People who invest in luxury cars tend to take care of them, especially filling up with high-quality gasoline and getting regular maintenance. The very same people, however, can often be seen cruising along in their spiffy wheels while eating cheap high-fat, high-calorie, heart-damaging burgers and fries.
If they would be as careful with what they put into their irreplaceable bodies as what they put in their car, their hearts would probably last longer. And, some doctors believe, better “fuel” could keep their hearts beating longer without having to resort to expensive heart medications and their unwanted side effects.
Here are five important, drug-free strategies to taking care of your heart. Chances are you are already following some of these guidelines, but you may want to give them another look because research has provided several new ideas that go beyond the usual list of heart-healthy habits:
1. Feed your heart
This goes beyond reducing fat — a two-year study showed that a heart-protecting diet should be high in whole grains, produce, nuts, fish, and healthy fats. You should also eat more fiber, which, besides helping your digestive system, may also help to lower cholesterol. The goal of the diet is to reduce artery-damaging inflammation. Things to avoid include trans fats found in margarine, fast food, and many packaged foods. Also, cut back on salt and drink alcohol moderately.
