Best ways to Prevent Heart Disease
Many people care about the risks of heart disease but have been using ineffective prevention methods to reduce their risks. Unfortunately, there has been a lot misinformation propagated regarding heart attack prevention. This article debunks some of the current myths regarding heart disease, and lists simple solutions that have proven effective.
Common Myths about Heart Disease:
Myth 1.) Drugs like Lipitor that reduce cholesterol also reduce your risk of heart disease. Right?
No! Actually not right. A disclaimer on Lipitors website reads "Lipitor has not been shown to prevent heart disease or heart attacks." Lipitor only reduces cholesterol, it does not solve the underlying problems that cause heart disease.
Myth 2 .) Margarine is healthier than butter
Many margarines contain unstable hydrogenated oils (now banned in New York City), that can damage your arteries and increase the risk of a heart attack. Butter, on the other hand, is a stable fat. If you want to eat margarine instead of butter (because it's lower in cholesterol) just make sure it is not made with hydrogenated oils.
Myth 3.) A low fat diet is will lower your risk of heart disease
The New York Times reports: "Study Finds Low-Fat Diet Won't Stop Cancer or Heart Disease. - The largest study ever to ask whether a low-fat diet reduces the risk of getting cancer or heart disease has found that the diet has no effect."
Proven ways to prevent Heart Disease:
1.) Exercise Regularly
Exercise is probably the best way you can reduce your risk of heart disease, and improve your health in general. You don't need to strain to get the benefits of exercise either, just try to do something every day, even if it's just a stroll in the park.
2.) Practice Transcendental Meditation
Through NIH funded research, the Transcendental Meditation Technique (TM) has been proven to reduce the risk of heart failure. When practiced twice a day, TM has been shown to be about as effective as medication at lowering blood pressure. In addition to studies showing reduced blood pressure, a 17 year long extensive study on TM showed significantly decreased mortality rates for both heart disease and cancer, in addition to eliminating stress from the mind and body.
3.) Eat foods high in anti oxidants
Anti oxidants found in fresh fruits and vegetables, help to prevent aging, and keep your arteries clean by neutralizing harmful oxidized fats that stick to artery walls. Here is a list of foods containing high anti-oxidant levels:
- Beans and legumes, especially red beans, kidney beans and black beans
- Fruits in general but especially berries.
- Vegetables, especially broccoli, potatoes, and tomatoes
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Citrus Fruits, and other ingredients commonly found in a Mediterranean diet.
