Constantly replenishing our cells and filtering out toxins, the heart is highly sensitive to our emotions, feelings, and environment, and is in charge of carrying oxygen to our bodies. Listen below to learn more about a healthy heart!
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Check out these recipes, classes, and lectures to learn how to better support the heart:
Love
Love & Connection Meditation
Breakfast Buckwheat Florentines
Double Chocolate-Hazelnut Overnight Oats
Banana Buzz Latte Smoothie
Golden Carrot Spice Rice
The heart is the ruler of summer and the root of life! Working closely with the lungs, the heart is responsible for nourishing your body with oxygen-rich blood, pumping roughly 11356 litres / 3000 gallons of blood from the lungs to the body every day!
The heart is regulated by its own electrical system, though it relies on close communication with our nervous system to carry out these muscular contractions, which are ultimately responsible for moving the blood.
Your heart is a sensitive organ, as it responds to emotions, and the depth of your breathing, minute to minute. Finding ways to keep your nervous system calm is key to heart health, so create daily routines that relax you, such as deep breathing, meditation, spending time in nature, or simply laying down. As the giver of life, the heart has a large job to do, so listen in and be sure to rest when you need it.
In Chinese medicine, the tongue is the sense organ associated with the heart, and we can get an overall idea of heart health by observing it. Look in the mirror: is your tongue light pink, bright red, pale? Ideally, we want it to appear pink and moist. If it looks pale, the heart may be weakened and tired, possibly needing more nutrients. Bright red could indicate it’s stressed and overworked, asking us to slow down.Â
The foods we eat have a tremendous effect on the heart. Bitter foods and herbs give energy to the heart. Dandelions, endive, watercress, and most leafy veg are particularly supportive. Red foods like strawberries, cherries, tomatoes, kidney beans, and watermelon. Whole grains like brown rice, oats, and buckwheat are excellent ways to strengthen the heart, and spicy foods like ginger and cayenne stimulate the heart and blood flow.
Your heart longs to be loved, emotionally, physically, and nutritionally. So remember to move your body regularly, fuel it with whole, fresh foods, and surround yourself with positive, uplifting energy as much as you can. Place your hands on your heart right now and send it some love!
