12 no-fuss ways to a healthier heart

What really makes a difference to the health of your ticker? Here's the very latest research and expert advice

- By Tanya Pearey

1 Watch less than an hour of TV a day

It could prevent one in 10 cases of heart disease, according to a recent study by Cambridge University. It found that people were far less likely to develop the condition than people who spent more time in front of the telly, regardless of their genetic risk. The research supports previous studies that have shown a link between heart disease and sedentary behavior, but researchers think it’s not just being immobile that raises your risk, but the fact that you’re also likely to eat unhealthy snacks while watching TV. So if you your viewing time is on the longer side, try to keep unhealthy snacks to a minimum and move around regularly – for example, during ad breaks.

2 Choose healthy fats

‘Cutting down on saturated fats and replacing them with unsaturated fats is a great way to lower your blood cholesterol,’ says Heart UK’s dietetic adviser, Lynne Garton. High cholesterol levels raise your risk of cardiovascular problems because too much cholesterol in your blood can clog arteries and lead to diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Vegetable oils, such as rapeseed oil and olive oil, plus nuts, seeds, avocados and oily fish, are good healthy fats.

3 Lose weight – if you need to