Happy Valentine’s Day from our Med First community! We want to thank you for trusting us with your care and we hope you have a wonderful day with your loved ones.
February is heart health month, so don’t forget to treat your heart right this Valentine’s Day! Here are a few heart-healthy tips for this Valentine’s day:
- Consider alternative gifts to chocolate and pastries: High-sugar diets can lead to obesity, inflammation and high triglyceride, blood sugar, and blood pressure levels, which are all risk factors for heart disease. Instead, consider gifting edible arrangements with blueberries, oranges, and strawberries, which are full of antioxidants and may lower blood pressure. Or how about flowers, a specialty tea basket, a poem, or an assortment of nuts? Nice gifts don’t have to be candy!
- Choose food wisely: Eating out? Start with a salad, avoid red meats, and, if possible, choose pink-hued fish like salmon. Salmon is full of Omega-3 which are fatty acids that can help reduced plaque build-up.
- Stay active: Go for a walk! Go for a romantic stroll after dinner. Physical activity strengthens the heart and lowers blood sugar. It will also help you burn some calories from the day!
- Pick Dark chocolate: Dark chocolate is not as high in sugar and fat as milk chocolate. It also contains flavonoids that can help lower blood pressure.
As always, Med First believes in care for now and care for life. Happy Valentine’s day!