Firstly, you need to understand that your heart is working non-stop. While you’re awake, while you’re asleep, while you’re eating, working, and especially exercising; your heart is working for you.
8 hours of sleep is important
Have you ever gone through the day when you got less sleep and felt exhausted? Sure, we all have, right? It’s very important to get a good night’s rest at least 5 out of 7 nights of the week. There have been multiple studies that have concluded that those of us who get 6 hours of sleep per night or more have less calcium inside of their arteries, and have an overall healthier body.
it’s about good quality sleep as well. If you’re waking up once every few hours, it’s not exactly quality sleep that you’re getting. There are a few tricks that you can do, however, to get a better night’s rest so that you may deal with those rush hour Wednesdays.
- Blackout curtains – These bad boys give the illusion that the entire world is going to sleep right along with you. With your mind at ease, your body will follow.
- Put “sounds of the rain” on while you sleep. We have all had a lazy, rainy afternoon where we have taken a nap and gotten better sleep than we do at night. Studies have shown that rain calms most people and gives them a sense of peace.
- Turn off all devices except for your alarm – With technology ever-growing and with being able to reach any person with our phones through social media, we can become quite distracted. Consider turning off your phone and buying an old alarm clock. Believe me, they work and you will thank yourself tomorrow.
Eliminate fats in your diet
With trans & saturated fats in a lot of the foods that we consume on a daily basis, fat builds up on the outer walls of our heart. With that, it takes more and more effort for our hearts to pump the blood through our bodies. An overworked heart equals an under-performing employee.
Consider getting your cholesterol levels checked. Those levels are referred to as the bad cholesterol or “LDL”. It is important to note that you can raise your cholesterol in as quick as 12 months. It’s wise to get your levels checked at least once every three years.
Exercise is important
If you’re looking for a good goal to focus on, aim for 3 hours per week of activity. Whether it be at the gym, walking to the store instead of driving, or even just vigorously cleaning around the house. It’s important that you do not lead a sedentary lifestyle because that is also a very big contributor to heart disease and diabetes. Consider, a strength building workout.
A light jog or moderate walk around the block two to three times per week can actually add years onto your life. You absolutely need to burn off all of the excess fats, chemicals, and sugars that are consumed.
Remember one thing: you are what you eat. If you eat junk, sleep poorly, and take poor care of yourself then you will start to feel the effects of that down the line. Take care of your body and it will take care of you.
If you want to read more about burning fat, exercising, or eating healthy be sure to check out our article here. Tips for losing weight naturally.