Heart Healthy Tips for Women

A healthy heart always begins with diet. Consult with a dietician or nutritionist if you are unsure how to modify your diet in a heart healthy way. Or you could take these tips and incorporate them into your diet. Choose whole grain foods, lean meats, fresh veggies and fruits and low fat dairy. Incorporate good fats, which can be found in avocados, nuts and fish. Eliminate the bad cholesterol such as french fries and lard.

Take an Omega 3 supplement daily. This vital and crucial vitamin not only promotes healthy blood flow to the heart, it can actually assist in flushing out existing bad fats from your body. Omega 3's are essential fats your body actually needs to function. Remember, not all fats are bad, but you do have to find out which ones can make you healthy and which ones have a negative impact on your body.

Start working out, even if a little. Take a jog around the block or take a walk with the kids to the park. If you'd rather stay home, put on an aerobic DVD or watch some free exercise routines on YouTube. There are plenty of options available for an effective workout.

One of the remedies doctors recommend as a routine for at-risk heart patients is to take a baby aspirin once a week. This makes sure the blood does not clot or cause a heart attack. The method is not foolproof but the baby aspirin can actually be a lifesaver in certain situations. This procedure should not be overdone and if possible, discussed with your doctor.

If you are a smoker, now is a perfect time to quit. Cardiovascular disease is not something to be taken lightly. Smokers can find support by calling the smoker's hotline, attending groups and even receiving some free kits to cease the habit. The number to call is 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

Find support in a buddy or family member. Chances are the risk for heart disease runs in the family. Or perhaps your friends and yourself have similar dietary and physical habits. Join forces with an ally and make a commitment to yourself to become more heart healthy.

Reduce the stress in your life. Stress actually has a very high impact on your heart. As a woman you really deserve to be pampered for all the work that you do. Women do not often reward themselves or honor themselves the way they should. Pick up that phone and schedule in a massage!

Drink a glass of wine. Did you know that the flavanoids in wine can actually be good for your heart? It's true and red wine is the better of the two. It is also rich in antioxidants which promotes overall wellbeing within your body. Don't overdo it though.

When you're grocery shopping, look out for foods that have the American Heart Association symbol on it. These dieticians have taken the guesswork out of what prepackaged foods are good for you and you can rest assured that in small amounts, these are better for you than their competition.

Subscribe to a heart healthy newsletter to your email inbox. It will be filled with new tips and studies done around a healthy heart on a regular basis. A good site to look at is About.com. Sign up here: http://heartdisease.about.com/