Love your heart this Valentine’s Day and beyond

During Valentine’s Day, most people associate hearts with Cupid and candy.

They pay little attention to the vital organ responsible for pumping blood, oxygen and essential nutrients throughout our bodies.

Although chocolate hearts might seem vital, it is our real hearts that are necessary for human life.

Taking measures to keep your heart in good condition will have overall benefits.

This will also reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack and dementia.

Many factors affect heart health including genetics, old age, diet and lack of exercise.

Although we cannot change our genetics or slow down the gradual ageing process, it is important that we focus on what we can do to help our hearts.

A healthy, well-rounded diet and plenty of regular exercise will provide valuable nutrients and strengthen our bodies.

Top tips

Consider your heart this Valentine’s Day and try the following steps to keep it healthy:

Limit alcohol and smoking as these increase your chances of developing coronary heart disease;

Exercise regularly;

Reduce the amount of saturated fats in your diet;

Cut down on salt;

Eat fruit, vegetables and oily fish, particularly herring and sardines;

Take a daily supplement containing Omega-3, such as Pulse Advanced from Seven Seas. This contains pure fish oils for sufficient levels of Omega-3.

A recent review of research dating back almost 30 years has been published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology.

This research reinforces the overwhelming benefits of Omega-3 consumption for primary and secondary heart health, suggesting that it could reduce the risk of cardiovascular-related death by up to 30 per cent.

It has been recommended that people who have existing heart problems or who have suffered a heart attack take between 800mg to 1,000mg of Omega-3 (EPA+DHA) daily — roughly equivalent to 3-4 oz portions of oily fish a week.

Recommended

For those without current heart issues, the daily recommendation is 500mg of Omega-3 (EPA + DHA); equivalent to 1-2 oz portions of oily fish a week.

Omega-3 is not produced naturally by the body; therefore it can only be obtained through diet or supplementation.

Oily fish such as salmon, sardines and herring provide a great source of high levels of Omega-3.

However, with many people not consuming recommended levels of fish regularly, taking a supplement that is naturally rich in Omega-3, such as Seven Seas Pulse Advanced is an excellent alternative.

For more information contact the BGA Group on 279-5496 or go to www.bga.bm to see promotions and free trial offers.