Home is where the heart is, and it’s also where good heart health begins. In this article, we suggest various ways to be more heart-healthy at home.
Did You Know?
Roughly 60-70% of the human body is made up of water. Not getting enough water can lead to headaches, lack of energy, and disruptions in mood, concentration, and short-term memory.
Challenge yourself to drink more water while at home by filling a pitcher or empty gallon with the recommended daily intake of 64 ounces of water. Make it your goal to finish the pitcher by the end of the day, or to consume an 8- oz glass of water by every 2- hours.
To add flavor to your water, slice up citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, or limes.
3 Tips for Creating a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle
Whether you’re single, married, stay-at-home or working parent, here are some tips to make time for your family as well as creating a heart-healthy lifestyle.
#1 – Make a Weekly Menu.
Carve out time to make a weekly menu and then go shopping so that you can prep your meals as a family. Depending on their ages, kids can help to prepare healthy options – choose simple tasks for them to do such as making healthy snacks (trail mix, fresh fruit salad, etc.) or grocery list making.
#2 – Jump Into Aerobic Activities.
Engage in simple, fun aerobic activities which could include bicycling, dancing, jump roping, etc. – for just 30 minutes a day to reduce your risk of heart disease by lowering blood pressure, lowering cholesterol levels and burning calories.
#3 – Take It One Step at a Time.
The key to introducing a heart-healthy lifestyle is to take baby steps and not giant leaps. This is a long journey; it doesn’t happen overnight, and it takes time.
Move More, Not Less, for Better Heart Health
Did you know that moving your body just 30 minutes a day through aerobic exercise can help improve your heart health?
Regular exercise can help reduce your risk of heart disease by lowering blood pressure, lowering cholesterol levels and burning calories. Making time for a heart-healthy lifestyle can be overwhelming to fit into your daily routine, but just a few small changes can lead to a healthier heart.
The American Heart Association has pointed out six simple steps to incorporate a heart-healthy lifestyle into you and your family’s daily lives.
#1 – Identify free times for activity.
Find time during the week to incorporate two 30-minute time slots for aerobic exercise that the family can enjoy together, and weekends you can incorporate two 1-hour time slots.
#2 – Make time to plan a weekly menu.
Go grocery shopping and prepare your meals for the week together with the entire family.
#3 – Simplify your family’s schedule.
In today’s society we’re expected to do it all. But this type of non-stop lifestyle isn’t sustainable or healthy. Try prioritizing your activities and see what you can do without, so you’ll have more time for the things that matter. You can also work on ways to manage stress.
#4 – Take baby steps, not giant leaps.
The key to introducing a heart-healthy lifestyle is to take baby steps. This is a long journey; it doesn’t happen overnight, and it takes time.
#5 – Ask everyone in the family to do their part.
Kids can help prepare simple healthy snacks like trail mix, or fresh fruit salad. Everyone in the family should be involved and working together to create this lifestyle.
#6 – Live by example.
If you want to create a heart-healthy lifestyle for your family, you need to lead by example. Determination and persistence are extremely important throughout this process – don’t give up!
Celebrate American Heart Month
Each February during American Heart Month, the WakeMed Heart Center takes the opportunity to step out and share the importance of taking care of your heart.
Whether it’s undergoing a procedure, learning about risk factors for heart disease, considering healthier eating options or putting your best foot forward on the treadmill, your health is close to our hearts.
Learn more about heart-related events that are taking place. Get daily tips on how to live life young at heart. And learn about better nutrition for better heart health.
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