Most people have probably heard the old saying of, “You are what you eat.” When it comes to heart health, that generational myth is actually more fact than fiction. Much of the reason has to do with the impact of food on the circulatory system.
Some foods, like anti-oxidants, help prevent the effects of aging at the cellular level. Other foods, like greasy French fries or red meat cheeseburgers end up adding to cholesterol and plaque that restrict the flow of blood to and from the heart. All these food categories work in terms of the aggregate; their effect builds up over time.
Eating Smart vs Just Eating
Obviously, food and drink provide fuel for the body to function. However, the type of food we consume can make a big difference to our performance. Junk food, heavy sugar, processed materials and sodas might give some energy for a few minutes, but they generally start to make a person feel somewhat sick over time if eaten all the time.
Natural, organic foods that are a proper mix of vitamins & minerals, protein and carbohydrates give us what we need for immediate energy and long-term health and repair.
Those last time items are critical for heart health as it needs to run for a good 8 to 10 decades for a full life, at least that’s what most people expect from their body. So, it also makes sense then to eat in a way that helps the heart work instead of making it harder to function.
Age Makes a Difference
When young, the body functions much better with digestion and can handle a wide variety of food, still being able to extract what it needs and removing excess or waste. However, after one’s 30s, a shift to far healthier food with conscious eating makes a lot more sense. And many doctors will definitely recommend a plant-based diet with far less consumption of red meat and processed food.
Not only will that be far healthier for the heart, it will also cut down the amount of salt consumed as well as cholesterol and highly-processed carbohydrates, all of which add to weight, blood pressure, and obstruction of blood flow.
At the same time, vegetables, fruit and fiber provide maximum input of critical elements as well as better digestion too, removing waste faster. All of that becomes far more critical the older one gets, especially as the body starts to slow down or not work so well.
Any Can Improve Heart Health With Good Food Choices
Fortunately, according to Doctor Ian Weisberg, the body reacts very quickly to good food. The filtering systems of the kidneys and liver are amazingly effective if those organs are still healthy. And the improvement will have a noticeable effect on heart health within a few weeks and months.
One of the most visible and noticeable impacts involves a reduction of excess body weight as well as easier blood flow with less salt and edema effects at the extremities. While cholesterol builds up and plaque takes much longer to repair, a number of vegetables, herbs and fruits can be very effective in cleaning out the body over time as well.
Eating Right Can be Expensive Though, Right?
Anyone who eats out at restaurants is going to run into the problem of expensive food, especially these days with inflation. However, eating right for one’s heart health can be very affordable and easy.
Generally, most food should be bought in a grocery store instead and prepared at home. Second, by staying on the outside perimeter of the store and avoiding most food in the aisles, a diet can stay focused on fresh food and avoid most processed foods.
Finally, focusing heavily on vegetables, fiber, and fruit as well as vegetable-based substitutes for meat and processed choices will have a significantly positive health effect.
A person will, within a few months, feel more energetic, have better sleep, will suffer less digestive problems and have an easier time being active. According to Dr. Ian Weisberg, all of those effects improve heart health as well, so it makes sense to get started. Why wait longer?
