Wonder what cardiologists have to say about your heart health? Here is what doctors wish you knew about heart health.
If you’re concerned about your heart health, then there’s no better advice than the one given by experts. The following are some of the things doctors wish you knew about heart health. By following these recommendations, you’ll be sure to improve your overall heart health.
1. Buy Local
According to Dr. Andrea Lavoie from Regina Cardiology Associates, it’s better to shop for local food if you want better health. “Local fruits and vegetables are fresher and have fewer preservatives. They also taste better, so you’re more likely to eat them and get more of the nutrients – dietary fiber and vitamins C and A – that have been proven necessary for cardiovascular wellness.”
2. Read Nutrition Labels
When buying food products, it’s important that we look past the flashy images and read the nutrition facts. “There’s a lot of sugar in our food, including virtually every cereal. Same with granola bars for kids – you might as well give them candy bars,” explains Dr. David Bewick, New Brunswick Heart Centre, Saint John, N.B.
“We have an epidemic of type 2 diabetes directly related to the level of obesity in the population. More fat tissue requires more insulin, and at some point, your pancreas cannot secrete enough of it to compensate for the elevated blood glucose. That’s when diabetes develops. Diabetics have a higher incidence of hypertension, high cholesterol, and kidney disease, all of which accelerate hardening of arteries.”
3. Eat Mediterranean
The Mediterranean diet refers to the traditional eating habits of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. While there is no one standard way of following the diet, there are some common factors.
For example, Dr. Jiao Yang, Live Well Exercise Clinic, Surrey, B.C., explains a simple way of following it: “I enjoy lots of fish, we only use olive oil for our cooking, and I have a handful of nuts for snacking.”
4. Avoid Fried Foods
While some of us may love eating fried chicken, french fries, and other fried foods, Dr. Anmol Kapoor, Advanced Cardiology Consultants and Diagnostics Inc., Calgary, suggests we stay away from them. “Recycled cooking oil converts into trans fat, which is a heart-clogging fat,” says Kapoor.
The Outlook
These are only a few things we should keep in mind if we’re serious about improving our heart health. Other things we can do are avoid saturated fats, stick to low-fat dairy, track calories, and exercise regularly.
In addition, you can take supplements like L-arginine Plus to boost your heart health. Its ingredients are effective at promoting circulation, blood pressure health, cholesterol health, and more. If you’re ready to give your heart the support it deserves, then follow these tips and take L-arginine Plus.