When it comes to keeping our hearts healthy and disease-free, an active lifestyle and a balanced diet are a must. Read along to learn some effective ways to keep your heart healthy. Exercise Regular exercise can reduce your risk of developing heart disease. It can also be a great mood booster and stress buster. 1 Give up smoking If you’re a smoker, quit. Smoking is one of the main causes of coronary heart disease. A year after giving up, your risk of a heart attack falls to about half that of a smoker.