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| How to add heart-healthy habits to your day
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| Optimize your diet
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| “Heart disease runs in my community, so I always try to be mindful about my diet, but not limiting it! I’ve done a lot of unlearning about traditional dishes not being seen as ‘nutritional,’ and instead, I’ve started practicing swapping out certain ingredients for healthy alternatives, and reducing the volume so I can still cook the dishes I enjoy, but in a way that fuels my body.” — Anisha Mansuri, editor
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| “I’m really into fermented foods and try to eat three to four types a day. They create beneficial chemicals in the gut that can help reduce inflammation and benefit cardiometabolic health. I make sourdough and kombucha every few weeks and strain kefir every morning to add to a smoothie. I’ve recently fermented some cherry tomatoes — they’re fizzy, tangy, and flavorsome, but they take a bit of getting used to!” — Ruth Eagle, editor
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| Be mindful of your heart rate
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| “Deep breathing is useful. The 4-7-8 method is a good example of something that can help regulate heart rate. Smart watches and technology can help you monitor trends in your heart rate, but I’d avoid wearing and checking them too often, as they can be inaccurate and become problematic. Instead, stay close with a doctor if you notice new symptoms!” — Katy Wallis, editorial director
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| Get moving
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| “My top priority, each day, is to move my body and break a sweat. Whether it’s running, rock climbing, cycling, weightlifting, or walking, I find that exercising calms me down, reduces stress, helps me sleep, and makes me feel good — both mentally and physically. I break up my activities and times throughout the week as well for a variety.
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| “For instance, on Tuesday and Friday, I run during my lunch break, then strength train after work. On Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, I walk on my lunch break, then climb two of the evenings. On the weekends, I go hiking or climbing in the hills or by the sea. Moving in natural spaces feeds the soul and lifts the heart.” — Alex Marceau, editor
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| Prioritize self-care
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| “I find that giving time toward self-care is an important and underrated way of boosting heart health, mainly in the form of reducing stress, producing feel-good chemicals in the brain, and promoting relaxation. I try to give myself time for hot showers with my favorite products, winding down at the end of the day with candles and lamps, having a good skin care routine, and making sure that I go to bed feeling good, happy, clean, grateful for my bed, and relaxed to the core.
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| “All of this feeds into other parts of your life, too, as self-care promotes self-love. If you love yourself, you’ll find yourself treating your mind and body well — exercise, nutritious food, etc. It all goes together!” — Cecilia Bahou, editor
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| This is part of Healthline’s Heart Health Reset, a 7-day series designed to help you find simple habits that support your heart for the long run. For more information, hit the link below!
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| ❤️️ Over to you: How do you take care of your heart each day? Email wellnesswire@healthline.com to share your habits with us.
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