Spending Valentine’s Day With the Family? Try Out These Activities
Valentine’s Day demands most of the attention in February. This holiday is designated for couples to share their love and do things
to each other. Encourage your kids to share their happy memories and explain why they love each person. This can be a fun and educational activity for your kids as you can help them with their spelling and grammar. HAVE A FANCY DINNER. You don’t need to go out to have an extravagant Valentine’s dinner. You can make one at home by incorporating the same ingredients as the dishes you would get at a restaurant. Or you can order from your favorite restaurant and pick it up. Use a fancy tablecloth, light some candles, and have fun with it. Don’t forget to include a special dessert; you can even make mocktails to amp up the fun. FINISH THE NIGHT WITH A MOVIE. Valentine’s Day is often one of the busiest nights of the year for movie theaters, but you don’t have to go out to enjoy a movie during the holiday. Head to your favorite streaming service and find some family-friendly romantic comedies to watch together. “The Princess Diaries,” “Lady and the Tramp,” and “Gnomeo and Juliet” are all great options.
they greatly enjoy together. While this usually consists of dinner dates, a movie, and possibly even some dancing, some parents have a difficult time getting away. Maybe they can’t find a babysitter, or
one of the kids is ill, causing them to cancel plans. You might think there’s no point in celebrating the holiday if you can’t do so with just your significant other, but you can turn Valentine’s Day into a family-friendly event. Here are a few activities to try if you’re spending Valentine’s with the kids this February. WRITE LOVE NOTES TO EACH OTHER. Valentine’s Day is all about love, so what better way to celebrate it than by sharing your love with those closest to you? Take a moment and have every member of your family write love notes
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Protecting Your Cardiovascular Health
Your heart works hard for you, beating 2.5 million times throughout an average lifetime, so it’s fair to say we owe it a little something in return. But too many of us take our hearts for granted, assuming they’ll always be there for us. February is American Heart Month, aiming to bring awareness to the risks of heart disease, the U.S.’s leading cause of death. Cardiovascular disease has a genetic component, but much of the risk comes from lifestyle factors. The decisions we make every day can contribute to our chances of developing heart disease in the future. Unsurprisingly, smoking is one of the top risk factors for heart disease, and even secondhand smoke increases your risk. But our diet and exercise choices also play a crucial role in our heart health. Ideally, our diets should mainly consist of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, poultry, and fish. Diets heavy in “white” carbohydrates (bread, pasta, rice), red meat, and sugar raise your chances of developing heart disease. Salt is also an enemy of a healthy heart. Meanwhile, everyone should aim for 150 minutes per week of cardiovascular exercise — that is, physical activity that increases your heart rate. Even brisk walking can improve your health!
Other factors that play a role include excess weight and alcohol consumption. Women should consume no more than one
standard drink daily, while men should limit themselves to two. And while weight loss is challenging, it will likely be aided by a healthier diet and more exercise. Various medical conditions also contribute to the development of heart disease. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, and Type 2 diabetes all increase your risk. So, it’s crucial to visit your doctor for regular checkups and take your medications as prescribed. Proper stress management and adequate sleep also typically lead to improved heart outcomes. While 700,000 Americans died of heart disease in 2020, many deaths were preventable. Interventions to improve your heart health work best when you start early, but it’s never too late to make a positive change and reduce your risk. The sooner you take better care of your heart, the more likely you will live a long, heart-healthy life.
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