You probably already knew this, but it bears repeating in the month of chocolate and paper hearts: Your heart is pretty amazing. It is strong enough to lift 3,000 pounds, and it beats about 100,000 times a day. The heart pumps more than 31 million gallons of blood over an average lifetime, the blood vessels in your heart could wrap around the earth twice, and when you laugh, the blood flow to your heart is increased for 45 minutes!

Your heart is also a great indicator of what’s going on in your body and your mind – whether it’s racing or calm, your heart is a beating barometer of your emotions.
To honor that work and power, we should all make a heartfelt effort to make our hearts healthy for years to come by:
•Exercising regularly. Every little bit (three 10-minute chunks is a great way to start!) counts when it comes to moving your body. Try to include both cardio (increasing your heart rate by walking, running, biking, skiing or swimming) for calorie burning and endurance, and strength training to build strong, supple muscles.
•Enjoying colorful fruits and vegetables. As a general rule, the more colorful your plate, the better. Try to make meat the side dish and fill up with fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains. Limit sugar, alcohol, white foods (bread, pasta, rice) and caffeine.
•Managing stress. Stress can take a physical and emotional toll, so learn your triggers and find some ways to relax, whether it’s talking openly about an issue at work, hiring a babysitter every Tuesday, taking long walks on the weekends or giving yourself 30 minutes of “me” time every day.
•Quitting smoking or losing some weight, if needed.
•Paying attention. Listen to your heart and listen to your body. If something doesn’t feel right, talk to your doctor about it right away.