Valentine’s Day is all about love and the heart is a beautiful symbol of love. But many people don’t know that heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men AND women. Keeping our hearts in good working order should be a priority, that’s why adding cardio to your weekly routine is critical in maintaining good heart health.
Incorporating 150-350 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise can actually LOWER the risk of early mortality by as much as 40%. For moderate-intensity cardio you want to increase your heart rate for 30 minutes, or in bursts of 10 to 15 minutes. You should be feeling breathy but not struggling to talk. Moderate-cardio exercises such as a brisk walk, light jog, swimming, bike riding, tennis, etc. are not hard to achieve for the average person. To take it up a notch, start running, do a cardio class or turn up the Elliptical at the gym.
Eating a balanced diet low in saturated fats will also help with your heart function and lower cholesterol. Oh and since it’s Valentine’s Day you can also add that piece of dark chocolate (70%+ only) as it may help reduce cardiovascular disease and it tastes great too!
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