Lower your resting heart rate and live longer

When you wake up in the morning, you might want to check your resting heart rate. A healthy average resting heart rate is around 60 beats per minute. A trained endurance athlete may be around 40 bpm. My resting heart rate was 43 bmp this morning. A lower heart rate indicates a more efficient and stronger heart and does not have to pump as many times. Sedentary people may have a resting heart rate of 70-80 bpm or higher.

Lets take the endurance athlete with a resting heart rate of 40 bpm.

Here is the calculation for the approximate number of heart beats per year.

525949 min/year * 40 beats/min = 21037960 beats per year

Here is the calculation for the approximate number of heart beats per year for the sedentary person.

525949 min/year * 70 beats/min = 36816430 beats per year

The heart beats really add up over 1 year. The amount of extra heart beats per year for the sedentary person is 36816430 - 21037960 = 15778470 beats per year

In other words, the athlete heart beats 15 million less times per year than the sedentary person.

So what would you want a car that has an engine where its pistons fire 15 million more times per year?

This should be very good motivation to stay on an aerobic exercise program.

USA today states that an increased resting heart rate is linked to mortality.

You can lower your heart rate by getting at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise per week. You will need to exercise around 65-85 percent of your maximal heart rate. You can estimate your maximal heart rate here. Also eat foods that improve heart health. These include yummy foods like almonds, raisons, walnuts, garlic, and bananas. WebMd.com suggests these supplements that may help your heart. These include:

Fish oil, Plant sterols, Niacin, Fiber (psyllium), Red yeast rice, Green tea extract, B-Complex vitamins (B6, B12, folic acid), Coenzyme Q10, and Policosanol.

Also consider you may consider a magnesium supplement since Low magnesium levels have been found to be the best predictor of heart disease As with any supplements, consult with your physician as they may interact with other prescription medications.