Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S. and many factors such as poor diet and physical inactivity can increase the risk. By incorporating changes in your life you can be on your way to protecting your heart. Check out these five tips for advice to take to heart!

Stay On-the-Move

Let's get physical! One of the best ways to improve heart health and prevent heart disease is sticking to an exercise plan at least 3 or 4 days a week. Exercise strengthens the heart muscle, reduces cholesterol and blood pressure, improves circulation and helps you to maintain a healthy weight. With all of the amazing benefits, there’s no reason not to get moving!

Eat Heart Healthy Foods

Incorporate nutrient-dense, unprocessed foods into your daily diet such as Eggland’s Best eggs, olive oil, nuts, seeds, salmon, whole grains, fruit, and vegetables. For example, Eggland’s Best eggs have more than double the amount of vitamin B12 than ordinary eggs. Sufficient Vitamin b-12 prevents arterial plaque and other cardiovascular issues by keeping homocysteine levels low. Check out this list for 4 delicious heart-healthy recipes to help get you started!

Stress Less, Breathe More

It is well known that exercise and eating the right foods are beneficial to our health, but managing stress is equally as important in the long run. By reducing stress, you can lower inflammation in the body and help prevent high blood pressure and a rapid heart rate. Effectively tackling stress levels can also help prevent unhealthy methods of stress relief such as smoking or eating too much junk food. By learning how to incorporate stress-reducing activities into your daily life, such as breathing deeply or practicing yoga, you can combat every day worries and take control of your health.

Sleep

Here’s a tip to take to heart: aim to get an adequate amount of sleep every night! Being sleep deprived isn’t ideal for many reasons, such as forgetting your keys or putting on mismatched socks, but in all seriousness, it can actually impact your heart health. Sleep deprivation affects blood pressure and the metabolism and increases stress hormones, which can heighten the risk for heart disease. Getting enough sleep provides you with the energy to exercise and make smart food choices, both of which are imperative for a healthy heart.

Stay Balanced

Life is short and indulging in your favorite treats is one of the many joys of life. The key is to enjoy them occasionally and balance them out with healthy habits. Allowing yourself the occasional treat will help you in the long run as opposed to cutting them out completely, which is difficult to maintain (and not as fun!) For a cauliflower-crust pizza that tastes like the real thing but with extra heart benefits, try out this recipe!