Living a healthy lifestyle will make your heart healthier and allow you to feel better in your day to day life. 

Manage your weight:

Chocolate’s can be tempting on Valentine’s Day, but try to eat them in moderation! Being overweight can increase your risk of heart disease, so make sure you stick to a well-balanced diet, low in fat and high in fruit and vegetables.

Get moving:

Do 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week. If you are pushed for time with work and social commitments, why not split the time between five 30 minute sessions a week? One top tip is to cycle to and from work instead of taking the bus, and leaving you free to spend your evenings with your friends and family.

Give up smoking:

Smoking is one of the main causes of coronary heart disease, as well as a contributing factor to host of other illnesses. However, did you know that a year after giving up, your risk of a heart attack falls to about half that of a smoker? The Islington Stop Smoking Service can be contacted on tel: 0800 093 9030 if you wish to find out more about giving up smoking.

Drop the salt:

Another diet related tip is to reduce the amount of salt you consume to maintain a healthy blood pressure. Try to stop using salt at the table and add less to your cooking, or even cut it out completely. Also, watch out for high salt levels in processed foods. Try to remember to check the food labels: a food is high in salt if it has more than 1.5g salt (or 0.6g sodium) per 100g.

Get your five a day:

Despite being Valentine’s Day, chocolate covered strawberries are not exactly what I have in mind for a healthy heart! Try to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, add dried fruit to breakfast cereal, and add vegetables to your pasta sauces and curries etc.

Eat oily fish:

Treat someone this Valentine’s Day to fresh salmon, and eat oily fish twice a week. Other fish such as mackerel, sardines and fresh tuna are an excellent source of omega-3 fats, which can help to protect against heart disease.

Walk off stress:

Feeling stressed this Valentine’s Day? Why not go for a walk with a loved one and reduce your anxiety. Don’t forget, a half hour walk is one fifth of the way towards your weeks exercise, too!

Cut saturated fat:

Small changes to your diet can have positive health benefits. Choose semi-skimmed over full-fat milk, leaner cuts of meat and steam or grill foods rather than frying.

Drink less:

I’m sure many of us enjoyed a glass of wine with our partners on Valentine’s Day, but too much alcohol can be fattening. Try to ensure you limit your weekly alcohol intake, with regular alcohol free nights.

Read the food label:

When shopping, look at the label on food packets to see what the product contains. Understanding what is in food will help you make healthier choices.

Source: The British Heart Foundation