Heres what not to do for good heart health.

It might not come as a surprise that Americans spend most of their days sitting.

It Increases Inflammation

Hendricks says that being too sedentary contributes toinflammationthroughout the body.

a photo of a man sitting on the couch and watching television

Photo:Getty Images. EatingWell design.

Over time, high blood sugar levels damage blood vessels and the heart muscle itself, she adds.

One of the best ways to protect your heart is to move more.