The heart is the center of your whole body, so it deserves all the attention and care it can get.Your entire body benefits when you take care of your heart. The health of your heart affects all aspects of your physical well-being. We are able to function at our best when our hearts are healthy.

Here are five ways to maintain and improve heart health:

1. Eat healthy foods

Vitamins and minerals provide the foundation for a healthy heart. By reducing cholesterol, lowering blood pressure, and reducing inflammation, these foods promote heart health:

    Oats and barley

    Fatty fish

    Dark leafy greens

    Nuts and seeds

    Beets

    Avocados

    Olive oil

    Legumes

    Low-fat dairy

The average American gets 80% of their daily salt intake from processed foods alone. Sodium is a silent but harmful ingredient in most processed foods. If you limit the amount of processed food you consume, you may be able to eliminate excess sodium from your diet.

Looking for a salt substitute? Try adding a bit of lemon, vinegar, or different herbs. These flavors can be added without adding sodium.

2. Sleep enough

Getting too little sleep puts you at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease, regardless of age, weight, smoking, or exercise habits. We can have high blood pressure when we sleep too little. In the opposite direction, too much sleep can also harm your heart. You'll be on track for better heart health if you get seven to nine hours of sleep each night.

3. Exercise every day

Exercise can be divided into three types: aerobic, resistance, and flexibility (think running, strength training, and yoga, for example). By varying the exercises done every day, you can strengthen and train the heart in different ways. Move 30 minutes a day to get your heart pumping.

4. Quit smoking

With all of its negative side effects, smoking is harmful to heart health and is the cause of a lot of diseases. Every day, smoking kills the equivalent of three jumbo jets in the U.S. If you quit smoking or avoid it altogether, you will save your heart from almost inevitable complications.

5. Managing stress

Stress is inevitable in everyone's busy lives. Stress is something we can't completely avoid, but we can manage it well. Try a yoga class, schedule 30 minutes of "me" time, or practice deep breathing. Even a little bit can make a difference.