As we kick off a new decade, the time has come to fill out your list of New Year’s resolutions. Will 2024 be your happiest and healthiest year yet? As a nutrition-focused cardiologist, Jesal V. Popat, M.D., FACC, is passionate about heart care and guiding patients as they achieve their fitness and health goals. Whether you want to transform or maintain your health to improve your heart condition, Dr. Popat addresses the needs of each patient with an evidence-based approach that ensures they receive an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plan. In this brief article, a cardiologist committed to heart care in Tampa will discuss three goals individuals suffering from heart-related ailments should strive for in 2020. 

1) Creating Fitness Goals

The key to any successful fitness plan is creating realistic goals, discovering an enjoyable form of exercise, and staying active. Heart.org recommends that you begin any exercise regimen by committing at least 150 minutes a week to your fitness goals. Eventually, exercise will become a part of your daily life and you can continue to increase the time and intensity of your workouts. There’s no debating that regular exercise can make your heart stronger while lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. However, if you suffer from heart-related symptoms, consult a heart specialist in Tampa like Dr. Popat before beginning a new exercise program.  

 

Related: 4 Qualities of an Excellent Cardiologist

2) Consider a Plant-Based Diet

Along with a fitness routine, Dr. Popat encourages patients to adopt a diet that is low in fat to improve heart health. There are a variety of diet trends out there; however, just like your exercise routine, it’s important to pick a plan that you will enjoy if you are interested in steadily improving your health and losing weight. A healthy plant-based diet will lower blood pressure and can prevent cancer. The goal is to eliminate foods that are “empty of nutrients, including processed foods, white flour, sugar and sweeteners” and replace them with plant-based, nutrient-rich, superfoods that greatly reduce the chances of heart disease. With tons of exciting plant-based options out there, including impossible meat, now is the perfect time to consider positive changes to your eating habits. 

 

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3) Track Your Progress

As we have stressed in the above two tips, no New Year’s resolution is attainable unless you stick with your goals. One way to effectively ensure that you do this is to track your progress. Some patients prefer to keep a journal highlighting their journey from the day they set their health goals to the day they reach their milestones. Similarly, some patients prefer to keep a visual reminder of their goal and their progress. Whether it’s marking an X on the calendar for everyday you worked out or downloading a health app to your smartphone, reviewing your progress can have many positive impacts on your health journey, including invoking a feeling of pride for the steps you’ve taken or looking back at your progress to motivate you to continue to reach new heights. 

To consult Jesal V. Popat, M.D., FACC, a heart specialist in Tampa, please call (813) 344-0934 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.

 

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