Let’s Focus on You This Valentine’s Day
Would you look at that, it’s February! We are already in the second month of the year, and you know what that means… Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! What does that mean for us? Let’s take a minute, push aside the chocolate, the flowers, and relationship status, and let’s focus on the person who deserves the most love from you this year: You! You’re always moving, creating goals, and pushing forward. Stop and take a second to connect with what is at the center of all that, a healthy heart. Taking steps to support a healthy heart is at the foundation of everything you do. Strengthen your heart and you will invigorate your life. Here are some great ways to start or continue your heart-healthy journey.
Heart-Centered Diet
Your heart is a muscle and therefore requires an abundance of energy to do its job. This doesn’t mean you need to load up on carbs or gorge on healthy foods. Rather, it involves consuming a whole food diet and in the right portions. We are talking about a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats and so on. It also means avoiding the processed foods that typically come in a box and include ingredients like vegetable oil, high fructose corn syrup and so on. We call these fake foods. At first glance, it might seem like a lot of work to make these changes, but all it takes is one step at a time. Keep your focus on adding in whole foods and soon enough they will crowd out the fake foods. Need a little recipe inspiration? Try this grilled fish with peperonata to begin integrating these new elements into your diet!
Get Sweatin’
Yes, of course, exercise and movement are on this list! It’s time to get that heartbeat up and your blood pumping. Aerobic exercises help to strengthen the heart muscles, keep weight at a healthy level, and can help to reduce stress. Regular exercise also builds your heart’s ability to fight disease. All of these benefits combine to create a healthier heart and a healthier you.
The trick is consistency, we are shooting for roughly 30 minutes a day three or more times a week. And, this involves determining when exercise fits into your schedule and committing to it. If you are self-motivated, it may be convenient to set up an area in your house to work out, if you like getting outside, turn to nature for your inspiration and if you are a people person, the gym might be the place for you. If you’re lacking motivation to move, find inspiration along the way.
Naturally Boost Your Heart
Chocolate hearts, chocolate roses, chocolate bars…you would think it’s national chocolate month with the number of Valentine’s treats that are centered around chocolate. You know what though? Studies are showing that chocolate helps support a healthy heart. But, before you run out and grab a bar let’s work through the details. When it comes to heart health benefits we are shooting for more cocoa which equals more flavonoids and less of the unhealthy stuff like saturated fat and sugar. As a general rule of thumb go with bars that have at least 70% cocoa. And remember, this doesn’t give you an excuse to consume chocolate daily, but it does if you’re looking for a treat here and there.
There is, however, one thing you can consume each day to support a healthy heart… supplements. But not just any old supplement, we are looking for one that is loaded with nutrients that are scientifically proven to support a healthy heart. CoQ10 is a great place to turn. More specifically, Ubiquinol, the bioactive form of CoQ10. Ubiquinol is a naturally occurring fat-soluble substance that resembles a vitamin. It is found in tissues that require the most energy such as the heart, liver, and kidney. Unfortunately, the natural production of this important antioxidant slowly declines around the age of 30, meaning it becomes important to supplement it.
Ubiquinol is a powerful antioxidant that promotes a healthy heart and a strong cardiovascular system and can be found in New Earth’s Energize. Accompanied by organic reishi and oyster mushroom extracts along with polyphenols from olives, Energize is a well rounded cardiovascular support.
Living the #NewEarthLife means that you go above and beyond for your overall wellness. When it comes to heart health, that doesn’t change. It’s never too late in the year to begin living for and loving yourself! Adding good practices and habits to your everyday life is the perfect Valentine’s gift to yourself. Giving yourself the gift of health is the gift that keeps giving, year after year. Share the love by challenging your loved ones to join you on the journey for wellness, and make sure your heart is in it. February is not the only time your heart matters, but it is a great reminder to keep pushing yourself to do all you can for a healthy heart.
