World Heart Day 2014 Prevent Heart Diseases through Healthy Lifestyle

World Heart Day

At a time when heart diseases have become the biggest killer in the world, India is facing the same problem as the country has seen a rapid transition in its disease burden (cardiovascular disease) over the past decades.
According to the Heart Care Foundation of India, 2.4 million Indians die due to heart diseases every year and the numbers continue to rise owing to lifestyle factors such as stress, unhealthy eating habits, lack of sleep, etc.
World Heart Day is an annual event which takes place on 29 September every year and this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) has stressed on the need to reduce salt consumption, which is linked to approximately 2.5 million people dying annually from cardiovascular diseases.
However, we can reduce the risk of heart ailments through lifestyle changes and a heart-healthy diet. Physical activity is one part of a heart-healthy lifestyle.
Here’s how you can reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease:
Eat a heart-healthy diet: A diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains can help reduce your risk of developing heart diseases. Include beans, other low-fat sources of protein in your diet for a healthy heart.
Fish like salmon, mackerel, herring and sardines are high in omega-3 fatty acids and they offer all sorts of complex heart-protective phytonutrients.
While you can limit your intake of certain fats such as – saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated, try to avoid trans fat in your diet.