Take the list below to Heart, and you will reap the rewards by living better longer.

1. Diet—Try to incorporate a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean meats and fish, and whole grains into your daily diet. Also, try to increase your daily fiber intake which helps with cholesterol management as well as your appetite because it’s been shown to help you feel fuller longer.
2. Exercise— Everyone is aware of the benefits of incorporating exercise into your life. But surprisingly, a high percentage of adults exercise very little, if at all! And you can’t have heart health without maintaining its strength and endurance. Start with daily goals of 15-30 minute walks and add minutes over time as you get back in shape. If you want to keep track of or start your own personal exercise log, go to www.justmove.org. It’s part of the American Heart Association’s website.
3. Weight— You know by now that extra weight puts strain on your heart as well as your joints. CardioTrim can help you manage those extra pounds by decreasing your appetite and cravings.
4. Cholesterol—Take regular cholesterol tests to check your complete blood lipid levels (both HDL and LDL levels as well as overall triglycerides).
5. Blood Pressure—Have it checked regularly to maintain scores within the healthy range. Try new exercise programs that emphasize deep breathing and relaxation such as Tai Chi and Yoga.
6. Smoking— Stop Smoking! It’s the best policy to gain an extra lease on life and your body’s ability to cleanse and renew itself. And if you never smoked, make sure that you still minimize the amount of your exposure to second-hand smoke.
7. Stress— A prolonged increase in stress levels significantly weakens and can cause premature damage to your heart. Stressful situations make your body release cortisol and adrenaline. Long-term activation of the stress-response system, on the other hand, can disrupt almost all of the body’s processes, increasing risk of obesity, insomnia, digestive complaints, heart disease and depression, according to the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. The National Institutes of Health reports that chronic stress contributes to immune dysfunction, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and age-related disorders.