The engine that drives an active lifestyle!
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Did you know that every year 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease? A strong heart is the engine that drives an active 
lifestyle, it is essential to maintain healthy muscles and bones, a sharp mind and even an upbeat attitude. Heart disease can often be prevented when people make healthy choices and manage their health conditions. Controlling and preventing risk factors is also important for people who already have heart disease. Make healthy changes to lower your risk of developing heart disease; Watch your weight, quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke, control your cholesterol and blood pressure, if you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation, get active and eat healthy. Sound easy, right? Only for those who consciously live every day of their life and don’t suppress their mind with stress. Life is not difficult if we know how to concentrate on everyday steps. To avoid health problems like heart disease, which will lead to our premature death, we need to make right choices every day.
Food is your fuel for your physical body. You would not put the wrong fuel to your car and expect the car to run perfectly. Why is it that people who put the wrong food into their bodies expect to look good, feel good 
and expect live longer without pain? Logic needs to take over unconscious choices. You need to start your day with a glass of warm water with lemon. You will feel refreshed and energized. To keep that momentum you need to eat breakfast that contains protein, healthy carbs, and a serving of fruits and vegetables. Breakfast should be your biggest meal of the day. You need good fuel to start your live engine. Through the day you should have two more full meals and two more snacks however, every meal should be less in calories, should contain less carbs, more vegetables and fruits. You also need to moisture your body within. Avoid soda and energy drinks by all means. They contain sugar and a bunch of chemicals which will harm your body. Have coffee or tea only once a day. Caffeine dehydrates the body, instead drink a lot of water, plain or infused with fruits and vegetables. That type of water will provide more minerals and vitamins to your body. Prepare meals at home with spice as an alternative to bottled sauces. Drinking wine or having a cocktail is very popular these days. More and more people reach for that to relax after long day of work or on the weekend. Unfortunately drinking alcohol has also negative side effects and is a risk factor. Alcohol will raise your blood sugar and blood pressure which will make your liver and heart have to work harder. Even one alcoholic drink a day can contribute to malnutrition. Not only does alcohol not contain any nutrients of its own, but it can impair your body’s ability to absorb nutrients and vitamins from the food you eat. You might not see those side effects right away however, years of abuse on the body through 
improper nourishment, with addition to alcohol, drugs and nicotine will always end with health problems.
Besides healthy nutrients, your heart muscle needs to be exercised every day. Sedentary lifestyle degenerates heart muscles and leads to premature death. Cardiovascular exercises will raise the heart rate and will strength that engine. The simplest exercise to improve the health of your heart would be a brisk walk for about 45-60 minutes, which you should do every day. If you feel stronger, you can also bike, rollerblade or jog to help your heart work out.
The right food and exercises will bring more energy into your life, will increase your positive attitude and will make your heart and your mind stronger. That will help you to deal with every day stress and life problems.
Be logical in the creation of your life and remember – the secret for both a healthy mind and body is not dwelling about the past or worrying about the future, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly. Start to live today.
Maryla Radziszewski
Health Coach, LMT, CPT
Morefit LLC