Happy Valentine’s Day! ❤️
This holiday is all about love & hearts… so it’s the perfect time to talk Heart Health. And I just read a new research study about a surprising way to improve your heart health…
BOOST YOUR WELL-BEING
A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association suggests the better your well-being, the healthier your heart…
The study included over 700 people ages 25-70. And people who reported HIGHER LEVELS OF WELL-BEING had…
– healthier blood pressure
– healthier cholesterol levels (lower triglycerides, lower LDL/bad cholesterol, and higher HDL/good cholesterol)
– less blood vessel stiffness with age
– lower risk for future heart disease
❤️ Bottom Line: Boost your well-being for a healthier heart!
6 THINGS TO BOOST YOUR WELL-BEING
Based on the well-being questionnaire in the research study, I created this list of 6 things we could all do to boost our well-being…
✨ Meditate
Even just 10 minutes a day can help you feel more relaxed and think more clearly. My favorite app for meditation is Insight Timer.
✨ Practice Affirmations
Part of well-being is feeling confident and good about yourself. So repeat encouraging phrases & be your biggest cheerleader like: “I believe in my abilities, I am smart, I matter, I am strong, I am a good person, I believe in me.”
✨ Do Random Acts of Kindness
Doing good for others in even small ways spikes your own well-being, so it’s a win-win. Hold the door for someone, compliment someone, or send an email of appreciate to a friend or co-worker.
✨ Keep a Joy Journal
Keep a journal of small, daily things that you find joyful such as wearing a pop of color, a warm cup of coffee, etc. Purposefully add daily joys to help you feel more cheerful, optimistic about the future, and energized.
✨ Try Something New
New things spark fun and play such as try a new fitness class, new hobby, new restaurant, or new food or recipe. Keeping life fresh & exciting is a well-being booster.
✨ Socialize!
Prioritize doing things with friends and family. Put plans in the calendar and protect the time. Being social strengthens your feeling of connection, which is a well-being and longevity habit.
GOOD TO KNOW: LIFE’S ESSENTIAL 8
In addition to BOOSTING YOUR WELL-BEING, the American Heart Association created Life’s Essential 8, which is a list of 8 things to do for a healthier heart…
1. Eat better
2. Be more active
3. Quit tobacco
4. Get healthy sleep
5. Manage weight
6. Control cholesterol
7. Manage blood sugar
8. Manage blood pressure
AND….
TRY THIS: MY LIFE CHECK QUIZ
Take THIS QUIZ to find out your HEART HEALTH SCORE! It’s a FREE online quiz that includes things like your diet, sleep, exercise, and different lab tests. Then based on your answers, you’ll get a heart health score.
Once you know your score, you can make small changes to your habits and see your score improve over time. This can help you feel more motivated & empowered to give your heart the love it deserves.❤️
