People have been celebrating Heart Health Month for the whole month, from wearing red gowns on National Wear Red Day to eating flavonol-rich chocolate on Valentine’s Day, there has been no shortage of ways to get in the mood. Most people are aware of the measures to living a heart-healthy lifestyle: eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, seek to achieve the recommended dietary fiber intake, be physically active, quit smoking if you do, moderate alcohol use, and maintain a healthy body weight. However, understanding does not always imply action. If you know someone who needs a little encouragement to start living a healthy lifestyle, now is the time to sit down with them and remind them of what they need to do and why they should do it. It could be your husband who needs some additional encouragement to get moving a few times a week, or it could be the mother of one of your children’s best friends who isn’t taking care of herself and needs to set a better example for her children.
