Plenty of things contribute to good cardiovascular condition, from eating right and exercising to relaxing with yoga. Even maintaining a good marriage is good for your blood pressure, according to an article appearing in the Washington Post. However, generally speaking, it all starts with a healthy heart diet.
How, you may be asking, does eating right affect your ticker, and what does this have to do with yoga?
Well, yoga is a holistic health system, meaning that its primary goal is to address the well-being of every aspect of your body. Since your heart and circulatory system are so key to longevity, it's little wonder that yoga often focuses on invigorating the tireless muscle that beats in your chest.
One of the many ways that Washington, DC yoga classes attempt to improve enthusiasts' heart health is through instruction in proper nutrition.
The first thing you need to know about a heart-healthy, yoga-appropriate diet is that it typically contains plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. Numerous health organizations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention among them, emphasize that you need to be eating at least five cups of fresh produce each day. Grains and proteins are also quite important.
These foods give your body the energy it needs to maintain yoga poses, stretch and breathe deeply. However, energy may be derived from even the unhealthiest of foods. What's really special about eating a wholesome diet is that it keeps your arteries clean and allows your body to cleanse itself of toxins.
The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) states that in the absence of a healthy diet, plaque begins to build up the the arteries. Over time, this accumulation of cholesterol and fatty acids can gradually narrow the blood vessels, increasing your blood pressure.
Without a major dietary change, this process can lead to a heart attack. In the U.S., coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death among men and women alike, the NHLBI states.
