Saturday, February 14, 2009

Happy Valentine's Day- Take Care of Your Heart


I figure in honor of Valentine's Day, I'll write about the organ of the hour, the Heart! It's no question that the heart is probably the most important organ of your body. It is the organ that pumps blood, which contains the minerals that are essentail for your cells (i.e oxygen), through out your entire body. The heart pumps blood to your brain, your nervous system, and down to your feet. If the heart stopps working, you'll stop working.

It is important to keep your heart beating consistently and regularly. Keeps your arteries clean by eating foods low in low density lipids (bad cholesterol), and avoiding saturated fats. Exercising regularly to keep your heart beating and blood flowing throughout. Aside from exercise, the other most beneficial thing you can do for your heart is to eat right.

Some things to increase in your diet are Omega-3 fatty acids. This can be found most commonly in salmon. There are also certain vitamins and minerals that you can increase into your diet. In an article by Charlene J Nuble, titled, Vitamins and Minerals Help Ensure a Good Healthy Heart, she writes the potassium can help the heart. She states, "potassium is essential to the rhythmic, smooth and continuous pumping of the heart." Potassium is envolved in impulse potential between neuron to neuron. Potassium is very useful in helping to regulate a person's heartbeat.

Some other vitamins listed on the article are:
Vitamin D
Selenium
Magnesium

Original article
Mineral
Selenium (Selenomethionine) 200mcg 180vcap
picture source

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