More Effective Ways to Strive for a Healthy Heart

Drinking Green Tea

For over 2,000 years, Chinese believed that drinking green tea is beneficial to health and it is used particularly for losing weight and for reducing or preventing cancer. The green tea benefits have also been proven scientifically to reduce heart attack incidence, keep the arteries clear and prevent buildup of harmful plaque, expand the heart artery, reverse organ damages from stroke and heart attack, and enhance blood flow. Moreover, drinking green tea has also helped to lower total cholesterol levels and increased levels of good cholesterol (HDL) as well.

Take Alcohol in Moderation

Some research suggests that moderate alcohol intake of beer and red wine may offer some protection against heart disease, especially in reducing blood clot formation, preventing artery damage, and raising good cholesterol HDL. At another point, there is still no conclusive evidence if moderate alcohol intake is beneficial for health as ongoing research is still undertaking to clarify the relationship between alcohol intake and heart health. I would recommend moderate alcohol consumption, meaning no more than one drink per day for lighter weight persons or women, and no more than 2 drinks for men in a day.

Adding Some Garlic

As suggested by the American Dietetic Association, taking 600-900mg (or about 1 fresh clove) a day can help maintain heart health, in particular lowering triglycerides, bad cholesterol LDL and total cholesterol. Besides, the potential health benefit of garlic has been shown to prevent thrombosis (the formation of plaques in the blood) and aggregation and to lower blood pressure.

Slow Down On Sugar

A study by Boston University School of Medicine stated that adults who consumed one or more sodas (diet or regular) a day have 50% higher risk of metabolic syndrome which refers to a cluster of risk factors including low levels of good cholesterol HDL, increased in blood pressure, excessive fat around the waist and other related symptoms. Further, excessive or high fructose intake can cause reduced production of nitric oxide which is a gas required by blood vessels to stay dilated and relaxed. Another study confirmed that consumption of large quantities of high-fructose corn syrup and any other type of added sugar is linked to significantly increased triglyceride levels that can give rise to the risk of heart attack.

Laugh Heartily

Laugh unconditionally and every opportunity you get as laughing is the best medicine. Children generally laugh 300 times a day while adults only laugh 15 times but with a condition or a cause.