Unfortunately, heart disease is the number one killer in the United States. Although the number of deaths resulting from heart disease has declined rapidly over the past 20 or 30 years, heart disease is still a major cause for concern. The good news is that you can take steps to help keep your heart healthy. Today, we would like to discuss some of the actions that you can take to keep your ticker running strongly and to feel your best.

Exercise

In order to maintain a healthy heart, you need to exercise moderately about five times a week. We’re not talking about going all out five days in a row at Crossfit, but simply taking a walk can be great exercise. The key is to get moving and to break a light sweat.

Avoid Being Sedentary All Day

No matter how much exercise you get, sitting down for long periods of time is bad for your health. If you have a job in which you sit at a desk all day, make sure that you get up and move around every once in awhile or consider taking a short walk on your lunch break.

Get Enough Sleep

How many times have you read somewhere that you need to sleep at least eight hours a night? Are you actually getting enough sleep each night? Studies have proven that adults who experienced an adequate amount of sleep had less calcium built up in their arteries than those who didn’t.

Improve Your Diet

Eating a healthy, balanced diet is important for your heart health. Make sure that you eat lots of fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains. Leafy, green vegetables are excellent for your health. You also want to make sure that you cut back on saturated fats found in certain meats and full-fat dairy products as much as possible. Eat healthy fats, which can be found in olive oil, avocados, coconut oil, and more. Avoid eating too much junk food, which could be high in sodium, which could elevate your blood pressure.

Avoid Smoke

We all know that smoking is bad for our health and can contribute to heart disease. However, even being exposed to secondhand smoke increases your risk of developing heart disease. In fact, studies have proven that people exposed to secondhand smoke in the home or the workplace have a 25 to 30 percent higher risk of developing heart disease.

Practice Good Dental Hygiene

Make sure that you brush your teeth twice daily, floss nightly, and visit your dentist twice a year for dental cleanings. By properly taking care of your teeth, you avoid developing gum disease, which can move into the bloodstream and inflame the blood vessels.

Take Olive Leaf Extract

Olive leaf extract contains high levels of oleuropein, which could aid in maintaining cardiovascular health*.

By taking these steps, you might begin to feel better about your overall health. If you are looking for olive leaf extract, then shop our selection at Ameriden International today.

*This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.