With Valentine’s Day on the calendar, parents and children may be thinking about candy hearts, cupid and love. However, February also happens to be American Heart Month, a great time to think about the ticker that keeps you going each and every day. The American Heart Association has reported that, “80% of heart disease and stroke events are preventable.” That’s a pretty significant percentage, so what can be done to help prevent heart disease and stroke? Here are a few helpful suggestions as outlined by the American Heart Association to make your Valentine’s Day heart-healthy:
Avoid sweets-Trade in high fat and sugary foods for sweet and nutritious fruit. This is a great way to satisfy that sweet tooth and promote healthy eating that is really heart-healthy.
Give the gift of time-Some may say that the greatest gift of all is the gift of time. When life is busy, it is easy to forget to make deposits of quality time with one another. Spend this Valentine’s Day with friends, family, or that special someone.
Get moving-We recently wrote about the Greenprints Trail System mountain bike trails in Woodstock. There is no better time than the present to get out and get moving on a romantic walk, jog, run or bike ride! Show your Valentine you care about all of them including their health and well-being.
Commit to healthier cooking-It is not always easy to break old habits and make positive changes. However, this is a great time to share with your Valentine (or Valentines if you celebrate as a family) your commitment to begin using less sugar or less salt in your cooking. Remember that small changes add up to big changes; take it one step at a time.
From Sixes Living to all of you, we wish you a happy Valentine’s Day! We hope that you enjoy the day with your families and friends. And if love advice is what you are after, we encourage you to read through the Tips for Living Happily Ever After feature in the February magazine. Five sweet couples, all married for more than 50 years, share their sweet and practical advice!