Exercise is a great way to balance the calories we take in from foods, which helps with weight control. It is also great for stress management. While maintaining a healthy weight and managing stress helps prevent heart disease, exercise won't necessarily erase all of the effects of an unbalanced diet.

What Is Meant by an “Unbalanced Diet”?

• Too much saturated fat, trans-fat and sugar
• Too little whole grains, fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

In addition, your body likely won't feel like exercising if you haven't fueled it with the variety of healthy foods it needs.

There are many uncontrollable factors that affect heart disease risk, such as your genes, age and gender. Some people may be lucky enough to have heart-healthy genes. But most of us need to do what we can to lower risk of heart disease as much as possible—not only by exercising, but also by following a heart-healthy diet, managing stress and quitting smoking.