10 Enjoyable Ways to Care for Your Heart on National Wear Red Day

February 7, 2020 by Aubrey Meister

National Wear Red Day, a holiday to support heart health, is right around the corner. This year, National Wear Red Day is on Friday, February 7. To make a difference on National Wear Red Day, here are some simple ways you can care for your heart. 

10 Easy Ways to Support Heart Health

• Get active. Staying active helps to reduce your risk of heart disease. Try out a spin class with a friend. Getting active doesn't have to be boring. Staying active is one of the most important things a person can do for their heart health.

• Cook at home. Instead of eating out, make some tasty meals at home. Turn on some music and find a delicious, heart-healthy recipe. Here's a recipe for Chickpea and Red Pepper Soup with Quinoa from Delish to help you get started! Cooking at home allows you to be in total control of all the ingredients used, ensuring heart-healthy choices are being made in the kitchen.

• Enjoy time with friends and family. Mental health can contribute to heart health. On National Wear Red Day, go out and enjoy yourself with your family and friends to boost your mental health.

• Volunteer to play with dogs at your local animal shelter. Reportedly, dog owners may be at lower risk for heart disease than non-dog owners. By spending time with a dog, whether that's at a shelter or your home, you can potentially improve your heart health while getting some cuddles in.

• Spend the day doing random acts of kindness. Showing kindness to others raises oxytocin levels and reduces cortisol levels. Oxytocin helps to maintain overall health and it even helps your heart. Random Act of Kindness Day is actually one of the holidays we’re most excited for in February!

• Listen to your favorite songs. Listening to music can help to slow down your heart rate and lower your blood pressure. All it takes is 30 minutes a day! To make this more effective, listen to calming music in high-stress situations to decompress. 

• Give more hugs. Hugging has a powerful effect on your heart health. As mentioned earlier, this can increase your oxytocin levels and reduce your cortisol levels. Hugging your partner, child, sibling, or a total stranger can slow down your heart rate. Find someone to huge on National Wear Red Day - just make sure they consent.

• Dance. You can have a solo dance party or get active with your kids. A recent study shows that dancing is even more beneficial for your heart than walking. So, turn on some music and show off your moves. You can even sign up for dance lessons for a more regular workout. 

• Spend more time snoozing. Everyone loves to sleep, and now you have a reason to get more of it. When you sleep seven to nine hours regularly, you're Actively protecting your heart. Poor sleep habits increase the risk of ischemic heart disease and stroke. 

• Indulge in some chocolate. Chocolate is actually good for your heart (in moderation), so you can keep enjoying it. People who eat more chocolate have fewer heart problems. Just remember to eat any type of sugary food in moderation. 

These are all great ways to keep your heart healthy and enjoy yourself on National Wear Red Day. One way to make any of these ideas more enjoyable is to find a friend or family member to do them with. Keeping your heart healthy is an important part of your overall health. Start these healthy habits today to make sure your heart continues to stay healthy.