Your heart is a vital organ. It works hard every second of every day to pump blood to every part of your body in order to keep you alive. If you do not keep your heart healthy, you can increase your chances of getting heart disease. Heart attack and strokes are among the leading causes of death in both women and men today. A heart attack occurs when the blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the heart is blocked. Similarly, a stroke happens when the blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to brain is blocked. Without oxygen and nutrients, your body cannot properly function. What you eat also has a large impact on the health of your heart. For example, a fatty diet can lead to the blocking of arteries and thereby limit the flow of blood to and from the heart. Adding too much salt to your foods can increase your blood pressure. Eating foods high in sugar can make you more vulnerable to getting diabetes. All of these kinds of foods can ultimately damage the heart and contribute to heart disease.