Our health expert weighs in on how to improve your heart health quickly, from adding nuts to your diet to keeping a cat to cycling.

1. Eat nuts and say yes to vitamin K

Just a handful of nuts a day can reduce your risk of cardiovascular(心血管的) disease. In fact, research suggests that they help your heart in a number of ways, including lowering “bad” LDL cholesterol and the risk of blood clots. So, ditch junk food and reach for the unsalted nuts instead. But beware, they’re high in calories! Besides, vitamin K, in particular vitamin K2, is good for the arteries(动脉) and has been shown to reduce deaths from coronary heart disease(冠心病), yet many of us are deficient in it. Vitamin K has been shown to reduce deaths from coronary heart disease. Food high in vitamin K is also recommended.

2. Keep a cat

A study of more than 4,000 people based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study found that those who’d never owned a cat were 40 percent more likely to die of a heart attack and 30 percent more likely to die from any cardiovascular event, such as stroke or heart failure. Those who’d never owned a cat were 40 percent more likely to die of a heart attack. It’s probable that stroking cats lowers levels of anxiety and stress, which can have a protective effect against heart disease.

3. Move differently

We all know that exercise is good for heart health, but you don’t have to go to the gym. Making regular non-exercise physical activity a priority can boost cardiovascular health. Whether it’s walking meetings, a few minutes on your balance board when you’re on the phone, or cleaning the house, it all adds up. Getting around on your bike can also be a great way to move differently. Cycling to the shops or across town to see a friend, or riding a stationary bike at home will improve fitness.

Eating healthy food, keeping a good mood and being physically active are all good for your heart. Let’s try at once!

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1.Which of the following can replace the underlined word “ditch”?

A Pay back.

B Cheer on.

C Look for.

D Give up.

解析：选D。D词义猜测题。根据第二段划线部分前面的“research suggests that they help your heart in a number of ways”和后面的“reach for the unsalted nuts instead”可知，坚果在许多方面有助于心脏，所以我们应该放弃垃圾食品，转而吃无盐的坚果，这样才对心脏有益。故选D。

2.What does the study of over 4,000 suggest?

A If you want to keep healthy, do nothing but keep a pet.

B Non-pet owners are more likely to live longer.

C Cat owners may easily suffer from depression.

D Petting cats may help cat owners feel relaxed.

解析：选D。D细节理解题。根据第三段最后一句“It’s probable that stroking cats lowers levels of anxiety and stress, which can have a protective effect against heart disease.”可知，研究发现抚摸猫咪可能会降低焦虑和压力水平，从而对心脏起保护作用，即抚摸猫咪可以使人放松。故选D。

3.What does the author mean by saying “move differently”?

A Take exercise regularly.

B Making a workout plan.

C Getting around more often.

D Trying new ways to do daily activities.

解析：选D。D推理判断题。根据第四段“Making regular non-exercise physical activity a priority can boost cardiovascular health.”及该段例举的步行去开会、在平衡板上打电话、打扫房间以及骑自行车出行等这些非锻炼性的活动可知，该段小标题move differently指的是改变日常活动的完成方式，以达到在日常生活中锻炼的效果。故选D。

4.What does the writer intend to do in Paragraph 5?

A Summarize the previous paragraphs.

B Recommend some products to the readers.

C Add some background information.

D Introduce a new topic for discussion.

解析：选A。A推理判断题。Eating healthy food对应第二段内容，keeping a good mood对应第三段内容，being physically active对应第四段内容，即最后一段总结了前面的内容。故选A。