Happy Valentine’s Day! Let’s dedicate today to expressing love and affection to those closest to our hearts, including ourselves. Let’s make a lasting impression on our happiness by making healthy choices. All too often, people go through ups and downs of mood and energy… but what if we can make that more stable? What if we can do that through healthy lifestyle choices? The truth is, we can!
February is Heart Month
February is a time when people are encouraged to focus on heart health and happiness. Small actions can have a big impact on protecting our hearts, physically and energetically. So, what makes a happy heart?
Social connections: Research shows the importance of having social connections for longevity. When we communicate with our spouse, family members, or friends, we build better relationships, better chemistry, and develop a sense of belonging.
Nutrition: Choose heart-healthy, whole foods that provide nutrients to the heart such as vegetables, fruit, fish, eggs, and any other free-range, organic animal protein. Limit foods that cause inflammation such as alcohol, sugar, seed oils, and premade sauces or salad dressings.
Exercise: Regular physical activity can improve blood circulation, help maintain a healthy weight, lower “bad” LDL cholesterol and increase “good” HDL cholesterol. Being active also helps lower your risk for other chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, depression, and cancer.
Quit smoking: It goes without saying, if you quit smoking, you reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease including stroke, heart attack, and cancer. If you have trouble quitting smoking on your own, remember your social network. Reach out and talk to someone.
Stress management: Try relaxation techniques on a daily or weekly basis to help manage the many stressors of modern-day life. Daily meditation, breathwork, or yoga helps reduce emotional stress significantly. Likewise, a weekly massage, sauna session, or cold shower have many health benefits for heart-health.
Develop mindfulness: The key to mindfulness is being aware of the present moment. Remaining present increases our ability to tend to our current experience as it is rather than how we wish it could be. This practice releases inhibitions and resistance, which helps cultivate an open our heart, energetically speaking.
Wearing red: Help spread the importance of heart health by wearing red. A nice red top or outfit may strike up a conversation that can help save lives.
This Valentine’s Day, I hope you wear red, communicate with your loved ones, get a chance to relax, and make small heart-healthy choices to increase your vitality and longevity.
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