 The heart is one of the most important organs of the body so it is important we all take steps to maintain a healthy heart, whatever our age and stage in life.
Having an active lifestyle is vital to helping maintain your heart health, but it doesn’t have to mean expensive gym memberships or grueling workouts. Please read a couple of our suggestions below for other ways to keep your heart in tip top shape.
Move to the beat
Dancing is a fun and social way to help keep your heart healthy so instead of sitting in front of the television and watching Strictly Come Dancing, shake your hips and put your moves into practice. Seek out your local dance classes or contact your social club or gentleman’s club to find out if they have dance evenings. You could try the following categories of dancing:
o Ballroom Dancing
A variety of social dances performed by couples. This can include dances such as the waltz, tango, foxtrot and quickstep.
o Swing Dancing
A lively dance style in which couples swing, spin and jump together. This can includes dances such as the jive, jitterbug, hand jive and balboa.
o Latin Dancing
A fast-paced, often sensual, partner dancing. This can include dances such as the rumba, cha-cha-cha, bolero jive, salsa and mambo.
o Folk Dancing
A variety of dances developed by groups or communities. This can include dances such as clogging, English country, Irish dance, Maypole, Morris and square.
Plot your way to a healthy heart
Growing your own allotment is not only a fun hobby, but it is a healthy hobby too. You can eat healthy fruit and vegetables without those pesky pesticides and by getting out in the fresh air you can obtain Vitamin D from sun exposure. Whether you’re weeding your vegetable patch or pruning bushes all of these need the same energy requirements as other physical exercise activities such as walking, cycling, swimming and aerobics.
Depending on the weather in early Spring it is the perfect month to grow leeks, parsnips, turnips and swedes. Cover them with fleece or straw to stop them freezing in the ground.
You can apply for an allotment through your local authority and they will tell you what allotments are in your area. Also try growing vegetables, herbs and miniature fruit in containers great for those with limited growing space.
Once you have an allotment you could create your own jams, preserves, chutneys or soups and impress your friends and families with your delectable dishes.
For more information on the benefits of physical exercise click here. | 
