5 ways to keep your heart healthy this Valentines
- Hug, kiss or hold hands with someone you love or care about. Human touch brings down blood pressure, is calming and has been shown to relieve pain.
- Tell someone special you love them. Letting your feeling out reduces stress, increases your feeling of happiness and can help you live longer.
- Take a walk outside with a loved one. Studies reveal that being outdoors decreases blood pressure, reduces risk of type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease, improves mood and relieves stress.
- Laugh with a friend. Laughter increases blood flow and reduces inflammation. It can increase your good cholesterol, decrease inflammation and reduce stress hormones. Laughter makes life so much fun!
- Enjoy some dark chocolate and other delicious, heart healthy foods. Dark chocolate and berries provide antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, vitamins and minerals that are good for your heart. Enjoy 1-2oz of 72 percent or higher dark chocolate, add some berries on the side and you have a heart healthy dessert!