BodiMojo Teen Health Blog – Teenage Nutrition, Fitness, Stress, Relationships & More

By Teen Contributor, Ziv C.

Last week the thought of Valentine’s Day, love, and sweethearts may have been top of mind to many. But this month is also a chance to celebrate another type of heart throb—the one that keeps you moving. February is American Heart Month, making it a good time to think about heart health — yours and your family members.

Why should teens care?  Well, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. How you take care of your body now can affect how well it holds up later on. Or there might be a history of heart problems among your family members, like parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents. Genetics play a big role; so does lifestyle habits.

While a variety of factors contribute to the development of heart disease, including family history, obesity, and high blood cholesterol levels, the good news is that heart disease is largely preventable. Forming healthy habits at during the teen years and young adult phase can reduce your risk for heart disease. (Did you know that a person’s health habits are largely in place by the end of college?) Take a challenge: Try doing something healthy for your heart:

• Physical Activity: Take a walk, go for a jog, ride your bike, or blast the tunes and dance! Engaging in just 30 minutes of physical activity five times per week is good for your heart and makes you feel good too. Exercising doesn’t have to feel like a chore. Walk around town with your friends, or head to the local ice rink for some cold-weather fun.
• Healthy Eating: Snacking on heart healthy fruits and vegetables, like citrus fruits and kale, can reduce unhealthy cholesterol levels and blood pressure, as well as provide antioxidants. When you’re young and active, your body can handle sugar and fat, but in the long run it can cause problems. The key is to keep everything in moderation. While you can still treat yourself to “junk food” every once in a while, switch out processed snacks for fresh foods (Check out Fast Food City).
• Don’t Smoke: Smoking can cause a massive amount of health problems for your lungs and your heart. Plus, smoking ages you. Heart attacks are much more common in smokers than in nonsmokers, so lower your risk by stop smoking, or never get started in the first place.

Also, consider donating blood: Most states allow seventeen-year-olds to donate blood if they meet certain eligibility requirements. Check your local listings for upcoming blood drives, or donate at a hospital. If you’re healthy, consider giving blood – it could save someone’s life.

As a dancer, it’s important for me to keep my body healthy so I can keep doing what I love. This month, set a heart healthy goal. Developing healthy habits not only makes you feel good, but also reduces your risk of developing heart disease as you grow older. If making some minor changes in your lifestyle will allow you to keep having fun for a few extra years, why not go for it?

More on BodiMojo for Teens:

• Tools & Games
• Quizzes
• Setting Personal Health Goals (membership req.)

Ziv is a 17-year-old senior in high school who loves dancing, volunteering, and writing.