Aah, Valentine's Day. What a great holiday. Did you know
that the origin of this holiday is not really known? There
are lots of suggestions by historians...but no one really
knows for sure. Try doing a web search for "the history of
Valentine's Day" and you will see. Yet, it is such a
popular holiday. A chance to celebrate and be grateful for
the love that we have in our lives is truly special!
So what are your plans? A romantic dinner? Flowers?
Popping the question? It's all so exciting, isn't it?
Here's an idea: why not take care of your real, blood
pumping, heart and appreciate it on this wonderful day?
For without it, we would not be enjoying this or any other
day! Or better yet, why not get together with your honey
and make a plan to make sure that both of you are in good
health to celebrate many more Valentine's Days?
The American Heart Association celebrates the whole of
February as Heart Health Month. During February, the
organization strives to educate people about how to stay
well and keep their hearts in shape. They challenge people
to address general wellness factors and give them ideas on
how to do it. In general, they urge awareness of how to
recognize heart problems and strokes, what to do if you
have symptoms, how to assess personal risk factors, get
regular medical check ups, regular exercise, healthy eating
habits and no smoking.
Ok. We all know we should exercise, eat "right", have
regular medical checks and lower stress levels. Let's look
at some of the current dietary and exercise recommendations
specifically aimed at maintaining a healthy heart. After
all, the more research the medical folks do, the more they
change what the "right" things to do are!
Exercise is pretty simple: at least 30 minutes of
moderately rigorous exercise most or all days of the week.
Interestingly, the type of exercise makes little difference
in terms of heart health. Weight training has proven to be
heart healthy as well as more aerobic activities. No
matter what you enjoy, just stay moving!!!
Diet is not so simple. Some of the newer recommendations
include:
Eat LOTS of vegetables, some fruit, whole grains and lean
protein. Add Omega-3 fats, which come from fish oil, nuts,
seeds and some oils. Eat much less processed foods because
they contain trans fats which are more harmful to the heart
than saturated fats! Fry food much less often. Frying food
changes the structure of fat molecules (trans fats) and
degrades protein. The heart needs B-vitamins to keep it
healthy. Processed grains (white flour, rice, etc) lose
60-90% of the vitamins in processing. Eat brown and
unprocessed where possible. Keep desserts and sweets to a
minimum. Add a multivitamin, just to make sure to get
necessary nutrients (especially B vitamins).
Wellness Issues:
Learn to cope with stress, communicate better, manage anger
etc. Repressed emotions are terrible for the heart as well
as overall health (and cause relationship problems too)
Stop smoking Control alcohol intake Be aware of direct
relatives who have had heart disease or Type 2 diabetes (a
risk factor for heart attacks) If you have Type 2 diabetes,
follow your physician's instructions! Keep your body fat at
normal levels.
So, this Valentine's Day, when you are feeling your most
romantic....show your partner how much you love him/her by
making resolutions to become more heart healthy by the time
the next Valentine's Day comes around. Taking care of your
body so you will be around for your partner a long time is
soooo romantic ..... and sexy!
----------------------------------------------------
About the Author:
Ainsley Laing, MSc. has been a Fitness Trainer for 25 years
and writes exclusively Body for Mind eZine. She holds
certifications in Group Exercise, Sports Nutrition and
Personal Fitness Training. She is also a professional
engineer and mom. To see more articles by Ainsley visit
http://www.bodyformind.com or the blog at
http://www.bodyformind.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment