In movies, epic love stories often begin around food — a candle-lit meal, a picnic in a park or a shared ice cream cone along a pier. This Valentine’s Day, as you try to select the perfect food to express your affection, walk past the candy aisle, strut past the champagne until you reach… the kidney beans.
Ok, so the little black beans are an unconventional choice for this romantic day, but it shows your partner that you care about their heart in a very literal sense. February is American Heart Month. In today’s post, we’ll talk about some ways you can improve heart health for your partner and yourself.
First, some facts. The CDC lists heart disease as the number one killer of men and women, stating that 600,000 people die of heart disease in the United States every year. Heart disease is responsible for 1 in every 4 deaths. Several health conditions and lifestyle choices raise a person’s risk of heart disease, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, poor diet and being overweight or obese.
Diet is important. When planning your Valentine’s Day meal, get creative and cook for heart health. Not feeling the kidney beans? There are more traditional foods for a romantic holiday, like red wine, salmon and dark chocolate that are still heart-friendly. When selecting your menu, look for foods that contain carotenoids, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins C and E. Not sure what this jargon means? Read this helpful article from WebMD about heart healthy foods.
After your delicious meal, take a stroll with your sweetheart down memory lane. Literally. After all, keeping active is key when looking to stay healthy. The American Heart Association says that exercising for as little as 30 minutes each day can reduce your risk for heart disease. The AHA is stressing the importance of walking, and has even developed an app called My Heart. My Life., which allows users to create, find and track walking paths on their iPhone or Android. Read more about how walking can improve your ticker’s wellness on their website.
Now, tell your darling your very best joke. Make it a good one. As your partner is laughing, and you’re feeling like your most charming self, you are both lowering your stress levels. Believe it or not, stress makes you more susceptible to heart problems. This may be because of an increase in cholesterol, blood pressure or consistently raised levels of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. Laughter truly is the best medicine, both for a happy relationship and a healthy heart.
February is a month devoted to hearts. We hope these tips help you and your partner live happily, and healthfully, ever after. What are some ways you’re getting heart healthy this month?