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February is American Heart Month. What better time to talk about taking care of your cardiovascular health? We're in favor of everyone adopting some healthy habits (and stopping a few unhealthy ones) to support their best health. Here are some of the best ways to be smart about your heart this year and a special limited-time offer.
Quit Smoking
This one might be obvious, but smoking cigarettes isn't great for your health. In fact, smoking is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular disease. If you smoke, it increases your risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer.
Smoking is linked to heart disease in that it damages your arteries and thereby reducing blood flow to your heart muscle over time, and increasing the risk for blood clots that form deep inside an artery or vein.
There are many programs and aids that can help in your journey to quit, try experimenting and seeing what works best for you.
Limit Alcohol Intake
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and drinking too much can raise your blood pressure and increase your risk for heart disease.
People who drink alcohol should limit themselves to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. Is happy hour calling your name after work? If you don't want to quit entirely, try reducing how much alcohol you consume each day as much as possible.
Reduce Stress
Stress is a huge trigger for heart disease, so it's important to reduce stress in your life. Try these tips to reduce stress:
- Get moving. A brisk morning walk or evening jog can help you clear your mind and improve your mood. Exercise can lower blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels, which are major risk factors for heart disease.
- Breathe deeply and slowly whenever you feel stressed out—this calms the sympathetic nervous system that controls our "fight-or-flight" response to stress (and also happens to be good for overall health).
- Spend more time with friends and loved ones; social support has been shown to support your wellness against stressors like money troubles or relationship issues.
Prevent Diabetes
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), diabetes is a serious condition that affects nearly 30 million Americans. In fact, it's considered one of the greatest public health challenges in the United States today.
And while this disease can lead to serious complications like heart disease and stroke, you can lower your chances of developing diabetes by eating healthier foods, exercising regularly, and losing weight if necessary.
Supplements for Heart Health
There are several supplements that can support heart health. Here are the best ones to take:
- Resveratrol, a compound found in red wine and other foods, has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and more
- CoQ10 is an antioxidant that supports energy production & healthy cells within the body
- Magnesium may reduce the risk of high blood pressure as well as other signs of cardiovascular disease (CVD)
- Calcium promotes strong & healthy bones while supporting your heart
Conclusion
Heart health is a lifelong commitment, but small changes can make a big difference! Getting regular exercise and eating a healthy diet are great first steps to lowering your risk of heart disease.
You don’t need to change everything at once—start by making one change every week until you’re on track.
Try starting with a daily vitamin supplement that’s beneficial for heart health and is a simple yet effective way to support your quality of life in the long run. Our Heart Health and Function bundle is curated just for this purpose.
Our vitamins are non-GMO, vegan, sugar-free, and free from the nine most common allergens. We make it EZ to get the nutrition you need with our fast-melting supplements. And with our subscription service, it’s even easier to take care of yourself. Use code EZ30 at checkout to save 30% off your first subscription.