{"id":685,"date":"2020-02-14T10:20:47","date_gmt":"2020-02-14T10:20:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marchenyc.com\/blog\/?p=685"},"modified":"2020-02-24T23:18:26","modified_gmt":"2020-02-24T23:18:26","slug":"gratitude-healthy-hearts-new-york-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marchenyc.com\/blog\/gratitude-healthy-hearts-new-york-city\/","title":{"rendered":"Gratitude and Healthy Hearts in New York City"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Healthy<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While healthy lifestyle choices will vary greatly among New York\nCity employees, there is one thing that everyone should be concerned\nabout\u2014their heart. February is American Heart Month. It\u2019s a good time to\nconsider current and\/or adopt new, healthy habits that will help prevent heart\ndisease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diet<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following a heart healthy diet is one habit that can help fight\ncardiovascular diseases. Rather than trying to strictly follow a specific diet\nthat feels very restricting, it\u2019s important to consider the overall pattern of\none\u2019s eating habits. Enjoying a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains,\nlow-fat dairy products, low-fat protein sources like chicken and fish, nuts and\nlegumes, and non-tropical vegetable oils is a great way to provide the body\nwith the minerals and nutrients it needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exercise<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consistently moving or exercising is another habit that benefits\nheart health. The American Heart Association recommends that New York City\nadults get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic\nactivity. That\u2019s 2.5 hours of exercise per week, or 30 minutes a day for five\nof the seven days each week. Resistance or strength training should also be\nadded at least twice a week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gratitude<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to choosing healthy snacks<\/a>, beverages and food and exercising, being aware of decisions that impact one\u2019s mental health is also important. Practicing gratitude is beneficial for many different parts of New York City employees\u2019 lives including their mental health, personal and professional relationships and physical health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An individual\u2019s mental health can be impacted by many things\nincluding stress, which increases adrenaline and cortisol levels. That increase\ntriggers a rise in the rate of breathing, the heart rate and blood pressure.\nNot only can these reactions contribute to heart disease (i.e. high blood\npressure), but there are also mental health related biological and chemical\nfactors that may play a role too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Healthy<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Barry Jacobs, Psy.D.<\/a>, a clinical psychologist and\ndirector of Behavioral Sciences at the Crozer-Keystone Family Medicine\nResidency Program recently explained, \u201cThe head-heart connection should be on\neveryone\u2019s radar. It\u2019s not just being unhappy. It\u2019s having biochemical changes\nthat predispose people to have other health problems, including heart\nproblems.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Developing a practice of gratitude can be healthy for everyone.\nWhether at work or at home, practicing gratitude builds relationships. At New\nYork City businesses, gratitude can be practiced on multiple levels such as\nbetween coworkers or between management and employees. When an organization\nregularly practices gratitude, motivation and productivity can sky-rocket.\nBelow are five simple ways employees and employers can express gratitude while\nat work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n