We are in an era, where the world is a competitive open ground. We are constantly striving hard to do our best, give our best by multitasking, taking up challenges, working on achieving the goals that we give very little time for ourselves, in return, we invite stress, anxiety, tension, cardiovascular diseases and other lifestyle disorders. Expecting a peaceful mind and leading a healthy lifestyle is just impossible because of our BUSY lifestyle.
Matters of the Heart
We keep ourselves busy most of our day, we do take a break, but we don’t realise that one organ that works 24/7 without a break like a clock is our heart – The heart as you are aware is an incredibly powerful, life-sustaining organ. The heart pumps over 1 million gallons of blood per year and for most of us beats 60 to 100 times each minute. It is the most important muscle in your body because it pumps blood and oxygen to all of your organs. This involuntary action is pivotal since it keeps us alive by pumping blood throughout the body. But when we talk about matters of the heart, how healthy is our heart?
Nowadays, it’s quite clear that there is no age for having heart ailments, even people in their 20’s and 30’s are falling prey to some kind of cardiac problem. According to the World heart foundation, nearly 73 lakhs people die due to heart diseases, it’s alarming as the numbers are just rising. Sedentary lifestyle, dietary choices, stress, and anxiety are a few things that can disturb the normal functioning of the heart and can increase the risk of cardiovascular problems.
Ayurvedic Approach to keep your heart healthy and going:
In Ayurveda, the heart is the storehouse of energy. Undue stress to the mind and body, poor dietary practices, lifestyle choices work wrongly on our heart health. But when we turn to natural remedies suggested by Ayurveda, that do not have any side effects, we can be sure to keep that heart pumping in a healthy manner for a longer time. Keep your heart healthy and going by making a few changes and reform your lifestyles with a few healthy tips and see the benefits:
Eating the right food
Diet is of prime importance in Ayurveda as food has always been considered medicine. Our heart is a finely tuned machine. To keep it running in top form we need to give it heart-healthy fuel which means we need to choose a healthy diet. So include eating more servings of fresh fruit and vegetables; legumes, whole grains; include heart-healthy nuts like almonds, walnuts in your diet; dress your veggies with fresh lime juice, and add certain spices such as black pepper and turmeric to your meals.
Meditation:
Many research done so far suggests that regular meditation practised can to some extent protect you against heart ailments. Meditation keeps our mind calm and relaxed. It helps us focus on the present and allows the stress to be at bay which in turn relaxes our mind and reduces the stress to our hearts as well. Meditation not only improves how your heart functions, but regular practise can enhance your outlook on life and motivate you to maintain many heart-healthy behaviours, like following a proper diet, getting adequate sleep, and keeping up regular exercise.
Exercise and yoga:
Exercise and yoga they go hand in hand. The key is moderation. According to Ayurveda, the importance is regularity and simply exercising to half one’s physical capacity. Walking 30 minutes 3-5 times per week, ideally, in the morning is not only helpful to your heart but helps to improve circulation, remove impurities, and improve metabolism. On the other hand, yoga is a relaxing combination of asanas, breathing techniques, and meditation which is an answer to the most ailment. By improving breathing, yoga enhances heart health by normalising blood pressure, improving heart rate, diminishing bad cholesterol levels, and boosting blood circulation.
Manage stress:
Stress is a silent killer. Stress plays a very big role in the functioning of a healthy heart. It can raise your cholesterol level rapidly. It can also raise blood pressure, which may lead to heart and blood vessel disease. Stress reduction can be fun. Manage your stress and take a break from your usual routines of daily living. Simple and effective methods to reduce stress include meditation, relaxation, exercises etc.
Adequate sleep:
Sleep is essential as it provides time for the body to restore and recharge. Lack of sleep can contribute to problems with blood pressure and heighten the risk of heart disease, heart attacks, diabetes, and stroke. In fact, one way of following a heart-healthy lifestyle is by getting good sleep.
Herbs:
It is believed that healthy eating is one way towards a healthy heart. Adding herbs in your diet can really benefit and boost your heart health. Herbs and spices like cinnamon, garlic, cayenne, ginger, turmeric have been used by people for thousands of years because of its numerous medicinal properties. Let’s look at some Herbal remedies that can complement the approaches to nourish, protect and strengthen the heart.
- Garlic- It is believed to support healthy blood pressure as well as lipid and cholesterol levels. It can be eaten raw, added as a spice in your veggies. It is also available as a supplement in a capsule or in powdered form.
- Cayenne- A herb which is a major stimulant for the circulatory system. It can help increase circulation and strengthen the heartbeat.
- Green Tea- Green tea is high in antioxidants and so has the capability of fighting harmful free radicals that are responsible for heart disease. It is also helpful to detox and combats the harmful toxins in our body.
- Turmeric- Turmeric needs no introduction and is a part of every Indian household. It is antioxidant and also known for its anti-inflammatory properties. The active ingredient curcumin which imparts the yellow colour also has powerful properties that can protect the heart muscle.
- Ginger- Another important ingredient in our cooking is again a very useful remedy for different cardiovascular conditions. Consuming ginger every day can help to control the blood sugar levels, lower cholesterol and reduce stress.
- Arjuna- Terminalia arjuna or Arjuna, the bark of this tree is a wonder cardiac tonic because of its antibacterial and antioxidant properties. It has been used since ancient times by physicians to treat anginal pain, hypertension and congestive heart failure.
Supplements:
- Herbal remedies and supplements are normally available in a variety of forms, including tablet, capsule, liquid, pill, juice or powder and can be helpful and good for the heart. Listed below are some nutritional supplements that may help decrease your risk of developing heart disease.
- Omega-3 fats pills or supplements, have shown that they can support inflammation, blood pressure, and keep the heart beating steadily.
- Arjuna in powdered, juice or tablet form is believed to be a helpful supplement to improve heart health.
A word of caution: Supplements work differently depending on the present health conditions. Every individual is different so always consult your physician before starting any remedy be it allopathic or ayurvedic.
Bottom Line:
The heart is an important organ of our body. We are solely responsible for our health conditions including the heart. Let’s remember- with a healthy heart the beat goes on, live healthily and stay young at heart. Join the fight to treat your heart right.
Take the road towards a healthy heart.
This article is originally published at Aryan Herbals Blog.
Image Source: Freepik.
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