Italian Secret ENDS Heart Attack and Stroke

If you’re trying to avoid heart disease, you’ve probably been given a long list of beneficial things to DO… and an equally long list of things you AVOID.

DO exercise.

DO eat more vegetables.

DON’T smoke.

DON’T be overweight.

These things are beneficial… but they can also be overwhelming.

But take a deep breath because today, I’m going to tell you about a way to reduce your risk of serious cardiovascular problems by 48%…

And it doesn’t involve doing a single thing.

If you’ve ever been to Italy, you know that nothing happens from around 12:00- 2:00/2:30 or so.

Museums close. Businesses close. The streets can seem empty.

Where is everyone?

They’re sleeping!

For people living in countries like Italy, Spain, Greece, Costa Rica, and Nigeria, taking an afternoon nap is part of their everyday lives.

In the hustle and bustle, time-is-money mindset here in the US, it might seem crazy to stop working for such a big chunk of the day.

But these cultures have the right idea—for both their mental and physical health.

In a study published in the journal Heart, researchers tracked 3,500 adults from 35-75 years old for five years.

They found that people who napped just once or twice a week were 48% less likely to experience major heart problems like heart attack, stroke, or heart failure—than their non-napping peers.

It didn’t matter how long they napped—and more taking MORE naps didn’t produce better results.

In general, though, when it comes to naps longer isn’t necessarily better. The longer you’re asleep, the deeper you’ll sleep. Instead of helping you wake refreshed, it can have the opposite effect, leaving you feeling groggy.

The optimal amount of time for a nap is about 20 minutes.

I like to call them power naps, because it’s the short recharge I need to help me power through the rest of my day.