You don’t have to eat watercress and celery and work out three hours a day to keep your heart healthy. Local cardiologists have some healthy-heart tips that may surprise you.
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Have a Beer.
“Moderate alcohol consumption can be healthy. Dark beer also has flavonoids, antioxidants, and iron, which may make it even better,” says David Cziner, MD, FACC, FACP a cardiologist at WESTMED Medical Group. A new study presented at the American Heart Association recently “showed that one beer daily for men and women improved HDL levels,” says cardiologist Tanya Dutta, MD, FACC, of Westchester Medical Center.
Don’t Discard Lard.
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We’re not advising you to dig into a can of Crisco for lunch, but lard “seems to be making a comeback,” says Cziner. “As animal fats go, it has a better ratio of good fats [monounsaturated] to bad fats [saturated].” Still, he stresses: “Olive oil is better.”
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Enjoy a Steak.
“Lean cuts of steak in small portions can be a healthy alternative” to white meat, says Dutta. Beef, Cziner agrees, “has gotten a bad rap,” and lean beef “is an excellent source of protein.”
Do the Right Kind of Exercise.
“Aerobic exercise of any kind is heart-healthy,” Cziner explains. “Anaerobic exercise — any kind of exercise where you are repetitively grunting, straining, or holding your breath — is not.”
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Have a Cup of Coffee.
“It may have significant benefits in reducing stroke and heart disease,” says cardiologist Joshua Latzman, MD, of Maple Medical in White Plains.
