Eat Red Meat Sparingly

Eating red meat less than twice a week can lower your overall fat intake, and it has the added benefit of keeping your cholesterol levels in check.

Plant a Family Garden

Many flowers, vegetables, and fruits thrive in the cooler temperatures of the fall. Get the whole family involved for an outdoor activity that lets all of you reap the benefits.

Block that snack!

Instead of heading for the freezer or pantry, head for the front door and go for a jog around the block. The fresh air and exercise will calm you down, clear your head, and help quench your desire to overindulge.

Relax with Lavender Oil

Lavender oil is known to have a calming effect, while rosemary and lemon oils are thought to be more stimulating. You can use a diffuser to spread the scent of an essential oil throughout your home, or you can add a few drops of the scented oil to almond or olive oil and massage it into your skin.

Shake your salt habit

Salt actually masks the taste of food, and many people find that food tastes better once they reset their taste buds to become accustomed to less salt.

Bedtime-Snack Smarts

With late-night eating, it's not when you eat that matters, it's what and how much you eat. If you find you're hungry late at night, wait 10 minutes before eating anything. Then, if the craving hasn't subsided, choose a small portion of a healthy snack.

10 foods that protect your heart

Heart disease is one of the most feared ailment and a side effect of sedentary lifestyle. You can control the effects of your lifestyle by eating the right food.

It's quite often difficult to change your lifestyle drastically in this competitive world. But you can surely change a little bit of eating and ensure you are protecting your heart.

Here's a list of food that can help you protect your heart.

1. Black beans: Black beans are packed with folate, antioxidants, magnesium which are good for lowering blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. This in turn keeps your heart in safe zone. But if you are planning to use tinned beans, please drain the liquid and wash them before use to reduce the sodium content.

2. Salmon and tuna: These two fish are rich in anti-oxidants and omega-3, two important candidates who help heart.

3. Walnuts: A handful of them a day helps lower your cholesterol and reduce inflammation in the arteries. Replace them as mid-meal snacks instead of chips etc.

4. Oranges: They contain cholesterol-fighting pectin. The fruit is also rich in potassium that helps control blood pressure. Antioxidant hesperidin also helps lower blood pressure.

5. Carrots: Though sweet, they are good to control diabetes, which increases heart attack risk. They also help fight bad cholesterol.

6. Sweet potatoes: They are rich in vitamin A, fiber and lycopene making them a healthy substitute for the white brethren.

7. Oats: Oats in all forms help your heart by lowering bad cholesterol.