so glad to have you in my life,
I thought that you should know;
Just the simple thought of you
Will set my heart aglow.
From the upcoming book "Awakening Love"
written by Yolanda Pacheco Garcia 2010
