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Slow down while eating, savour each Maintaining social connections is
bite, and listen to your body’s hunger important for your heart health. Engage
and fullness cues. Avoid distractions in activities that allow you to connect with
such as TV or smartphones during meals. others, such as joining clubs, volunteering,
Engaging in mindful eating helps you or participating in group activities. Social
make healthier food choices, prevents support has been linked to lower stress
overeating, and promotes a healthier levels, improved mental health, and better
relationship with food. heart health. Prioritize your relationships
and make time for meaningful connections.
16. Reduce Sedentary Behavior
Prolonged sitting or sedentary behavior 19. Laugh More Often
is detrimental to your heart health. Find Laughter is indeed the best medicine,
ways to reduce sedentary time throughout especially for your heart. Laughing reduces
the day. Take frequent breaks to stand, stress hormones, improves blood flow, and
stretch, or walk around if you have a desk promotes relaxation. Surround yourself
job. Use a standing desk or an exercise with people who make you laugh, watch
ball to promote active sitting. Engage funny movies, or engage in activities that
in hobbies or activities that require bring joy and laughter to your life. Find
movement, such as gardening or dancing. humor in everyday situations and let
Every little bit of movement counts laughter be a regular part of your life.
towards a healthier heart.
20. Practice Gratitude
17. Practice Yoga Cultivating an attitude of gratitude can
Yoga is ancient practices that offer have a positive impact on your heart
numerous benefits for your heart health. health. Take a moment each day to reflect
These mind-body exercises improve on the things you’re grateful for. It could be
flexibility, strength, balance, and reduce something as simple as a beautiful sunset
stress levels. The gentle movements, deep or a supportive friend. Practicing gratitude
breathing, and meditation involved in helps reduce stress, improves mental well-
these practices promote relaxation and being, and promotes a healthier heart.
overall well-being. Consider joining a Remember, taking care of your heart is
yoga class to experience the heart-healthy a lifelong commitment. Implementing
benefits. these 20 tips into your daily routine can
significantly improve your heart health
and overall well-being. Choose one or two
tips to focus on at a time and gradually
incorporate more as you progress on your
heart-healthy journey. Your heart will
thank you for it!
Let’s embark on this journey together, and
let’s prioritise our heart health!
Remember, a healthier heart means a
18. Stay Socially Connected healthier life. Let’s get started!
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #61 | JULY 2024 35
