Eating right and regular exercise go a long way in making sure your heart stays healthy and strong. Below are a few practical, easy-to-adapt suggestions to protect your heart and decrease your chance of a heart attack.

Follow a Healthy Eating Regimen

While going on a strict, low-calorie diet can result in drastic weight loss, such a diet is not one that you can adhere to for the long haul. In fact, overly restrictive diet fads often result in yo-yo dieting, where the dieter first loses a ton of weight by following the diet closely, then regains the weight (and then some) at the end of the diet period. Yo-yo dieting puts a strain on the heart, which can weaken and endanger it over time.

Instead, choose to eat the right kinds of food; eating healthy usually results in losing weight, although not in dramatic numbers as some highly popular calorie-restricting diets. Focus on making healthy food choices every day. Choose the leanest cuts of meat (even red meats are allowed) and always cut off the fat. Avoid deep-fried foods (yes, this includes French fries); opt for grilled or roasted foods instead. Eat more fish and less deli meat, which are packed with nitrates, salt and preservatives, none of which does your heart any good. Fill up on fiber; it reduces arterial swelling and absorbs fat during digestion, both of which benefits your heart. Fruits, vegetable, nuts and beans are excellent and delicious sources of daily fiber.

Engage in Regular Exercise

You can strengthen your heart (and lungs) by engaging in regular cardiovascular or aerobic exercises. This type of exercise greatly enhances the body’s ability to use oxygen and improves blood pressure over time. Walking, jogging, bicycling, skating and skiing are typical examples of excellent cardiovascular exercises.

Rodriguez MD is a Gwinnett family practice offering state-of-the-art health care for children, adolescents and adults. With hospital privileges at Gwinnett Medical Center, you can be assured of continuity of care and personalized attention should you need to be confined for your medical condition. Trust your health to our experienced and dedicated doctors. As a leading Lawrenceville health clinic, we assure you of quick, professional and attentive medical care the moment you walk through our doors.