Three Tiers of Heart Health for Women: Fitness, Nutrition and Lifestyle!

Denise Austin
by Denise Austin | 
 | 
Lifestyle
Hi everyone! February is Heart Health Month, so this is the perfect time to make a pledge to your heart, and incorporate some small but effective changes to your lifestyle. You are your own best champion, so let's champion a heart-healthier lifestyle together! The good news is that just little steps can add up, so try out the tips below, and be sure to sign up to get my Guide to a Heart Healthy Life! It's free and filled with amazing insight anyone can use!


Fitness. It's well-known that exercise is so good for your cardiovascular system, so this month, let's get in at least 30 minutes of cardio each and every day! You can break this up into 10-minute pieces if you need to, but it's even heart-healthier if you do at least 20 minutes at a time. Whether you go on a power walk, do some dancing around your living room, hike or bike, or do one of my heart-healthy cardio workouts, cardiovascular exercise is a must! Want to take it up a notch? Begin each day with 10 minutes of yoga, which can bring the added benefits of helping to maintain stress levels, in turn promoting better heart health! 

Nutrition. Little swaps here and there can really add up when it comes to your eating habits and heart health. This month, promise yourself to eat an extra serving of fruit and of vegetables every day! This is easy to do at snack time - grab an apple instead of ice cream, or hummus and veggies instead of chips. The nutrients, fiber and vitamins in produce is so good for your heart! Also, once a week, consider going meat-free for the day. Sub in beans, lentils, tofu or another plant-based food for meat, and you will be doing your heart good! My Guide to a Heart Healthy Life includes recipes, so get your free guide today!

Lifestyle. Something we all experience can have an adverse effect on our heart health: stress. Stress is something we all deal with as adults, at one point or another. A great way to manage unhealthy stress is through breathing exercises. Any relaxing type of breathing can do wonders for your heart health, helping to control and reduce high blood pressure.  My Guide to a Heart Healthy Life includes step-by-step instructions for a Blood Pressure Reducer breathing exercise. Add this to your 30 minutes of movement and a few easy nutrition swaps, and by the end of the month, you will have gained some heart-healthy habits that will benefit you and your heart!

Hope you enjoyed these tips, and that you implement them into your daily lifestyle - you and your heart are worth it!

Let's live FIT, HAPPY and HEALTHY - together!!

Denise