Some lifestyle factors can play a major part in the likelihood of developing diseases. Early detection and awareness of poor health, such as high cholesterol, blood pressureand ‘unhealthy’ lifestyle habits help us modify our behaviours to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and cancer.
Here are our top 5 tips for maintaining a healthy heart
Cut back on saturated fat:
Making small changes to your diet can have positive health benefits. Choose semi-skimmed over full-fat milk and leaner cuts of meat. And why not try steaming or grilling food rather than frying. It’s amazing what a difference these simple changes can make.
Manage your weight
Being overweight can increase your risk of heart disease. Stick to a well-balanced diet that is rich in variety and high in fruit and vegetables. Combine with plenty of physical activity to maximise benefits.
Say no to salt
To maintain a healthy blood pressure, adults should eat no more than 6g of salt a day – that’s around one teaspoon. Salt can already be found in some of the foods we eat such as bread and breakfast cereals.
Stop smoking
Smoking is one of the main causes of coronary heart disease. Only a year after giving up, your risk of a heart attack falls to about half that of a smoker.
Eat oily fish
Eat oily fish twice a week. Fish such as mackerel, sardines, fresh tuna and salmon are an excellent source of omega-3 fats, which can help protect your heart against disease.
Take a copy
Why not save a copy for future reference. Download your copy now.