You don’t need to worry about heart health if you have an active lifestyle, right? Not so fast.
Of course, being active is one of the best ways to keep your heart healthy and prevent disease. But cardiovascular issues can still affect you, no matter how active you are.
Thankfully, there are also other ways you can protect your heart in addition to staying active with exercise.
5 Habits for Athletes to Improve Heart Health
1. Do the right kinds of exercise.
Not all exercise is created equal when it comes to cardiovascular health. You’ll want to practice at least 150 minutes of heart-pumping cardio per week with activities like running, swimming, aerobics, tennis, or dance. Aim for moderate exertion, as pushing your heart to its limits can wear down the muscle tissue and stress your heart.
2. Fill your plate with heart-healthy foods.
Preventing cardiovascular disease is just as much about food as it is about exercise. Foods with saturated fats, trans fats, refined sugars, refined grains, preservatives, nitrates, food colorings, and additives are detrimental to your heart health and best avoided.
So, what should you eat? Eat plenty of colorful nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. Enjoy lean proteins in moderation, as well as whole grains and fiber-rich foods. The Mediterranean diet has long been researched as one of the best heart-healthy diets.
3. Manage stress.
Stress is inescapable, but how we manage it can be the difference between a resilient heart and a heart attack. To help your heart face stress with strength, practice stress-relief techniques daily. Meditation, breathing exercises, and your daily workouts are all great ways to keep stress at bay.
4. Get adequate sleep.
Poor sleep is closely associated with weight gain, high stress, and inflammation. These are all serious issues for the heart, as they can worsen into hypertension and diabetes.
To prevent these issues and protect your heart, stick to a regular sleep routine that allows you 7-9 hours of rest per night. If you struggle to fall asleep easily, CBD can help. Unstoppable’s PM Formula: Rest + Recovery tincture is formulated to help you unwind and relax your body and mind. High-quality CBD reduces stress-induced inflammation, calms the mind, and encourages restorative sleep so you and your heart can start each day fresh.
5. Build mini-breaks into your day.
Go beyond your 1-hour workout with regular breaks. Mini breaks give your heart some quick blood-pumping action, reduce stress, and boost your energy. A mini-break could be a quick lap around the office or your backyard, 10 pushups, a few minutes of stretching, or even a quick breathing exercise. Aim for 5-10 minutes, every hour or two.
You’re only as strong as your cardiovascular system. Follow these tips to improve your overall heart health while you strive for your athletic goals. Your heart will thank you!
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