Coronary heart illness is among the UK\u2019s most typical well being points, with round 1.4 million individuals having survived a coronary heart assault. Heart problems is the UK\u2019s (and the world\u2019s) largest killer, and coronary heart and circulatory issues trigger 1 \/ 4 of all deaths within the UK \u2013 greater than 170,000\u00a0annually*. Whereas weight could be a main contributing issue, there\u2019s much more you are able to do to chop your threat.<\/p>\n
Slimming World registered nutritionist Alexandra Clark shares some recommendation on preserving your coronary heart wholesome. She says:<\/p>\n
\u201cShedding pounds (and preserving it off) can considerably scale back your probabilities of creating coronary heart illness. It could possibly additionally assist to regulate hypertension and ldl cholesterol, that are each threat elements. Consuming extra healthily and getting energetic are recognized to enhance coronary heart well being \u2013 but, we all know that altering habits (which were fashioned over years, generally even a long time!) takes time. The in-depth help and encouragement shared at our weekly Slimming World teams or on Slimming World On-line is what helps our members to make long-term behaviour adjustments. Our programme is constructed on a deep understanding of how slimmers really feel, coupled with a wholesome consuming plan primarily based on the science of vitality density and satiety \u2013 it\u2019s a robust mixture.\u201d<\/p>\n
7 issues we are able to do to assist keep a wholesome coronary heart<\/h2>\n
Handle your weight.<\/strong> Being a wholesome weight is among the key issues you are able to do to help your coronary heart well being. Shedding simply 5% of your physique weight can scale back the danger of coronary heart illness.\u00a0 Lower down on unhealthy fats. <\/strong>Excessive intakes of saturated fats for instance fatty meats, butter, desserts, pastries can result in excessive levels of cholesterol and weight achieve, so we\u2019re suggested to cut back our consumption of those. In the meantime, together with extra omega 3 fat present in oily fish, like salmon and mackerel, plus nuts and seeds, like walnuts and chia seeds, could be useful for coronary heart well being.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Replenish on fibre. <\/strong>In addition to preserving\u00a0your\u00a0digestive system\u00a0working nicely, fibre helps\u00a0to\u00a0fulfill\u00a0your urge for food, which helps\u00a0weight\u00a0loss and\u00a0administration. Plus,\u00a0some fibre-containing meals are significantly good for our levels of cholesterol, similar to oats, beans,\u00a0peas\u00a0and lentils.\u00a0<\/p>\n Eat fish twice every week. <\/strong>White fish, similar to hake, cod or haddock, is a very lean supply of protein \u2013 whereas oily fish, like sardines, mackerel and salmon, gives protein and is a superb supply of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Omega 3 has been linked to a decrease threat of coronary heart illness, by serving to to stop blood clots, enhance blood circulation, decrease blood stress and scale back triglycerides (a kind of fats within the blood). Intention for a portion every of white and oily fish every week as a part of a balanced eating regimen to help coronary heart well being.<\/p>\n Get energetic!<\/strong> Transferring extra is among the strongest issues you are able to do on your coronary heart. Common exercise helps decrease the danger of excessive ldl cholesterol, hypertension, kind 2 diabetes and coronary heart illness. And all of it counts \u2013 a brisk stroll, a cycle outdoor, a swim or class on the gymnasium, even housekeeping or gardening. Intention to incorporate 1\u20132 power constructing periods every week too, to help muscle and bone well being alongside lowering your threat of coronary heart illness.\u00a0<\/p>\n Give up smoking. <\/strong>Chopping down, quitting or not being a smoker in any respect might help scale back the danger of coronary heart illness.<\/p>\n Dr Pauline Swift, Chair of Blood Strain UK, says: \u2018Half of all strokes, a 3rd of coronary heart illness instances and a excessive proportion of kidney illness instances are attributable to hypertension. Decreasing your blood stress could be achieved fairly simply by lowering your salt consumption and, if essential, taking blood pressure-lowering tablets. Moreover, easy enhancements in eating regimen and way of life (similar to doing brief bursts of train steadily and consuming extra fruit and greens) can actually assist hold blood stress down.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe second that shifted the whole lot got here throughout a routine GP appointment, when\u00a0my\u00a0blood stress take a look at\u00a0outcomes\u00a0have been greater than they\u00a0ought to\u2019ve\u00a0been. I made a decision to take management and alter my life for good.<\/p>\n I\u2019d\u00a0been a Slimming World member\u00a0earlier than,\u00a0nevertheless this\u00a0time\u00a0I adopted the plan intently and what a distinction it made.\u00a0Going to\u00a0the\u00a0group\u00a0every week\u00a0and\u00a0listening to how\u00a0encouraging\u00a0others have been was the motivation I wanted.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n As a single working mum, cooking from scratch each night time felt unattainable. Up to now, we relied on takeaways 4 nights every week.\u00a0Being\u00a0impressed by different members of\u00a0my Slimming World group, I began prepping my meals prematurely. Now,\u00a0every Sunday\u00a0I\u00a0batch prepare dinner meals with my daughter, freezing\u00a0sufficient parts to final the week.<\/p>\n After believing for therefore lengthy that\u00a0reducing weight\u00a0was unattainable,\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0proved to myself that it\u00a0isn\u2019t.\u00a0My blood stress is\u00a0now within the regular vary\u00a0and\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0sleeping so a lot better.\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0gone from a measurement\u00a028\u00a0to a measurement 12\u00a0by consuming\u00a0meals which\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0make me really feel as if\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0lacking out.<\/p>\n Shedding 13 stone\u00a0hasn\u2019t\u00a0simply modified my life \u2013\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0given me the prospect to be a powerful, wholesome mum and provides my daughter a vivid future, too.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201c<\/strong>In 2022, my GP informed me that I used to be within the overweight weight vary, which means I used to be at an elevated threat of getting a coronary heart assault and creating kind 2 diabetes. I used to be terrified, and this gave me the motivation I wanted to offer my native Slimming World Guide, Michelle, a name. As quickly as I heard how pleasant and upbeat she was, I knew the whole lot was going to be alright.<\/p>\n Throughout IMAGE Remedy, I realised I used to be an emotional eater \u2013 if I used to be upset, I\u2019d eat crisps, ice cream, pasties or sausage rolls. It was a breakthrough. Michelle defined that no meals are forbidden at Slimming World, and I developed a brand new, empowering sense of being in management.<\/p>\n As my confidence started to develop, so did my curiosity in exercise. I started by simply strolling for 10 minutes. As this step by step elevated, I found all kinds of pretty sights I\u2019d by no means even realised have been on our doorstep!<\/p>\n I\u2019ve now misplaced greater than 7st and turned my well being round utterly. I\u2019ve bought no indicators of diabetes, no excessive ldl cholesterol, and a wholesome coronary heart. I really feel glad, wholesome and stuffed with vitality!\u201d<\/p>\n Read Marianna\u2019s full story here<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n Act quick.<\/strong><\/p>\n In the event you suspect you is likely to be having a coronary heart assault:<\/p>\n *Statistics are in response to the\u00a0British Heart Foundation<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n
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Restrict salt consumption.<\/strong> \u00a0<\/strong>Consuming an excessive amount of salt can enhance the danger of hypertension, which in flip is a threat issue for coronary heart illness. Cooking from scratch and checking salt\u00a0portions\u00a0on labels (adults are really useful\u00a0to have\u00a0not more than 6g\u00a0of\u00a0salt a day) might help to\u00a0handle your consumption.\u00a0<\/p>\nMeet the members who\u2019ve reworked their coronary heart well being<\/h2>\n
\u201cI bought my well being again \u2013 and a future with my daughter\u201d<\/h3>\n
![\"Devinia](\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Body-DeviniaCarby-BeforeAfter2_SlimmingWorldBlog.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\u201cI went from heart-attack-waiting-to-happen to a clear invoice of well being in two years<\/strong>\u201d<\/h3>\n
![\"Heart](\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Body-HeartHealth-MariannaDemetriades-Sittch6_SlimmingWorldBlog.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nSpot the indicators of a coronary heart assault<\/h2>\n
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