The heart is the engine of the body. When your heart isn’t healthy, there’s no way to get oxygen-rich blood to the rest of your body, and the whole body suffers. Needless to say, how you take care of your heart is of utmost importance! February is American Heart Month and is a time to think about preventing heart disease and other heart-related health conditions.
We are to be good stewards of the body God has given us for this life journey; our quality of life (especially in the latter years) depends on it. So how can we best take care of our hearts?
Listen to Your Elders
When thinking about heart health, who better to ask for advice than a very healthy 94-year-old grandma? She’s never been sick a day in her life. Well, at least, not that I can remember. As her granddaughter, I’ve always seen her with nothing less than a smile on her face, ready to take on the day with vigor and grace! (And she is still living independently at home, I might add.) I asked Grandma Marjorie to share some ways she has maintained such a healthy heart for 94 years.
Grandma Marjorie says...
- “Eat balanced meals. I’ve always tried to include a protein, a vegetable, and a fruit at each meal. I also eat a little avocado nearly every day.”
- “Practice moderation. I eat the foods I like, but I practice moderation and am careful not to overeat.”
- “Homemade food. I love to cook, and I enjoy making all kinds of recipes from scratch, from gluten free bread to soups to chicken pot pie with lots of vegetables. Years ago, I learned to cook low-sodium meals but still make them taste really good.”
- “Listen to your body, especially as you get older. You may need to adjust your diet over time. I’ve had to cut back on lactose and gluten and eat higher protein over the last few years.”
- “Follow the doctor’s orders. I do the exercises my physical therapist gave me every day. It keeps me moving and keeps my joints strong. I also listen to my dietitian (wink).”
- “Use all the conveniences offered nowadays. I order my groceries online, and there are so many frozen vegetable varieties to choose from. You can steam them right in the bag! It’s so convenient; there is really no excuse for not eating veggies.”
- “Learn something new every day. They tell me this will keep my brain sharp!”
As I talked to Grandma Marjorie, I realized how much the world has changed in the past 50 years. Are we cooking and eating homemade foods? Concerned with eating nutritionally-balanced meals? Practicing moderation and self-control? Paying attention to our body’s needs? Doing our prescribed exercises? The answer is a resounding “no” according to USDA research.
Due to several shifts in our society, including more sedentary jobs, easy access to fast food and restaurants, the devaluing of family meal time, more ultra-processed food intake, less physical activity, and increased screen time, Americans have become much less healthy as a society. Obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes — all major risk factors for heart disease — are running rampant.
Take some advice from your elders (hey, call your grandma), and let’s all learn from those who have lived a long, healthy, and faithful life. Quality of life as you age is a blessing and (in part) a reward for good bodily stewardship throughout your life. Putting some effort into your health today will pay dividends in the future! Plus, you will be more likely to be around to tell your grandchildren how to stay healthy too one day. Which piece of Grandma Marjorie’s advice will you implement first?
“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a person who listens to advice is wise.” Proverbs 12:15