When it comes to beauty we should also consider our hearts. When we take care of our heart it becomes a part of our self-care. Sadly, heart disease continues to be a leading cause of death in the United States, yet it is one of the most preventable. By incorporating a few healthy habits, some of which I need to start doing more regularly myself, we can reduce our risk. I’ve listed several simple lifestyle changes we can start today:
Make balanced and nutritious meal choices.
Staying active. My personal goal this year is 30 minutes of cardio six days per week. Children and adolescents should get 1 hour of physical activity every day. Trust me, this one is not always easy. It’s helped me to look at it as if my doctor has written me a prescription for exercise!
Moderating our alcohol consumption. No more than 2 drinks per day.
Avoiding tobacco.
If you missed Nana Alison’s post titled You Are What You Eat you can find it here. She shares a lot of great info and talks about the 80/20 rule for clean eating. I found this so helpful in making small changes to my meal choices. Also be sure to check out these 87 heart-healthy recipes from Women's Day Magazine. I've already printed several of their recipes to try out!
As I mentioned earlier this can be difficult. However, getting regular physical activity will help us to not only maintain a healthy weight but will lower our blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels. One way I plan to help incorporate physical activity into my day is by literally not over thinking it and to Just Do It. Even though I may be feeling tired or sluggish, I’ll lace up my shoes and set the fitness app on my apple watch! I have to say that I always feel better once I start moving my body and it gives me that second burst of energy I need on most days.
Walking is one of the simplest ways to get active and stay active. You can find lots of tips and motivation to get you started on the American Heart Association website Go Red for Women. You'll gain a lot of insight on their website, as I did. However, any activity is better than nothing. Just start smaller and work your way up. Lastly, take a minute and test your knowledge. The CDC has a simple test you can locate here, in order to find out how much you know about your heart.
"By living a healthy life, eating well and staying active, you can do a lot to extend the normal functioning and structure of your heart." - Dr. Jeremy Van't Hof. Sometimes, it's best to find a friend willing to take this journey with you. It will help keep you both motivated and on track. What fun would it be if that friend was your grandchild, because truly nothing sounds better than taking the time for a brisk walk in the park together! My wish is that we all live a healthy lifestyle and stay young at heart! That we accomplish this for our mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, grandchildren and for ourself!
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." - Helen Keller
Let's cherish this Grand season of life!
xoxo
Mimi Jackie