A cardiologist’s #1 daily habit for better heart health

Maintaining heart health is vital. A cardiologist reveals her daily secret for a healthier heart. For your heart to love you, you need to love it too. There are many healthy habits you can incorporate into your daily life to protect your heart health.

THE Dr. Elizabeth Klodas, FACCa board-certified cardiologist, author and founder of the Preventive Cardiology Clinic near Minneapolis, Minnesota, and director of Step One Foods, reveals the #1 daily habit for better heart health.

Your heart is one of the most important organs in your body. This muscle pumps blood throughout your body, and the blood, in turn, gives your body the nutrients and oxygen it needs to function properly.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death for women and men in the US. Additionally, in the US, one person dies every 33 seconds from cardiovascular disease. The CDC emphasizes the importance of taking care of your heart and addressing risk factors that can lead to heart disease, including:

• obesity,
• diabetes,
• smoking,
• unhealthy diet,
• high blood pressure and
• the lack of physical activity.

This is the #1 thing a cardiologist does every day for better heart health

Wondering what a cardiologist’s #1 habit is for better heart health? Dr. Klodas emphasizes many things for good heart health, but her most important daily habit is a balanced diet.

She herself Dr. Klodas declares: “I’m just trying to eat a more balanced diet. I focus on eating unprocessed foods of mostly plant origin. I eat lots of beans and legumes, whole grains, leafy greens, fruit, nuts and seeds. I also consume fish and some eggs. I eat some non-fat Greek yogurt almost every day and enjoy some cheese every now and then. In general, I avoid all red meat».

Why a balanced diet is crucial for your heart

Your heart is the engine of your body, and keeping it in top condition is vital to your overall health. Diet plays a key role in this. Everything you eat affects your heart, so choosing the right foods is essential.

How diet affects heart health:

• Cholesterol control
• Choosing the right foods
• Treatment of nutrient deficiency

Cholesterol control

THE Mayo Clinic recommends reducing saturated and trans fats in your diet to keep blood cholesterol levels in check and reduce your risk of coronary heart disease.

Elevated cholesterol levels can lead to plaque build-up in the arteries, a condition known as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis increases the risk of heart attack or stroke.

Choosing the right foods

The Mayo Clinic recommends eating:

• fruits and vegetables,
• low-fat proteins (eggs, fatty fish, legumes, skinless poultry, lean ground meat and low-fat dairy products)
• whole grains (whole wheat bread, whole wheat flour, high fiber cereals, oats and whole wheat pasta).

Treatment of nutrient deficiencies

According to Dr. Klodas common nutrient deficiencies among patients with or at risk of heart disease include:

• fiber,
• omega-3 fatty acids,
• antioxidants and
• plant sterols (natural plant components that help manage cholesterol);

Also, according to the expert:

• Fiber and plant sterols reduce cholesterol absorption.
• Omega-3 fatty acids help lower triglycerides and prevent blood clots
• Antioxidants fight free radicals and inflammation that are key factors in plaque buildup.

“These nutrients are found in abundance in a diet based on unprocessed plant foods».