What Is A Good Heart Healthy Diet?

Heart diseases are increasing at a rapid rate. It is important to remember that your heart is extremely well designed and only a continuous series of bad habits and unhealthy lifestyle can impair its functioning.

Your diet and lifestyle will decide whether you develop the tendency towards heart attack or not. The important factors which are known to cause heart disease are

1. Smoking cigarettes - The worst habit you can ever develop if you love your health

2. Eating a diet rich in fat - Non-vegetarian food, oily food and consumption of diary products are known to increase the fat content in your body which results in heart problems.

3. Drinking too much alcohol - Enervation of heart and other vital organs occurs as a direct result of drinking alcohol. Continuous usage results in fatal conditions.

4. Sedentary lifestyle - Activity is essential for a healthy heart

5. Intake of caffeine - The effect of nerve stimulation caused by intake of caffeine is extremely harmful to the functioning of the heart.

Problems with the American Diet

Most people in America are addicted fast food and oily food. The intake of non-vegetarian food is also high and in many cases the only source of nutrition.

There is serious need to change the dietary habits which have not served us at all. The rates of heart diseases, diabetes and high blood pressure are increasing at an alarming rate. Every second adult beyond the age of 40 is seen to be suffering for one of these diseases.

It is clear that there is a malfunction in our diet and our way of living.

A heart healthy diet

No matter what your preference be in food, it is important to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and small quantities of nuts to make up for any dietary deficiency.

Here are a few tips to follow in your daily diet

1. Avoid eating non-vegetarian food as much as possible. If you must eat, keep it to once a day

2. Include fresh vegetable salad as an essential part of every meal

3. Start your day with fruits. A breakfast of fruits is the healthiest diet you could ever eat.

4. Stop abusing your health - quit on smoking, alcohol consumption and caffeine beverages

5. Make it a habit to workout, jog or walk at least for 45 minutes 4 days a week. Avoid any supplements but stick to fruits as the main source of energy while working out.

6. Reduce your intake of oily food as much as possible. No oil is good for you.

7. Keep the consumption of butter, cheese and margarine to a minimum