Heart Research UK – Page 6 – The NEN

Healthy Heart Tip: Sustainable Physical Activity

It’s well known that exercise helps keep us healthy, yet around 34% of men and 42% of women don’t do enough physical activity. Regular physical activity reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease by up to 35% and it is something we should all be aiming to achieve.

The key word is ‘regular’, while trying new activities which increase our physical activity levels temporarily are of benefit, we need to find ways to incorporate movement and regular physical activity into our daily routines.

Here are some tips that might help:

Make a commitment

Committing to a weekly exercise class (or multiple) can help you stay active when motivation drops. If attending a paid class isn’t an option, ask a few local friends or neighbours if they want to form an exercise group with you.

Set aside the same time each week to be active together, this could be something as simple as going for a walk or jog. The main thing is the commitment, having a set time scheduled into your week makes it easier to hit your activity goals.

Identify opportunities

Day to day life usually presents opportunities for us to move more, but in today’s modern world we find lifts and escalators in most places with stairs, and it has become the norm to drive rather than walk.

Look at your weekly activities and determine ways you can be more active while going about your day-to-day duties. This could be taking the stairs in a shopping centre or parking a little further away from work and walking the rest of the way.

Know how much

Adults should aim to do 150 minutes of physical activity every week, which is 20-30 minutes a day. Other activities such as cleaning and gardening can count towards our movement goals.

Don’t just think about sweating in a gym and let that put you off, reframe even the most mundane activities like hoovering and appreciate them for helping us to stay healthy.

For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for our weekly healthy tips at www.heartresearch.org.uk/healthy-tips.

To help keep your heart healthy, why not try out some of our Healthy Heart recipes from our website: https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-recipes-2/.

Or have a look through our Healthy Heart cookbook filled with recipes from top chefs, celebrities and food bloggers:https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-cookbook/.

https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-cookbook/.

Healthy Heart Tip: Healthy Hearty Soups

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK

Healthy Heart Tip: Healthy Hearty Soups

Soups are great for lunch or dinner, or even as a snack between meals in a mug. When planned properly, soups can be a healthy, balanced meal and be a great way to increase your intake of vegetables. They’re usually a low cost per portion, great to make in bulk and convenient to warm up in a hurry or take out and about in a flask.

We’ve outlined some tips for building a balanced, nutrient-dense soup below:

Base

A great soup starts with a tasty base. Sautéed onions, celery and garlic make a wonderful starter for most soups.

Next select your stock, homemade is best and the most cost effective as you can make it from leftover meat bones and vegetables. Shop-bought stock cubes can be high in added salt and sugar so if you are using these make sure you choose a low-salt and low-sugar variety or leave it out altogether.

You can use herbs and spices to add depth of flavour.

Carbohydrates

White potatoes, sweet potatoes, wholewheat noodles/pasta, and brown rice are all great options for adding to soup.

They provide a healthy source of carbohydrates to give you the energy you need to fuel your body.

Vegetables

All vegetables work well in soups, try choosing ones you wouldn’t usually eat to increase the variety in your diet.

Butternut squash, parsnips, carrots, cauliflower and broccoli are great options.

Protein

Protein is often forgotten in soups, but it is an important nutrient for growth and repair in the body. It also helps us feel fuller for longer which can help us maintain a healthy weight.

Healthy sources of protein include chicken, turkey, fish and low-fat cheeses. Plant based options such as different varieties of lentils and beans are healthful options, and these are a cheap option for bulking up soups.

For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for our weekly healthy tips at:

www.heartresearch.org.uk/healthy-tips.

To help keep your heart healthy, why not try out some of our Healthy Heart recipes from our website: https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-recipes-2/.

Or have a look through our Healthy Heart cookbook filled with recipes from top chefs, celebrities and food bloggers:

https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-cookbook/.

Healthy Heart Tip: Plant-Based Diets for Heart Health

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK

Healthy Heart Tip: Plant Based Diets for Heart Health

This January many people will be challenging themselves to go plant-based in support of Veganuary, a month-long campaign aimed at encouraging people to try out a vegan diet.

A vegan diet consists of only food coming from plants and eliminates any animal-based foods such as milk, eggs, meat, and cheese. Adopting a more plant-based diet comes with many health benefits.

Specifically in relation to heart health, vegan diets tend to be higher in fibre and lower in saturated fat, which has a positive impact on cholesterol levels.

Here we outline some ways you can eat more plant-based every day, not just January:

Include fruits and vegetables at breakfast

Making sure we consistently get our minimum of five fruits and vegetables every day can be quite difficult if we don’t consume at least one portion with every meal. Start the day off right by including a portion at breakfast.

This could look like adding mushrooms to your scrambled eggs or including a banana alongside your porridge. Just make a conscious effort to tick off one of your five a day at breakfast.

Plan snacks around plants

Regardless of what diet you follow, everyone can benefit from eating more plants. A great way to do this is to plan your snacks around fruits and vegetables.

Carrot, cucumber, pepper, sugar snap peas and edamame beans make great vegetable snacks; pair them with some hummus or a homemade low-fat yoghurt and mint dip.

Any fruit works well as a snack and most pair nicely with a few teaspoons of almond or peanut butter to make a more substantial snack.

Eat plant-based, protein-rich foods

If the thought of a bean chilli or lentil spaghetti bolognese doesn’t appeal to you, simply make your usual ones but try adding in a tin of beans or lentils while its cooking. They will add more fibre to your meal, helping you stay full for longer, and reduce the amount of saturated fat you are consuming (providing you eat your usual portion size).

An added bonus is beans and lentils are much cheaper than buying meat, so you can bulk up your meals and make them go further at a fraction of the cost.

For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for our weekly healthy tips at: www.heartresearch.org.uk/healthy-tips

To help keep your heart healthy, why not try out some of our Healthy Heart recipes from our website: https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-recipes-2/.

Or have a look through our Healthy Heart cookbook filled with recipes from top chefs, celebrities and food bloggers:

https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-cookbook/.

Healthy Tip: Beat the Winter Blues

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK

Healthy Heart Tip: Beat the Winter Blues

Blue Monday takes place on the third Monday of January, which falls on Monday 16th this year. It is coined the most miserable day of the year due to various factors such as bad weather, debt following the expense of Christmas and failing to stick to those new years resolutions you may have made early January.

Winter, in general, can feel more doom and gloom than the brighter, warmer seasons. Here we share some top tips for beating the winter blues while prioritising your heart health:

Outdoor movement

It can be tempting to stay indoors during the colder months, when the weather isn’t as nice and the days are dull and uninviting, resulting in us being less active.

Getting outside even for a short time, moving, and exposing our eyes to some natural daylight (even if it isn’t very bright) can instantly lift our mood. Try going for a daily walk or run, wrap up in appropriate clothing and get your heart pumping.

Prioritise a healthy diet

A healthy diet can boost your mood, help you maintain a healthy weight and give you more energy. Concentrate on including lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, wholegrain carbohydrates such as wholewheat pasta, bread and brown rice and lean meats such as chicken and turkey.

Aim to eat two portions of fish each week, including one oily fish such as salmon, sardines, trout or mackerel. It can be helpful to opt for meals you can cook in a slow cooker, so you can prep them in the morning when your motivation is high, and they are ready when you’re tired at the end of the day.

Revisit your new year’s goals

If you have fallen off the ‘bandwagon’ with your new year’s resolutions, don’t beat yourself up about it. Creating new healthy habits and changing old, less-healthy ones takes time.

You are in a better position now than you were before you initially set your goals, as you now have some meaningful insight into what went wrong. Set your goals again and put things in place to support you where you fell off track last time.

We have a healthy tip on Setting Effective Goals here which may help.

For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for our weekly healthy tips at www.heartresearch.org.uk/healthy-tips.

To help keep your heart healthy, why not try out some of our Healthy Heart recipes from our website: https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-recipes-2/.

Or have a look through our Healthy Heart cookbook filled with recipes from top chefs, celebrities and food bloggers:

https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-cookbook/.

Healthy Tip: Setting Effective Goals for Your Health

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK

Healthy Heart Tip: Setting Effective Goals for Your Health

January marks the start of a new year and it is a good time to evaluate the current state of your health.

Many of us use the new year to set health related goals, which often include stopping a bad habit or introducing a new healthy one.

However, a goal without a plan is just a dream and it is worth spending some time to set effective goals if you want to make positive strides towards better health in 2023. Here we outline some tips to set effective goals.

Make them SMART

SMART goals are:

SPECIFIC: ‘Eat healthier’ sounds like a good idea, but what does that look like for you specifically? It could be eating five portions of fruits and vegetables a day or increasing the amount of water you drink to two litres. Whatever it is, make it as specific as possible.

MEASURABLE: Set goals that are trackable and allow you to measure your success. For example, a goal to reduce your alcohol consumption is hard to quantify, but a goal to limit your alcohol consumption to three drinks a week is measurable.

ATTAINABLE: It can be tempting to set huge goals when we are feeling really inspired, however, it is important to think realistically and set goals that you can actually achieve. For someone who has never run before and doesn’t have a good level of fitness, setting a goal to run a marathon may be a bit of a stretch.

RELEVANT: Make the goal align with your values and longer-term health goals. Why is this goal important to you and what impact will it have on your health if it isn’t achieved?

TIME-BOUND: An effective goal has an end date, when will you achieve this goal by? Planning to stop smoking by 1^st August 2023 is a time-bound goal. It enables you to plan what steps you need to take to achieve it by the end date.

Track your progress

It’s a good idea to write your goals down on paper or in a journal and keep track of your progress. You could break down the year by quarters and plan what you want to have achieved in relation to each goal by the end of every quarter.

For example, by the end of quarter one (January through March) you will have achieved consistently drinking one litre of water a day and by the end of quarter two (April through June) you will have achieved consistently drinking two litres a day.

For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for our weekly healthy tips at www.heartresearch.org.uk/healthy-tips.

To help keep your heart healthy, why not try out some of our Healthy Heart recipes from our website: https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-recipes-2/.

Or have a look through our Healthy Heart cookbook filled with recipes from top chefs, celebrities and food bloggers:https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-cookbook/.

A Budget Healthy Christmas

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK

Healthy Heart Tip: A Budget Healthy Christmas

Are you feeling the pinch as we head into the festive season? If you answered yes, you are not alone. According to data from the Office of National Statistics, food and non-alcoholic drink prices are increasing at the fastest pace since 1980, and prices have risen by 14.6% over the year leading to September 2022.

With the increase in prices, it can feel more difficult to maintain a heart healthy diet. Here we share some tips for budget friendly and healthy eating this Christmas.

Make a plan

It’s easy to get caught up in the festive fever and buy more food and drink than needed. Lots of us are guilty of panic buying in the days leading up to Christmas out of fear we may not have enough to feed everyone, which leads to lots of waste.

The key here is to make a detailed plan in advance and stick to it.

You could even start buying a few non-perishable items now, to spread the cost over the coming weeks.

Skip the turkey

“But it won’t feel like Christmas without a turkey!” We hear you, but bear with us. Turkeys can be very expensive and the truth is they are fairly comparable to chicken in terms of nutrients and taste.

Why not skip the turkey this year and opt for a chicken (I bet nobody will even notice!) or try a plant-based Christmas showstopper such as a whole roasted cauliflower or nut roast, both of which will save you a few pounds.

Ask guests to bring a dish

If you are hosting Christmas dinner this year, don’t be afraid to ask those attending to chip in and bring a dish with them. Not only will it help spread the cost around, but it will also mean a less stressful day for you, only having to focus on a few dishes.

Many starters, desserts and cheeseboards are easy to transport and don’t require hearing, so get some help with these. If you aren’t hosting but are attending as a guest, reach out now and ask what dish you can bring.

For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for our weekly healthy tips at www.heartresearch.org.uk/healthy-tips.

To help keep your heart healthy, why not try out some of our Healthy Heart recipes from our website: https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-recipes-2/.

Or have a look through our Healthy Heart cookbook filled with recipes from top chefs, celebrities and food bloggers:

https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-cookbook/.

Healthy Tip: Your Heart & Staying Warm This Winter

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK

Healthy Heart Tip: Your Heart & Staying Warm This Winter

During the winter months the risk of having a heart attack or stroke increases. It is important to know what the risks are and to put measures in place to ensure you and your family stay safe.

A drop in environmental temperature reduces your body temperature and the heart must work harder to keep you warm which increases your heart rate. In addition, in cold weather, blood vessels contract to minimise heat loss, which increases blood pressure.

While this is a natural process, it can be a cause for concern in those who are more vulnerable such as adults over 65, those with long-term health conditions, and those who are overweight and live less healthy lifestyles.

With the cost of living increasing and energy prices inflated in comparison to previous years, relying on your heating to keep toasty and warm this winter might not be an option for everyone. It is important to keep warm both inside and outside of your home and do what you can to support your heart health over winter.

Here we outline some practical and cost-effective ways to protect your heart and stay warm this winter:

Staying warm indoors

Reduce the impact of the cold weather by keeping your house heated to a minimum of 18°C, use your thermostat to ensure the inside temperature doesn’t drop below this. Make yourself regular hot meals and drinks, you could set an alarm for every hour to remind you to get up and make a cuppa.

Warming, winter soups are a great idea in the winter, opt for these and warming stews for meals rather than something cold like a sandwich. Try some at home exercises to warm your core body temperature or consider a seated pedal exerciser to keep your legs moving, which will help keep you warm while seated.

You could buddy up with another household to reduce your heating bills, have a day at your house and then the next day go to theirs – you could even share the cooking!

Staying warm outdoors

On really cold days, it is better to stay indoors if you fall into the vulnerable categories, but on milder winter days make sure you use layers to keep warm when outside and don’t forget your hat, gloves, and scarf.

It is better to be overdressed and have to remove layers than find yourself cold when far from home. Plan respite stops when out and about, by nipping into a friend’s house for a hot drink or making use of low-cost offers from supermarkets and cafes for vulnerable age groups.

For example, Asda have announced they are offering soup, bread and unlimited hot drinks to over 60’s throughout November and December this year, have a look at local options like this near you.

If you opt for outdoor walks to remain active, keep these up through winter when the weather allows (wrapping up for the occasion) as we know regular exercise keeps our heat healthy.

Nourish your heart from the inside

Reduce your risk of heart disease by eating a healthy diet. During the winter months it can be tempting to reach for less healthy, comfort foods, but making sure we continue to eat well can protect our heart.

Prioritise eating lots of fibre rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, oats and wholegrain foods like brown rice and pasta. Choose lean meats and fish, including one portion of oily fish per week (such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and trout).

Avoid consuming too much saturated fat by opting for low-fat dairy products and cooking with heart-healthy olive oil. Be mindful of how much alcohol you are consuming and look at stopping smoking if this is relevant, as both are risk factors for cardiovascular illness.

Being aware of the risk factors for heart health during the colder months is key for keeping yourself and your family safe. Be sure to check in on vulnerable relatives or neighbours as it is harder for elderly people to regulate their own body temperature. If you have some to spare, you could consider dropping off a warming meal to a vulnerable person or inviting them round for a meal.

For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for our weekly healthy tips at www.heartresearch.org.uk/healthy-tips.

Anonymous art auction brings in £45,000 for vital heart research

The fifth anniversary of Heart Research UK’s ‘anonymous heART project’ has raised over £45,000, auctioning pieces of A5 art produced by a host of internationally acclaimed artists and musicians.

Famous artists like Bambi, LUAP and Ralph Steadman, and the charity’s own patrons Robert Smith (The Cure) and Paul Insect were joined by hundreds of international artists to create over 450 pieces of unique artwork that were auctioned on eBay between the 4th – 13th November.

Though the list of artists was available to all bidders, the creator of each individual piece was kept anonymous and will been revealed only after the buyers have received their artwork.

The charity’s patron iconic rockstar Robert Smith has contributed to the auction for several years, and his pieces are always highly sought after. The piece he created this year, entitled “DREAMS OF A LOST WORLD”, (top)was the highest seller and went for £4,350.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas illustrator Ralph Steadman’s artworks both ended up in the top five pieces, with his piece “Blue Shock!” going for £1,020.

As sponsors of this year’s anonymous heART project, law firm Walker Morris also hosted an event exhibiting of some of the pieces and an auction of larger artworks, raising a further £2,000 for the charity.

The amount from this year’s auction is added to the £200,000 raised since the project started and will be used to fund pioneering research into the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease.

Kate Bratt-Farrar, Chief Executive at Heart Research UK, said: “Once again we are so pleased to see the result of our anonymous heART project, one of our biggest yearly fundraisers.

“We love seeing how excited people are about the auction and are always so grateful for the support of both the artists and the people bidding on the artworks. It’s a great way for people to help fund vital research whilst also getting a beautiful original piece of art.

“We’d especially like to thank our patrons Robert Smith and Paul Insect for donating their time and art yet again, and our sponsors Walker Morris for supporting the project.”

To find out more and to register your interest for next year’s anonymous heART project, please visit heartresearch.org.uk/anonymous-heart/

Or follow the @he.art_project on Instagram for more updates.

ITEM	SOLD FOR
Lot No 412 – DREAMS OF A LOST WORLD – Robert Smith	£4,350.00
Lot No 040 – Blue Shock! – Ralph Steadman	£1,020.00
Lot No 416 – Study of Lily 2 – Mary Jane Ansell (above)	£830.00
Lot No 041 – Love Heart – Paul Insect	£740.00
Lot No 039 – Yurch! – Ralph Steadman	£670.00

Healthy Heart Tip: Organise your Kitchen for Success

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK

Healthy Heart Tip: Organise your Kitchen for Success

It probably won’t come as a shock to hear that a tidy, clean, and well-organised kitchen can make healthy eating easier. Taking the time to practically declutter and organise your kitchen and making a conscious effort to keep it tidy and clean, can make mealtimes run much smoother.

When things are in order it encourages us to choose healthier foods rather than ordering takeaways or reaching for quick, unhealthy options. Organising your kitchen can be a daunting job, especially if you’ve neglected it for some time.

Not to worry, here we share some ideas to get you started:

Clean out the fridge

Start by emptying and cleaning out your fridge. Discard any old condiments you’ve got that aren’t used and reorganise everything into sections that promote healthy choices.

Such as, keeping your fruit and snackable veggies like tomatoes, cucumber and carrots at the front of your fridge so you can easily see them and reach for them when you’re after a snack.

Empty the cabinets

Empty all your kitchen cabinets, throw away anything which is out of date and donate any unopened food that you’ve had for more than six months (and don’t anticipate yourself eating in the next few weeks) to a local food bank.

Clean out the cabinets and organise everything when putting it back in, making sure the things you use most often are easily reachable. Using small containers to keep things like herbs and spices together can help keep things tidy.

Unwanted or unneeded items

Lots of us end up with random utensils and kitchen gadgets that we never actually use. These take up space and make it harder for us to easily find the things we need and use regularly. Gather all your kitchen utensils together in one place and sort out any that aren’t needed.

Similarly, if there are items that are broken or not fit for purpose, plan to replace them – using a frying pan that constantly sticks makes us less likely to opt for a quick, healthy stir-fry, for example.

For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for our weekly healthy tips at www.heartresearch.org.uk/healthy-tips.

To help keep your heart healthy, why not try out some of our Healthy Heart recipes from our website: https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-recipes-2/.

Or have a look through our Healthy Heart cookbook filled with recipes from top chefs, celebrities and food bloggers:

https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-cookbook/.

Healthy Tip: Kindness for Heart Health

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK

Healthy Heart Tip: Kindness for Heart Health

The 13th of November is World Kindness Day, an international day formed in 1998 to promote kindness throughout the world.

The idea alone is fantastic, as the more kindness we can get into our lives the better, but did you know that kindness can have a physiological impact on your body and contribute to a healthy heart?

The love hormone

When we witness acts of kindness or do something kind ourselves, we produce a hormone called oxytocin, which is often referred to as the ‘love hormone’.

Oxytocin causes the release of a chemical that dilates our blood vessels and lowers blood pressure. High blood pressure is a risk factor for heart disease, therefore regularly producing oxytocin can have a protective effect on our heart.

Stress

Some studies have shown that those who are consistently kind have 23% less cortisol (the stress hormone) than those who are not.

Long-term high levels of cortisol can negatively impact our cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Therefore, engaging in regular acts of kindness may help keep our stress hormones at bay and protect our heart.

Contagiousness

Kindness is contagious and both those who do the kind act and those who witness it can benefit. When we witness a kind act, we experience a boost in mood and some people even report higher energy, this makes us much more likely to commit a kind act ourselves.

Furthermore, when you carry out an act of kindness, you indirectly have a positive impact on the heart health of those who are observing, as they too receive a surge of the cardioprotective ‘love hormone’, oxytocin.

For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for our weekly healthy tips at www.heartresearch.org.uk/healthy-tips.

To help keep your heart healthy, why not try out some of our Healthy Heart recipes from our website: https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-recipes-2/.

Or have a look through our Healthy Heart cookbook filled with recipes from top chefs, celebrities and food bloggers: https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-cookbook/.