February is all about hearts! Yes, Valentine’s Day is coming up, but it’s also American Heart Month.The heart is one of the most important organs in your body–you can’t live without it! Unfortunately, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women.It’s about time we showed our hearts a little more love!
You can start improving your heart health today, with the American Heart Association’s ‘Life’s Simple 7’:
- Avoid smoking and using tobacco products.
- Be physically active every day.
- Eat a heart-healthy diet.
- Keep a healthy weight.
- Keep your blood pressure healthy.
- Keep your total cholesterol healthy.
- Keep your blood sugar healthy.
Start with a quarter of a papaya, and fill the divot in the center with a few tablespoons of your favorite plain yogurt. I love goat milk yogurt for its smooth texture, but Greek yogurt works well too! Just make sure there aren’t any added sugars–the papaya is sweet enough!
Sprinkle some berries, nuts, and seeds on top of the yogurt. I like blueberries, which have tons of phytonutrients. Peanuts and sunflower seeds add some healthy fats and protein, not to mention a great crunch!
Now dig into all those bright, beautiful colors on your plate, because taking care of your heart is the best Valentine you can get!
