DAVID KIRSCH IN A NEW YORK MINUTE

About every 25 seconds, an American will have a coronary event, and about one every minute will die from one, says the Center for Disease Control. Heart disease is the number one killer of women and men. Yet, it is the single most preventable cause of death.

Caring about heart health has always been important to me, especially given a family history of high cholesterol and coronary disease. Early on, I researched how to mitigate my risk and learned that diet, exercise and stress management are the key to preventing cardiovascular problems. I decided to make heart-healthy practices the way I lived my life. (And even developed a few products to support it!)

Here are the things I do everyday to keep my heart healthy:

1.      Positive right out of the gate. My happiness is important to the success I want to achieve and to maintaining a low stress level. I know that if I start my day with a positive outlook then I will have more energy to motivate my clients to reach farther than they thought possible. I get energized by this and so does my heart.

2.      Heart-healthy breakfast. Physicians say you need 25 grams of fiber a day to lower cholesterol so each morning, I enjoy a high protein, high fiber and omega-3 rich breakfast. My favorite options are steel-cut oatmeal with blueberries or a protein shake. While creating the formula for my Protein Plus shake, I added more fiber and organic flax seed which is high in omega-3 essential fatty acids and known to lower cholesterol.

3.      Afternoon workouts. While I spend most of my day training clients, I do book an appointment with myself for a vigorous workout. Most afternoons, you’ll find me at the gym strength training for at least an hour. Then, I take a bike ride or run to get my cardio fix. If I want a healthy heart, this is a non-negotiable no matter how busy I get.

4.      Green tea for energy. This alternative to caffeine is my coffee substitute because it’s rich in antioxidants that protect heart arteries from forming clots which can cause a heart attack. I get my green tea fix from my Vitamin Super Juice (which is also the equivalent of taking a multivitamin!) and Thermo Bubbles, both of which have green tea extract.

5.      Almond breaks. Just a handful is an excellent source of protein, fiber, vitamin E and magnesium, and arginine, which is known to improve blood flow to the heart and reduce cholesterol.

6.      Whole foods at lunch/dinner. Nothing in my daily meals comes from a package. I always have at least, one salad a day of dark greens like spinach or kale. Even on days when I do splurge on pasta, I make sure that I have plenty of greens. I stick to clean proteins like grilled chicken and even a good turkey burger on a whole wheat bun! I also love grains and veggies low on the glycemic index like quinoa, lentils and beans.

7.      Supplement my diet with omega-3 and omega-6. I don’t trust the fish these days so to be sure I get enough of these essential fatty acids, I take a supplement of docosahexaeonic acid (DHA) that promotes brain, eye and heart health. I created a 100% vegetarian DHA -- David Kirsch’s Ultimate DHA. Three doses of this fish-free solution per day is equivalent of eating 3 oz. of salmon! I drink 2 to 3 Vitamin Super Juices daily, which gives me more essential fatty acids along with all of the heart-healthy micronutrients you’d find in a traditional multivitamin pill.


If you can only do one thing to take care of your heart it’s to get moving! If you are doing less than 30 minutes of physical activity per day, your heart is at risk. Don‚t let a sedentary day go by. Take a walk. Use the stairs. Work out. No Excuses!