February has been named by The British Heart Foundation as ‘National Heart Month’; a time to take steps to look after your heart health.
Here are five easy ways you can look after your heart:
Epsom Salts Baths - A lack of magnesium and sulphate can result in high blood pressure. Taking Epsom salt baths twice a week is an easy way to absorb magnesium and sulphate which makes up Epsom salt, as well as being a great stress-reliever.
Eat Leafy Greens Daily - Leafy green plants like broccoli and cabbage contain sulphur, which the body uses for sulphate to look after your heart. The better the quality of the soil the leafy greens are grown in, the higher the quality of health they deliver.
Eat ‘Healthy Fats’ - Eating ‘healthy fats’ found in foods such as nuts, seeds and olive oil, may help reduce inflammation, which is the body’s response to perceived infection or injury. Healthy fats help lower ‘bad’ (LDL) cholesterol and raise ‘good’ (HDL) cholesterol for a healthier heart.
Look After Your Emotional Health - To have a healthy heart, your emotional health is also key. Unresolved emotional states including fear, anger and grief can add stress and strain to the heart. Focus on bringing the nervous system of the heart out of fight/flight/freeze and into rest and relaxation by connecting with others who can help you process these difficult emotions*.
Go For A Daily Walk - Walks, particularly walking with others, is a great way to improve your heart health. Going for an early morning, lunchtime or after work brisk walk can improve your cardiovascular fitness, increase your exposure to sunlight and get you chatting to others. Walking is an all-around stress-relieving, heart-friendly way to get some more movement into your day.
Here are just 5 easy ways to benefit your heart health as a day-to-day routine. It is important to also remember to keep check of your blood pressure and to visit your GP if you notice any changes to your health.
If you are looking for more ways that you can get involved in Heart Health Month, visit The British Heart Foundation’s website: https://www.bhf.org.uk
*If you are looking for mental health support, visit My Black Dog’s website to connect with others for peer-to-peer support services at: https://www.myblackdog.co
