Love Your Health on Valentine’s Day

Ah, February – when a young heart’s fancy turns to love, romance…and (Gulp!) Valentine’s Day.

I know, I’m a dude, and a single one at that. I’m not exactly big on all the commercial trappings of Valentine’s Day myself; the fancy dinners, forced romantic dates, cards, chocolates, stuffed animals - all of it makes my wallet shrivel and my head spin.

Valentine’s Day is supposed to be about love. We all want love to last, right? Well, consider this: There may be no better way to make love last than loving our health.

It makes sense. How many times have you heard the advice ‘you can’t love someone else until you love yourself’? Loving ourselves isn’t just about having good self-esteem; it’s about taking care of our bodies, hearts and minds.

Well, the New Mexico Department of Health wants you to have a sweet Valentine’s Day. So whether you celebrate on your own, or with someone else, take steps to be a healthy valentine. The Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) share with you ways to challenge yourself to be active, healthy, and smoke-free:

• Treat yourself and loved ones to a heart-healthy meal. You don’t have to go out to do it. There’s plenty of recipes out there that are good, good for you, and less expensive than anything you’ll get at a restaurant. Look for meal ideas that include plenty of fruits and vegetables and foods low in saturated fat and salt. Don’t forget the soft music and candlelight!
• Plan an event that doesn’t just encourage healthy eating, but physical activity too! We adults need two hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week. Go on a hike, you little lovebirds, you. When you get to your destination, breakout that awesome healthy picnic lunch you made and watch your partner swoon. I see couples working out at the gym together all the time. Clearly a shared interest in exercise helps keep them healthy and happy.
• Give yourself or your loved ones a favorite healthy alternative to candy; say, a fruit basket instead of gigantic heart-shaped box of mystery candy. You never know what you’re biting into with those things anyway. Mystery nougat – blech!
• If you smoke, quit smoking. It's a perfect gift for yourself and others, and the Department of Health’s Nicotine Use Prevention and Control Program (TUPAC) offers counseling free of charge at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) and 1-855-DEJELO-YA (1-855-335-3569).
• Get this: February is American Heart Month. See what they did there? Do yourself and your loved ones a favor and learn about heart disease prevention together. Heart disease can be preventable, and it’s always something to watch out for – especially in the southern part of New Mexico where heart disease ranks highest in the state.
• Learn the most common symptoms of a heart attack. Call 9-1-1 immediately if these symptoms occur.
• And if you’re into sending valentines, hey, what better time to not just say I love you, but also encourage your loved ones to take steps for a healthy life. We’re all in this together. Why not remind the people most important to us not just how much we value them, but also how much we want to keep them around for the long haul?

So there you go: Eat healthy, be active, protect ourselves and our family, manage stress and more – all of these are great Valentine’s Day tips to share with the one you love. It’s not just a matter of giving someone a piece of our mind; it’s a matter of giving someone a piece of your heart.

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