Throughout February, people have been wearing crimson gowns on National Wear Red Day and eating flavonol-rich chocolate on Valentine’s Day to commemorate Heart Health Month. The fundamentals of a heart-healthy lifestyle are well-known: eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, aim for enough dietary fiber intake, exercise regularly, quit smoking if you smoke, moderate alcohol consumption, and maintain a healthy body weight. Comprehension, on the other hand, does not automatically indicate action. If you know someone who needs some motivation to begin living a healthier lifestyle, now is the time to sit down with them and remind them of what they need to do and why they need to do it. It could be your husband who needs some extra motivation to exercise a few times a week, or 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. I’ll add my recommendation to be prepared with concrete and practical improvements your loved one can do for improved heart health to these fantastic tips for how to start the conversation. Remember that these improvements don’t happen quickly — you’ll need to take little efforts to get there. Small modifications such as reducing portion sizes, adding one more serving of vegetables to the lunch plate, and gradually boosting fiber throughout the day are recommended.
