The Simple Lifestyle Choices That Protect Your Cardiovascular System

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With so much focus on cancer, we often forget that most people actually die from heart disease. These days, hardly anyone talks about it, but it’s still there and causing a lot of harm. There’s almost a conspiracy of silence. 


The good news is that there’s a lot that you can do to protect your cardiovascular health. All it requires is the right information and action. 


So, what can you do? Let’s take a look: 


Move For 30 Minutes Every Day


One of the best things you can do is move for thirty minutes every day. The more you can get the blood pumping, the better. 


According to research, moving every day reduces the risk of degeneration and increases blood flow. It also allows arteries to experience a shearing force, which helps to keep them healthy and plastic. 


Avoid Direct Sunlight At Midday


You also want to avoid direct sunlight at midday. UV exposure massively increases the risk of spider veins, which are small damaged blood vessels under the skin. When these appear, it can be challenging to get rid of them naturally, and you may have to go to a clinic. 


Eat Less Processed Foods And More Plants


At the same time, you want to eat fewer processed foods and more plants. Diets with a lot of fruits and veggies in them are much more likely to lower bad cholesterol and reduce arterial plaque formation. 


Ideally, if your goal is to protect your cardiovascular system, you want to avoid eating meat or animal products entirely. These are the primary reasons so many people get heart disease. 


Keep Salt Low


Currently, there’s a craze around high salt diets. Don’t fall for it. Salt in excess is well-known to increase blood pressure and cause damage to the cardiovascular system. You might like to season your food, but you can obviously take it too far. 


Most experts recommend sticking to less than 6 grams of salt per day. That’s plenty enough for the vast majority of people.


Quit Smoking


You also want to quit smoking (or preferably never start) if the goal is to protect your cardiovascular system. Smoking releases all sorts of nasty toxins and damaging substances into the environment around you, leading to a lot of harm. 


If you are currently smoking, find tools to help you quit, like patches or gums. Almost all alternatives are better for you than smoking itself. 


Limit Alcohol


If you can, also limit the amount of alcohol you consume. Drinking actually raises dangerous blood sugar levels and fatty substances in the blood which can cause harm over time. Too much exposure to these damages the cardiovascular system. 


Keep Your Weight Healthy


Finally, you want to keep your weight as healthy as possible. The lower it is, the better (up to a BMI of 18.5). If you can cut your body weight, it will actually lower your cholesterol naturally, putting you at lower risk of heart disease. Therefore, opt for sensible portions and steer clear of fad diets.


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