Whilst fragrance or luxurious gifts might make your valentine swoon, the ultimate gift you can give is your health. So rather than giving you the key to unlock someone's heart this Valentine's Day, we thought we'd give some advice on how to unlock the secrets to a healthy, happy heart.
The way to the heart is through the stomach
We're all familiar with this age-old adage, and when it comes to maintaining a healthy heart, it couldn't be more true. Your diet is one of the biggest factors to keeping your heart in good condition. Try to cut back on salty and high sodium foods and your heart will thank you for it in the long run. By incorporating more wholegrain foods, fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts into your diet, you can lower your risk of heart disease.
Taking a long, romantic walk
Exercise is important for a healthy heart, but you can make a difference by just incorporating thirty minutes of exercise into your daily routine. For example, walking briskly for thirty minutes once a day can reduce the risk of a heart attack by a third.
Rekindle the flame… or not
It's time to put those cigarettes out once and for all. By now, everyone knows that smoking is bad news. As well as damaging your lungs, smoking can also harm the heart. The chemicals in cigarettes, namely nicotine and the carbon monoxide from the smoke, put a strain on the heart by making it work faster. From saving money to improving your overall health, there are many other benefits to quitting smoking.
Get drunk on love, not alcohol
You don't necessarily need to go cold turkey on the booze, but cutting down on your overall alcohol intake is advised. We've already looked at the improvements your body will experience if you cut down on alcohol, and you'll also reduce the stress on your heart. We call that a win-win situation!
Get in touch with our pharmacist today if you have any heart concerns; we're more than happy to be your valentine!