Ask a Health Advocate: What are some healthy activities to do with a loved one this Valentine’s Day?

Valentine’s Day is a holiday designed to show your loved ones how much you care about them. But is sending your significant other a box of sugary sweets or taking them out to eat an unhealthy meal the best way to say “I love you”? This year, be heart-healthy and switch things up by trying one of these good-for-you Valentine’s Day ideas:

·         Sweet doesn’t only mean chocolate. Rather than tempting your loved one with a box of chocolates, give them a healthy, refreshing snack like an edible fruit arrangement.

·         Go on an active date. The whole purpose of Valentine’s Day is spending time together, so why not do something active like ice skating, a trial yoga class, bowling, or dancing? The possibilities are endless!

·         Cook a romantic candle-lit dinner or a healthy dessert. Find a heart-healthy recipe online that you want to cook for your valentine. Check out these recipes from the American Heart Association.

·         Look for healthy menu options. If you do decide to go out to eat, make an effort to order healthy choices like these.

·         Go for a romantic walk. Whether it’s strolling through the local park at sunset, visiting a local arboretum, or going for an after-dinner walk around the lit-up city, walking is a great way to spend quality time together as well as burn a few extra calories.

·         Organize a Valentine’s Day scavenger hunt. This activity gives you an opportunity to not only be creative and walk around, but can impress your significant other with the time and effort you put into it.

Use this Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to tell your loved ones how much you care, and do activities that support each other’s health and wellness. Remember, if you’re a Health Advocate member with access to the Wellness Coaching program, you can call your Wellness Coach for more healthy activity ideas!

Have a question for a Health Advocate? Email nhess@healthadvocate.com, and your question may be answered in an upcoming column!

The Healthy Benefits of Pet Adoption

Valentine’s Day is on the way, and everyone’s focused on doing kind things for their loved ones. But don’t just focus on the humans you love most—consider sending some love to a furry companion as well. If you don’t already have a pet, there are so many great reasons to adopt one. Whether you’re a dog lover or a cat lover, read on to learn why adopting animals from shelters is a loving, helpful gesture—and how having a pet can actually benefit your health!

Why should I adopt a pet from a shelter?

According to the Humane Society of the United States, the top reasons to adopt a pet are:

·         You’ll save an animal’s life. The number of euthanized animals can be drastically reduced by more people adopting pets.  

·         You’ll get a healthy pet. Most shelters vaccinate pets and give them a physical examination when they arrive; some shelters even spay or neuter the animals.

·         You’ll save money. Adopting an animal from a shelter is often more cost-effective than buying a pet at a pet store. Plus. If the shelter has already paid to have the animal spayed or neutered, that’s one less thing you’ll have to pay for out-of-pocket.

·         You won’t be supporting “puppy mills.” Puppy mills are dog-breeding facilities that operate “factory-style,” often prioritizing profit over the dog’s health and welfare. If you adopt a pet from a shelter, you will be getting a pet from a place that puts the animals’ welfare first. 

How can having a pet help me be healthier?

When you adopt a pet, in addition to doing something kind for your new pet, you’re also doing something beneficial for yourself and your health. Here’s how having a pet can help you be healthier:

·         Better immunity.Studies have shown that if you have a child, and that child grows up in a home with furry animals, they’ll have a lower risk of allergies, eczema and asthma.

·         Lower levels.The CDC reportsthat pets can decrease your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and triglyceride levels.

·         Decreased stress.Recent research indicates that when people are trying to do stressful tasks, they experienced less stress when their pets were with them than when loved ones (even their spouses) were present. This may be due to pets’ unconditional love and that they are non-judgmental.

·         More frequent exercise.Pets increase your opportunities for exercise…and better yet, since walking the dog or playing with the cat is fun, this type of exercise doesn’t feel like a chore. And, of course, more exercise can lead to fewer extra pounds and better overall health.

·         More brain exercise, too.Having a pet increases your mental acuity. You have to remember to walk the dog or change out the cat’s litter box and give the pet fresh food and water every day, as well as remember to take your pet to the vet for checkups and any necessary shots.

·         Social support.If you’re out walking your dog, not only do you get the health benefits of walking, but you’re also more likely to be approached to stop and chat. This gives you the opportunity to increase your social network by making new friends and, therefore, also increase your happiness.

·         Mood booster.If you’re an animal lover, how can you stay in a bad mood when you have a purring kitty in your lap, or a happy dog who wants to play fetch? Plus, caring for your pet can give you a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Would a new pet be a good Valentine’s Day gift for a loved one?

Thinking of getting a pet for someone as a Valentine’s Day gift? Don’t do it! It’s never a good idea to surprise anyone with a pet adoption. Having a pet is a big responsibility, and the animal can suffer if its new owner doesn’t have time to properly take care of it. If you think a pet would benefit a loved one, talk to them about it. If they do want a pet, offer to accompany them to the shelter—and then let them choose their own pet that fits their needs and lifestyle.

For more healthy tips, visit the Health Advocate blog. If you’re a Health Advocate member, call us today for more healthy tips and advice, or to find an in-network doctor near you, get help with a medical claim, obtain a second opinion, and more.

Celebrating Valentine’s Day in a Healthy Way

Valentine’s Day often brings to mind cards, candy, dinner out, and romantic gifts. It’s a day that gives us all a chance to express how much we care about those nearest and dearest to us. But there’s no greater gift to someone you care about than the gift of good health and well-being. This Valentine’s Day, why not give the holiday a new meaning to those you love by giving gifts that can promote good health? Consider these fun gift suggestions that keep health top-of-mind during this heartfelt holiday:

·         For the busy person who often burns both ends of the candle, consider a gift certificate for a massage. A massage may help relieve tense muscles, alleviate stress, and promote relaxation.

·         For someone in your life who loves to cook, how about giving them a cookbook that features delicious, gourmet, healthy recipes? This can encourage eating healthier foods without taking the fun out of cooking. As an added bonus, they can always invite you over to try out those fat-free, lower calorie dishes—it’s a win-win for everyone!

·         Looking to get your loved one to exercise more?  Consider giving a pedometer, a device that counts the number of steps a person takes, which can help foster more interest in daily exercise.  Use Valentine’s Day and February—which is Heart Health Awareness month—as an opportunity to commit to fitness for a healthier heart. Come to think of it…could you benefit from a few extra steps in your life, too?  Why not buy two pedometers and take those steps together?  (You can become “sole mates!”)

·         Stumped about what to get the kids for Valentine’s Day? How about giving them a gift that starts their day off right—the gift of breakfast! Start their day off with a healthy smoothie made with fresh, antioxidant-packed fruits (berries, bananas, oranges, pineapple) and low-fat yogurt. Serve the smoothie in a plastic thermos or water bottle decorated with hearts or another seasonal design.  The kids can reuse this bottle and fill it with water or other healthy drinks.

·         Instead of gifting a high-calorie box of chocolates, how about giving a gift that has more permanence? Either write your own poem, or search online for a poem, that describes your feelings towards your loved one. Type the poem and put it in a festive frame for a gift that can bring a smile to someone’s face!

·         Go nuts on a food basket filled with healthy snacks.  Use Valentine’s-themed treat bags to create single-serve packets that contain a handful of heart-healthy nuts like walnuts, almonds or cashews.  For an extra-special touch, consider adding a little love note to each bag. Create a gift basket that includes fresh fruit like apples and bananas in addition to the treat bags.

Use this Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to tell your loved ones how much you care, and share ways that you can support each other’s health and wellness. If you are a Health Advocate member and want to learn about more heart-healthy ideas, call us!  Our Personal Health Advocates can guide you in finding a new doctor who can perform a blood pressure and cholesterol screening, a nutritionist who can help you improve your diet, and more.

The healthy effects of love

Ahhh, love...sweet love!  It's Valentine's Day, and while love might net you a bouquet of roses or box of heart-shaped chocolates today, those aren't the best gifts love has to offer.  Did you know that love can improve your health in many ways?  Read on to find out how!

• Love can reduce stress.  Happy couples produce less cortisol when they're stressed, which is great news because cortisol often suppresses the immune system as well as encourages the body to store fat around the abdominal organs.  This fat is linked to diabetes, heart disease and cancer.  As ironic as it may sound, love can actually reduce the likelihood of "love handles"!
• Love increases oxytocin.  This hormone, often called the "cuddle hormone," has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system.  Studies show that people who get and give frequent hugs have lower blood pressure.
• Love can reduce depression.  The rates of major depression are a whopping nine times higher in unmarried men than in married men.
• Love can make you more physically fit.  If your snuggle buddy is also your gym buddy, great news--couples who exercise together have more success than those who exercise on their own.
• Love can make you happier and mentally healthier.  People in love often have an increase in dopamine brain activity, which is linked to optimism and higher energy.
• Love can make your skin appear healthier.  The endorphins released as a result of being in love can make skin appear to be glowing.  Better yet, these endorphins also increase blood flow to the skin, which can minimize the appearance of wrinkles.
• Love can improve your brain function and health. A Swedish study recently reported that living with your significant other is linked to a reduced risk of cognitive impairment.

From all of us at Health Advocate, we hope you and your loved ones have a happy and healthy Valentine's Day!