Motivations 4U

 Your immune system protects you from germs and other foreign substances that could make you sick by making parts of your body heat up and swell. However, sometimes it goes too far. That’s when such inflammation becomes chronic as a response to stress, junk food, or other lifestyle triggers.   This chronic inflammation is associated with many serious health issues, including diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers, arthritis, fatigue, and depression. To reduce your risk, you may need to change your diet and other daily practices.   Start with these ideas for following an anti-inflammatory lifestyle.   Eating to Reduce Inflammation:   Focus on plants. Most vegetables and fruits are rich in protective compounds like antioxidants and polyphenols. Load up on spinach, kale, berries, and citrus fruit. Some vegetables like asparagus and sweet potatoes also serve as prebiotics that tightens your gut and lower inflammation. Just make sure to balance cook

Diet and exercise may be the first things that come to mind when you think about taking care of your heart. However, what you do overnight counts too. Sleep deficiencies can contribute to many heart conditions, and heart troubles can make it difficult to sleep.   Experts have been aware of a link between sleep apnea and high blood pressure for many years. Now, ongoing research is discovering similar interactions related to insomnia and other sleep disorders.  Learn more about how you can use sleep to keep your heart healthy.   Understanding How Sleep Affects Your Heart   The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one-third of adults get less than the minimum recommendation of 7 hours of sleep each night, adding to their risk for heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. What does that mean for you?   Consider these facts:   Count your hours. Lack of sleep can disrupt your hormones and cause calcium buildup and other changes in your arteries. On the other