How To Cure Your Heart Naturally

Heart risk factors
The good news about cardiovascular disease is that many of the biggest risk factors can be prevented by lifestyle changes. Obesity is a main risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This has health experts particularly concerned, as around a quarter of adults in England are currently obese, as well as 30 percent of children aged two to 15 in England and Scotland.
Having high blood pressure is another main risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Currently around one in three adults in England and Scotland has high blood pressure, while around half of them are not receiving any treatment for it.
Below are some of the key things you can do to help keep your heart healthy:
1) A healthy diet - is an important factor, since it is one of the main reasons why people put on weight.  Whilst most people know that a healthy diet is one that includes plenty of fruit and veg, only a third of adults and one in five children currently eat the recommended five portions of fruit and veg per day.
2) Eating less salt - according to Blood Pressure UK, one of the quickest ways to lower your blood pressure – especially if it is high – is to eat less salt. The recommended amount of salt that adults should eat is 6g a day (or 2.4g sodium).
Around 80 percent of the salt we eat is already in processed foods such as bread, breakfast cereals, ready meals, takeaways and even biscuits. That's why it's important to check the labels on the foods you buy to make sure they are low in salt.
Eat plenty of – foods that are low in salt have 0.3g or less of salt per 100g
Eat Occasionally – foods that have 0.3-1.5g salt per 100g
Try to avoid – foods that contain 1.5g or more salt per 100g.
3) On the move - according to the British Heart Foundation, around one in every five cases of heart disease in the UK is caused by the lack of physical activity. However, you could halve your risk from dying from heart problems by taking regular exercise.
Taking regular exercise works in several ways. It can help to improve conditions that affect your heart, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, and if you are overweight it can help you slim down.
The best type of exercise where your heart is concerned is moderate-intensity physical activity that makes your heart and lungs work harder, such as brisk walking, cycling, aerobics, dancing and even climbing the stairs.
You should aim to do at least 30 minutes, five days a week. Although you can break the 30 minutes exercise, down in to two or three sessions.
Even if you have coronary heart disease or another type of heart condition, or you have recently had a heart attack or heart surgery, regular physical activity can benefit your overall heart health.  Do, however, check with your doctor before starting to exercise if you have a heart condition or if you haven't done much exercise lately.
4) Giving up - If you're a smoker, giving up is the single most important step you can take to protect your heart, says the British Heart Foundation. But while a study of British doctors suggests people who smoke have a 60 percent greater chance of dying from heart disease than non-smokers, 21 percent of adults in Britain continue to smoke.
If you're struggling with giving up, ask about the stop smoking help that's available at your local pharmacy. Your pharmacist can also tell you all about the many health benefits of giving up, which could help to strengthen your motivation. And of course, your heart will love you for it.
5) How much should you drink - drinking too much can cause abnormal heart rhythms, high blood pressure, damage to the heart muscle and stroke. However, more than a third of men and nearly a third of women regularly drink more than the government's recommended daily amount, which is:
Men                3-4 units* maximum
Women          2-3 units* maximum
You should also have at least two alcohol free days every week, and if you do drink too much, stay off the booze for 48 hours to give your body time to recover.
* One unit equals one small glass of wine (175ml), half a pint of normal strength lager, cider or beer, or a single pub measure of spirits (125ml).
6) Cholesterol-lowering plants - according to HEART UK, substances called plant sterols are considered to be the most effective single food that can lower cholesterol as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle. They work by competing with cholesterol for absorption from the gut and into the bloodstream. And they can even be used alongside cholesterol-lowering medication, such as statins.
Foods that contain plant sterols include vegetable oils, Nuts and seeds, whole grains, fruit and vegetables. However many people you can’t eat enough plant sterols in their diet and therefore could benefit from eating foods that have been designed to lower cholesterol. These foods contain plant sterols, such as special types of spreads, milk drinks, yoghurt and cheese.
You can also buy plant sterols supplements from your local pharmacy. Just ask your pharmacist to recommend a supplement that would be best for you.
Heart tests
Tests that check your risk of cardiovascular disease include blood pressure and cholesterol screening – both of which are offered at a growing number of pharmacies. These include an explanation of your results as well as lifestyle advice that may help you to reduce and manage your blood pressure and cholesterol.