Be a Healthy Valentine
Valentine’s Day is all about love, and what better way to make the love in our lives last than loving our health?
Think of 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.
The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) 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.
NMDOH 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 Tobacco 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). - 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.
Media Contact
We would be happy to provide additional information about this press release. Simply contact David Morgan at 575-528-5197 (Office) or 575-649-0754 (Mobile) with your questions.
Versión en Español
En un esfuerzo para hacer que nuestros comunicados de prensa sean más accesibles, también tenemos disponibles una versión en español. Por favor presione el enlace de abajo para acceder a la traducción.