Did you know that depression is a major factor in heart attacks? Yeah, I know, probably a good reason to go find a Valentine today right?
The heart is a major factor in how we think, act, and feel and today we’re gonna talk just a little bit about it and what you can do to make sure that it stays in the best shape possible.
First of all, the best thing you can do to ensure your heart stays healthy is to eat right and exercise (duh), but there are a few things that you probably hadn’t quite thought of as well.
Activity is the most important factor in how healthy you and your heart can be. People with similar diets, but less activity have been showed to have much higher instances of heart disease and other potential risk factors. That doesn’t mean that if you work out that you can eat fried chicken every day though (maybe more like once every other day 😉)
Speaking of eating, did you know that chocolate is actually good for you? Well, actually it’s dark chocolate that’s good for you because it’s purer. It’s got a ton of antioxidants like polyphenols and flavanols which are great protectants.
Wine, the other thing you’ll probably be consuming this Valentine’s evening, contains antioxidants and the flavonoids similar to the ones in chocolate. Of course, too much of a good thing is not good so if you’re gonna eat and drink, stick to a half-handful of chocolate and just one glass of wine if you’re a woman and 2 maximum if you’re a man.
Thinking With Your Heart
As I said before, depression is a major factor around Valentine’s Day and really any holiday, for that matter. The heart may not be considered to have a consciousness as with the brain, but consider how emotions are linked to your physical condition.
I would have you consider that the absolute easiest way to live is to be in an acceptably conditioned state. Your heart and brain are connected in a sort of marriage.
There have been studies that have shown that the brain does not necessarily tell the heart what to do. The heart and all its parts can function without the brain. Scientists have gotten the heart to pump outside of the body with the use of electricity. It’s why they use those paddles to start your heart after a heart attack.
They don’t exactly do that for liver or kidney failure…
So the heart is a very important piece of the overall puzzle to your physical AND mental health. You have a strong heart, it pumps blood around, helps your brain and all the other organs, yadda, yadda, yadda.
Same with your mind. You keep good company, you are encouraged to stretch and challenge yourself, you feel good about yourself, your heart stays pumping…like I said it’s like a marriage.
And the engagement ring is a conscious routine of exercise and balanced eating.
Jerry “loverboy” Washington
P.S. If you have the heart and you’re in the Philadelphia area, I’m gonna show you some love with a flash sale on our group training. Wanna feel what it’s like to finally grow to love your workouts? You can workout with me one one one for less than $20! Go here. Talk soon…
