Heart Healthy Date Tips and Ideas for Valentine’s Day
The new decade has been off to a quick start, and now that you’ve settled into your healthier habits, you’re wondering how to stay on track and get past Valentine’s Day without losing your progress. The answer you’ve been waiting for is here – heart healthy date tips for you and your partner! Whether you want stay inside or go out and be adventurous, we have something for you in mind, all keeping you on track with fulfilling your goals for a healthier heart.
Tip #1 – Think about how to find healthier food options
Food is a huge factor when working your way towards having a healthier heart, but restaurants do not always have the best options, especially considering that restaurant menus for Valentine’s Day are usually pre-set. Here at Healthpointe, lots of us are cooking up ways to a better heart, which is why I recommend cooking and staying in for your Valentine’s date. This is a great option if you are concerned that going out to eat will ruin your progress. Making a nice meal at home for you and your loved one is a gesture that we’re sure they’ll appreciate. You can even use our guide on what to avoid when cooking for a healthier heart. Most importantly, when you’re cooking at home, don’t forget the red wine! Since red wine is rich in antioxidants, flavonoids, and resveratrol, drinking it in moderation it can reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Its healthy effects will be felt by both your partner and your heart.
Sadly, staying in isn’t always an option on Valentine’s Day. If it’s not a viable option for you, our second date recommendation is trying a new Vegan restaurant in your area. Vegan restaurant options are rapidly growing, and are a great way to be more health-conscious and environmentally friendly. If you’re worried about how the food is going to taste, be sure to look at the menu options (and Yelp reviews) beforehand. This recommendation is also applicable for anywhere else that you might eat on the big night out. Looking at menus beforehand can help you know what you can order, and it can tell you ahead of time if the restaurant carries menu options that fit with your diet. This can be beneficial if you are on a specific diet like Keto, Whole 30, Mediterranean, Gluten-Free, or Diabetes Prevention.
Tip #2 – Find date ideas that reduce stress levels
Stress (unlike distance) does not make the heart grow fonder – or healthier. In fact, stress can have lasting negative effects on our bodies. When working towards our goal for healthier hearts this decade, we can easily incorporate stress reducing date options. Exercise is a perfect way to reduce stress, and it is easy to incorporate it into a fun-filled date idea. When trying to find an exercise-related date idea, be sure to consider exercise levels that are comfortable for both you and your partner. Going dancing and signing up for couples yoga are two great date ideas, but they also have differing heart rate levels, so make sure to check in with your partner to see what they’re up for. If you or your partner are experiencing pain, discomfort, or are unsure about what activity level you are at, come into one of Healthpointe’s clinics for a physical examination to get your questions answered.
Lastly, don’t forget to give your partner some smooches! Kissing is known to reduce stress levels by releasing the neurotransmitter, oxytocin. If you want to learn more about the ways oxytocin and love go hand-in-hand, read our blog ‘Oxytocin: The real ‘heart-beat’ behind Valentine’s Day,’ for more love-related content.
To learn more about Healthpointe or to make an appointment with us, visit https://healthpointe.net/ or call (888) 824-5580 for more information.