Page 116 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2022

HEALTHY LIVING
HEART HEALTHY
FOODS
When we think of foods that affect our heart, only a couple of things come to mind:
Foods that are high in cholesterol that affect our heart negatively.
Food that reminds us of home, our family and friends. Food that warms the heart.
However, there is more to the picture. There are actually foods that can affect our heart positively. Michelle Clark of Eat Right Meal Prep in Gulfport says, “Whole grains such as brown rice, oats, and quinoa may help lower cholesterol and systolic blood pressure, as well as lower risk of heart disease. Fatty fish like salmon are high in omega-3, and may help reduce heart disease risk factors including: blood pressure, triglycerides and cholesterol. Beans are high in resistant starch which have been shown to decrease cholesterol and triglyceride levels, lower blood pressure and decrease inflammation.”
Lowering blood pressure and decreasing inflammation – these are just a couple benefits that we can get from eating healthy foods. In fact, whole foods, fruits, vegetables, meats, etc., are packed with vital nutrients. When we eat these foods,
they can heal our body and our heart. On the opposite end of the spectrum, when we eat fast foods, including sugar and processed foods, it affects our health negatively, raises our cholesterol, and shortens our life.
In this year’s American Heart Month, we have a chance to think about our heart and our cardiovascular system. During this time, we can start creating heart healthy habits such as:
• Meditate and practice your breath. You
can use different breathing apps to learn to slow your heart rate and calm your nervous system.
• Regular exercise will keep the blood pumping and the heart strong
• Eat heart healthy foods and cut out detrimental ingredients.
If we implement any of these tips during this year’s American Heart Month, we can make our body and minds healthier. This way we get to live longer lives and stay more active, happy, and healthy along the way. Having a healthy heart will help us and our loved ones enjoy the days we have together. Make it a priority this month and every month.
story by Luke Height
116 | February 2022 www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living