5 Things to Get Rid of for a Healthier Life

Health is our most important asset. It's only natural that we have to try to keep it and let go of the unhealthy habits. Some people might not notice that some of these habits are not supposed to be preserved. In this post, I will share some of the unhealthy habits that can really ruin our health.

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1. Smoking
Smoking is the main cause for lung cancer and other kinds of diseases. The best thing you can do is by stop doing it. But still, one does not simple stop smoking, especially when they've became addicted to nicotine. However, the simplest thing you can do to reduce your smoking habit is exercising, until you're used to not smoking any more.

2. Drinking
Binge drinking is clearly ruining your health, as fun as it might be. This habit can cause alcohol poisoning, brain damage, and can also damage the cardiovascular system. To prevent those dangerous side effects, you can also substitute your white wine with red wine, considering red wine have some health merits with the right amount.

3. Eating Junk Food
Those food really live up to their name: they're junk food, literally. It contains loads of saturated fat, which can clog your artery, not to mention obesity. If you want to order these foods, choose places that provide healthier food, adding some salad to make it healthier. Try to not eat it too often.

4. Stress
Coping with stress is not an easy thing. As humans, we have many causes of stress that sometimes complicates things. The right thing to do is managing it. Pick the right way and strategy that can help you cope with your stress. Some people do their hobby, but workout can be really helpful. Doing simple exercises, yoga, pilates, or meditation can help a lot.

5. Lack of Exercise
Need I say more? Working out clearly increase your health. Cardio training can improve your cardiovascular system, while weight training can strengthen your body. The most common problem has always been with laziness. Doing some workout regularly and making it your routine can really solve this problem.

Let's face it, all five habits above are generally known as bad habits. I don't even think my explanation is really needed, right?

10 Healthy Foods for a Healthy Heart

Heart attack is the most dangerous disease in the world, with increasing patients every year. One of the cause of this disease is wrong meal pattern. Foods these days usually contain high cholesterol, which can clog your blood vessels. In this article, I will share about the ten foods that are good for your heart.

image credit to healthyfoodssite.com

1. Fresh Fish
Fish contains many Omega 3 fatty acids, which can lower your triglycerides level and lower your blood pressure. Consuming fishes with high Omega 3 once or twice a week can lower the chance of coronary death as high as 36%.

2. Tea
Tea are high on polyphenolic antioxidants. Scientists believe that polyphenols can prevent us from bad cholesterol (LDL) from oxidation that can clog our blood vessels. Click here for my post about green tea.

3. Beans
Beans are low in fat but high in vitamin B, folate, potassium, iron, magnesium, fiber, protein, and phytochemicals (a compound in plants that can help prevent some chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases). Black beans, red beans, navy beans, peas, and kidney beans are few of the beans that are good for our heart.

4. Paprika
Paprika are high on vitamin C, potassium, vitamin A, and antioxidants. Potassium helps balance the fluids and cells ratio in muscle contractions. People with high blood pressure are recommended to fulfill the needs for potassium from fruits and vegetables to balance the blood pressure.

5. Green Vegetables
Green vegetables contain many fibers, carotenoids, folate, phytochemicals, magnesium, potassium, and calcium. Carotenoids are pigments with antioxidants that can lower the chance of heart attacks, which are available in fruits and vegetables with bright colors.

6. Orange
Besides the fact that it's high on vitamin C, oranges also high on folate, antioxidants, phytochemicals, potassium, and fibre. Vitamin C are good to increase our immunity, and the fibers on oranges can also help reducing the cholesterol in our blood.

7. Wheat
Wheat are good calorie sources that are also rich in fibers, vitamins and minerals, iron, magnesium, and folate. Some studies have tied a connection between wheat consumption to reduce cholesterol and cardiovascular disease-prevention. Wheat cereals, oats, and wheat pasta are some of the good foods that are good for your heart.

8. Garlic
Studies show that garlic have some influence in lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Garlic is better to eat fresh.

9. Berries
Berries are higher in antioxidants than any other fruits and vegetables. A study in Finland also shows that eating berries can also increase the HDL level and lowering the blood pressure.

10. Rice
A study indicates that by consuming rice you'll get 12 essential vitamins and minerals, including folic acid, potassium, and vitamin C with lower saturated fat than those who doesn't consume rice. This study also indicates that consuming rice can also lower the risk of blood pressure and heart disease.

In the end, knowing what's good for your heart is not enough. Get some workout regularly too :)