Heart Health

There are 2.3 million people in the UK living with heart disease. The good news is that many of the big risk factors – high blood pressure, raised LDL cholesterol and a waist-to-height ratio above 0.5 – are under your control.

The dietary protocols are fairly predictable: more fibre-rich whole foods, less processed meat and refined carbs. Keep in mind that diets that are high in sugar can increase the synthesis of LDL cholesterol. Sat fat’s not a lone gunman.

In terms of exercise, cardio is king. And by “cardio”, we don’t mean a narrow choice between running, jogging and plodding: pacy dumbbell circuits and bodyweight drills count, too. Try this: pick four simple moves and perform a 60-second set of each in turn, working near your max effort. Rest for three minutes, then repeat three times for four rounds. In a study of older adults, those who did this three days per week had stronger, springier, more efficient hearts. A one-two combo keeps things ticking.

The Decider It’s a tie