What is cardiovascular disease? How to avoid deadly condition

PACK YOUR PLATE WITH COLOUR To get the most of the abundance of rich foods we have been given, get creative with your dinner plate, advises Sarah. She said: “Choose berries such as

blueberries and raspberries which contain powerful phytonutrients and are lower in fructose, perfect if you are watching your sugar levels. Go green with broccoli, which is shown to help

protect you against some cancers, particularly hormone cancers. “Include the protective carotenoids found in carrots, sweet potatoes and squash, and fill up with red tomatoes which are

packed with Lycopene, which (also) protects you from heart disease, stokes and high blood pressure.” STAY HYDRATED Water is hailed by many health experts for its plethora of benefits, and

for good reason. Sarah said: “Our bodies are made up of approximately 60 per cent water. (It) helps flush out our toxins and lubricate our bodies but above all, it is essential for life.

“Staying hydrated decreases your chances of colon or bladder cancer, it also helps protect us from heart disease by helping the blood pump more efficiently. We stay more focused, have a

clearer head and we perform better. “We get a better night’s sleep when our bodies are hydrated and suffer less aches and pains when waking up and after exercise.” REDUCE STRESS Researchers

and health experts have linked stress to a wide range of short term and long-term health issues, with heart disease at the forefront. Sarah advised: “Turn off your mobile phone, hide the

laptop and find some time for you. Stress is one of the biggest threats to our overall health, (and) it also lowers the immune system and can change our relationship with food. “Those who

suffer more stress, tend to rely more heavily on stimulants such as caffeine and refine carbohydrates, particularly sugar, which artificially gives you a ‘feel good’ boost… Soon you are not

just suffering from stress but also from diabetes and heart disease from your poor diet choices.” EMBRACE THE OUTDOORS If you want to improve your health, clear your mind and decrease your

risk of heart disease, it’s important you have enough Vitamin D, warns Sarah. She explained: “The best source is simply from sunlight, but our fear of sun exposure has lead us away from

spending time in the sunshine. However, expert advice has changed and we need to spend more time outdoors (with adequate protection from midday sun during summer months). “Studies have shown

vitamin D deficiency increases your risk of heart disease by 64 per cent, so take a simple step to protect your heart and spend just 20 minutes each day outside to top up levels of vitamin

D.”