Heart disease could end up being one of the most significant things to happen to you in your life. It can shorten your lifespan and cause pain, not only for yourself but also for the loved ones you leave behind. It doesn't have to be like that though. Many times, heart disease could have been prevented with proper lifestyle choices. There are different aspects of a healthy heart that you should know as they can help you not only prevent heart disease but also halt its progression or reverse the affects altogether.
Diet is the key
The foods you eat can greatly influence how heart disease takes it hold on you, if ever. Heart disease can be the result of congenital defects but it just as likely could be the result of eating lots of fatty foods high in cholesterol, fats, sugars and salt – all the bad stuff that contributes to the disease. You should instead focus on high fiber foods like whole grains, beans and peas. Add foods made for cleansing your fat clogged arteries like garlic, celery, melon, onions and more. These foods help lower the LDL cholesterol levels in the blood as well as prevent blood clots from forming and lodging themselves in the narrowed arteries. Citrus foods, complex carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables …these all contain antioxidants and others components that work to fight harmful oxidizing agents in the body.
Chelation therapy is an option
Chelation therapy is nothing new and yet it is not always tried when heart disease is on the scene. One of the contributors to the disease is the accumulation of minerals in the arteries and within the heart muscle. Chelation therapy works to reduce the minerals, basically break them down so that balance is restored to the body. This usually works when a special manmade amino acid is injected into your bloodstream. This amino acid takes out the overabundance of minerals which the kidneys then flush out of the body.
Get to know your fats
Knowing your fats in food can help you avoid or reverse some of the effects of heart disease. Some meats contain not only saturated fats but also trans fats so it is important to choose only the leanest cuts. Butter, sticks of margarine and shortening used to fry foods all contain bad forms of the fat.
The best fats are the poly- and mono- unsaturated fats as these work to lower cholesterol levels, triglycerides and reduce blood pressure – all factors that lead to heart disease. You can usually find these unsaturated fats in nuts, vegetable oils, avocadoes, natural peanut butter, seeds like pumpkin or sunflower and even seafood. Omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids are part of these unsaturated fats and are important for good heart health too.
Supplement your diet
Even the most conscientious eater may not be able to eat all the foods that will provide enough of the nutrients needed to combat heart disease or prevent it effectively. Therefore, supplements are an option and can be found in pill or capsule forms. One of the most popular supplements is for magnesium as this is an essential mineral for heart health and may not be adequately consumed through food. Antioxidants like vitamins C and E are important for strengthening the walls of your blood vessels as well as shore them up against possible damage. Oxygenation is important for good cell health and these antioxidants as well as supplements like coenzyme Q10 handle it well.
A number of factors exist that not only contribute to heart disease but also prevent them as well. One method may work better over another. You may have to experiment a bit to find the right combination. The bottom line is that clean living is the key to a healthier heart so you have to make a commitment to achieve it.