Cut Your Risk Of Heart Disease

“C” how simple: Five smart ways to keep your health on a steady beat

What’s at the heart of good health? Of course, it’s that amazing muscle that sets the rhythm of life: the heart. To keep our hearts beating strong and long, experts recommend several proven, simple approaches. You’ve probably heard many of them (and if you practice TriVita’s 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness, you’re already doing a lot to stay heart-smart). But one vital area – proper nutrients – may not always be part of the picture when it comes to lowering the risk of heart disease.

#1: vitamins like “C” are key
It’s a sad fact of modern life: Much of our food is so processed and preserved that it doesn’t really nourish us. So, we often miss out on the essential vitamins and minerals needed for good health. This is why it’s so important to take quality supplements that promote a healthy heart… especially Vitamin C.

Vitamin C helps our bodies in several key ways:

• Helps grow and repair tissues• Needed to form collagen for skin, scar tissue, tendons and blood vessels • Aids in healing wounds • Repairs and builds cartilage, bones and teeth.

If you asked your heart, though, it would say that Vitamin C’s best work is as an antioxidant. This means it blocks some damage caused by oxidation inside the cells of our bodies. The heart is dangerously vulnerable to this damage, which is often indicated by high levels of homocysteine (HCY).

Unfortunately, our bodies can’t make Vitamin C or store it. So, if you don’t always get the C you need from food, it’s important to take the highest quality Vitamin C supplement available: Non-Acidic Vitamin C Crystals and Time- Release Tablets from TriVita. (For a great savings offer, see the ad on this page).

#2: help your heart with knife and fork
It’s true: You can eat your way toward (or away from) better heart health. Try to limit the trans fats and hydrogenated oils in foods like margarine, fast foods and fried foods. Also, cut down on refined sugar from cakes, cookies and candy. To lower cholesterol, cook with extra virgin olive oil and garlic for flavor.

#3: Make exercise part of life
To help keep life – and your heart – pumping along, make exercise a regular routine: try for three to four times a week, for at least a half hour per activity. Remember to start off slow, stretch before and after exercising, and drink plenty of water. Be sure to check with your healthcare professional before beginning any exercise program.

#4: Don’t light up, lighten up
To lighten the load on your heart, don’t light up. If you smoke, do all you can to stop, and to avoid exposing yourself to secondhand smoke. Both of these can cause heart disease.

#5: Check in with check-ups
Your regular health check-ups should include blood tests for four different substances that can indicate possible heart disease. These are: cholesterol, triglycerides (fats), homocysteine and C Reactive Protein. Let these five steps move you toward a healthier heart, a healthier you.

Source: VitaJournal August 2008 pg 8