Five great ways to maintain a healthy heart this winter

When the weather turns cold in Hong Kong, it’s very tempting to snuggle up indoors put the heaters on – sometime one in each room! Of course, winter is a great time for catching up on your go-to TV shows, or reading books, or simply just relaxing during the long evenings.

And, of course, with spending longer at home during winter comes the temptation to indulge in your favourite comfort food. Who can say no to delicious hotpots with friends and family, or rich, meat-heavy dishes? Not many people, that’s for sure. Yet while there’s nothing wrong with doing this occasionally, you should remember that resting at home and eating rich food all the time will have an adverse effect on your health and wellbeing. Or, put simply, you will gain weight.

When you gain weight, it can raise your blood pressure and put pressure on your heart. Unchecked, weight gain will lead to obesity, and this is likely to have adverse health effects on you sooner than you think. Heart disease, increased risk of stroke and general poor mobility are just some unpleasant possible outcomes, all of which you really want to avoid.

So, when the cold weather sets in you need to resist the temptation to laze around, and instead get the blood pumping. Here are five great ideas to help you maintain a healthy heart this winter.

There is perhaps no better way to keep your heart healthy than by doing exercise – and plenty of it. In Hong Kong, we are blessed with hiking trails for all abilities, dozens of country parks, stunning coastline, a plethora of individual and teams sporting clubs, fantastic gyms and more. So go for a hike, set off on your bike, or simply stroll around our beautiful city and enjoy the greenery on offer. The main thing is to exercise outside as often as possible – at least three times a week. Luckily, winter temperatures are absolutely ideal for making the most of Hong Kong’s outdoor activities.

For many of us in Hong Kong, we are all guilty of eating unhealthy food from time to time. That’s why we all need to learn to prepare nutritious, delicious meals at home that can be shared with all the family. In winter, soups and broths really warm you up, so why not search online for a simple recipe for double-boiled soup containing plenty of vegetables, rich broth and a good, old-fashioned ham bone. The key to cooking healthily is using fresh ingredients and keeping your recipes simple. With time-tested, double-boiled soup, you really can’t go wrong. 

Sometimes looking after your heart means having a bit of heart – metaphorically speaking! So get out there and visit your elderly relatives or neighbours, especially if they live alone. Consider helping them with household chores like cleaning, or maybe going shopping for them. You could even put into practice what you’ve learnt in the paragraph above and cook them a healthy meal! In all seriousness, the elderly and those who live alone are most vulnerable during winter. Human contact is a real lifesaver, and you’ll be surprised how good you feel once you’ve made the effort. It could make all the difference to that person you visit.

This almost goes without saying, but if you smoke, drink too much alcohol or eat a lot of fried, salty food, cut it out. Your body will thank you in the long run, but quitting certain bad habits, specifically smoking, will yield almost immediate results and you will be doing your heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and everything else a huge favour. In fact, you could even prolong your life.

Many of us have existing medical insurance plans provided by our employers, yet often these plans don’t provide adequate protection. One option is our MediSure Plus plan, which is designed to supplement your existing medical plan. It features a range of cover options to suit your needs, and includes second claims benefit, cancer care and kidney dialysis treatment, international payment guarantee, pre and post hospitalisation cover, and much more. Knowing you are covered is great motivation for living a more active, healthier lifestyle.

To find out more about MSIG Hong Kong’s MediSure Plus insurance plan, please feel to contact us or find out more about our insurance plan:

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Read more: Enjoy festive activities to the max protected by Personal Accident insurance

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