Love Your Heart

Help Your #1 Muscle Thrive

By Mary Ann Cockram, MS, RD

While February is known for Valentine’s Day and love, any time is a great time to show that you “love your heart.”

 Avoid Heart Disease

In addition to diet, lack of physical activity is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. The Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada Health Living recommends:

1. Eating well
2. Getting active
3. Weighing in
4. Living smoke-free
5. Beating stress
6. Cooking recipes for life

Exercise That Muscle

Your heart is a muscle and needs to be exercised just like other muscles in your body. Regular physical activity can help with weight loss and weight maintenance, decrease blood sugar levels, improve blood pressure, and decrease blood fat and cholesterol levels — which, in turn, can enhance heart health.

Follow Recommendations

The Heart & Stroke Foundation recommends that all adults do 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity, most days of the week. If you need to, try spreading your physical activity throughout the day — in 10-minute blocks, for example.

Start Moving With These Guidelines

Before you begin any physical activity, take a moment to review these guidelines:

• Before you start a program, check with your doctor.
• Start out slow. As you become more fit, gradually increase the length of time and how hard you work.
• Pick activities that are fun and enjoyable.
• Think of ways to move, rather than being moved. For example, take the stairs instead of the elevator, escalator, or moving sidewalk.

Get physical and show your heart you care!

Source: Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada 222, Queen Street, Suite 1402, Ottawa Ontario K1P 5V9

Resources:

Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada