Simple Natural Ways To Protect Your Heart
You may have noticed how processed foods contain preservatives and artificial flavor enhancers. But, what you may not be aware of is how these and other additives can damage your heart and body’s ability to function.
You see, although you may not be consciously aware of it, your body knows when it encounters dangerous substances. These substances trigger your body’s stress response that releases an abundance of stress hormones.
The result of constantly eating these substances creates an imbalance in your body.
You may experience it as restlessness, irritability, headaches or fatigue. Even if you try to ignore these symptoms, your inner environment and body’s natural ability to heal itself gets compromised (so you are more likely to get sick).
In addition, over-exposure to these common food additives and other sources of emotional stress can easily tip the scale toward chronic stress. And, you may not even be aware of it.
This means losing weight and maintaining proper cholesterol and/or blood pressure levels becomes a real challenge.
Let me give you some examples of such foods that make your heart work overtime:
• Fatty and fried foods loaded with saturated, trans-fatty and partially hydrogenated fats found in processed foods. For example, just one plain doughnut or serving of French fries have 5 grams of trans-fatty acids. These foods have been shown to lead to fatty deposits in your arteries and increased cholesterol.
• Excess salt often increases blood pressure and lead to coronary heart disease.
• Excess use of refined sugar and white flour can lead to diabetes, obesity and blood pressure increase.
• Finally, excessive use of alcohol, smoking and caffeine can damage your heart and other vital organs.
In contrast, here are some ways that can protect your heart from unnecessary stress:
• Improve your fatty acids profile for preventing blood clotting. “Good” fats also contribute to reducing cholesterol, lower blood pressure, enhance brain functions and heart health.
• Consume more extra virgin olive oil, walnuts and almonds, seeds, omega-3 fatty acids from salmon, sardines, herrings and wheat germ have shown to improve fatty acid profiles naturally.
• Eat more celery, oats, nuts, whole grains, beans and lentils to provide fiber known to reduce cholesterol and blood pressure.
• If possible include lots of onions and garlic in your diet. They have antiviral and antibacterial properties to reduce the risk for heart disease.
• Eat a lot more plant-based foods like green leafy vegetables, fresh fruits, and teas because they contain antioxidants. They prevent destructive free radicals from damaging every cell in your body.
• Make regular use of ginger and turmeric. These are powerful anti-inflammatory agents to protect your arteries and blood vessels.
• Include cinnamon, watermelon, red grapes skins, cumin, garlic and onion are natural healing ingredients preventing red blood cells from sticking together. These foods can decrease the risk of strokes and heart disease.
Always be sure to consult with your health care practitioner to see if these ideas are right for you. Consider working with a Naturopathic (a doctor who goes to medical school with a stronger focus in preventative health) or doctors using an integrative more Holistic approach.
For more ideas and tips to minimize stress for protecting your heart and bringing your body into a healthy state of balance, go to http://www.NaturalHealingRecipes.com.
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