Your heart is a muscle located in your chest. The heart sends the blood throughout your body so that it can get the proper amount of oxygen and nutrients it needs to function properly. The blood moves throughout your body and transports these vital nutrients to your body's cells. This process is called circulation. However, though you're born with a healthy heart, bad lifestyle choices that include eating poorly and not getting enough exercise, can put you at risk for sicknesses, such as heart disease. You can keep your heart healthy by following several important tips.
Start Exercising
Your heart is a muscle and all muscles need exercise to stay strong and work to the best of its ability. To exercise your heart you need to do activities that increase your breathing and your heart beating fast, says Kidshealth.com. Such activities include running, jumping rope and playing basketball. You do a lot of these exercises during recess or while playing with your friends. You can get your running in with a few games of tag, or have contests on who can jump rope the longest. No matter what you do to exercise, try doing it for 30 minutes to an hour every day.
Eat Healthy
Picking foods that are high in nutrients that your body needs will help keep your heart healthy. It may be hard to know what foods are healthy for you; a good way to make sure you're eating healthy foods, eat as many different colors of fruits and vegetables as you can during your meals. Try to eat five servings of fruit and vegetables every day. When not at home, try picking fruits and vegetables over fried food and sugary treats. When it's time for snacks, look for unsweetened fat-free yogurts or sugar-free frozen treats instead of cookies or chips. When you're thirsty, try picking fat-free milk or water over pop or sugary juices. Lastly, make sure you're eating foods low in unhealthy fats like saturated fat and trans fat.
In the Future
You may be young, but soon you will face pressures to do adult things, including smoking. Smoking actually hurts your heart because it damages your heart and the blood vessels that transport blood from the heart to the rest of your body. Choosing to avoid this habit will not only save you money, but save your heart. Other adult habits you may be pressured into doing drugs and drinking a lot of alcohol. These actions will also harm your body and should be avoided.
What Happens if I Don't Do This Stuff?
These changes might be hard, especially if your friends aren't exercising as much or eating as healthy as you. Getting in the habit of not eating healthy puts you at risk for sickness right away. In fact, according to Thehealthyrefridgerator.com, signs of sicknesses such as heart disease can start developing and can be detected in childhood. In addition, if someone in your family had heart disease, you are at risk for developing it regardless of your age. So you have to start being hearty healthy as early as you can to fight off such sickness.
