According to a recent study published in the European Heart Journal, happier people may have healthier hearts. The study indicated that people who reported being generally happy and content were less likely to develop heart disease. In fact, it seemed that as a person’s level of happiness increased, their risk to develop heart disease decreased.

It isn’t clear exactly the reason why happier people may have healthier hearts, but adding a little happiness to your life certainly couldn’t hurt. To improve your overall happiness and help your heart, try some of these strategies:

• Spend some time every day doing something you enjoy. Don’t stress yourself out trying to squeeze something else in, but make your favorite activities a priority–even if it’s only 10 or 15 minutes a day. If you like to read, set aside some time for that book you’ve been wanting to read. Miss knitting? Pull out the yarn and needles and finish a few rows.
• Get physical. You’ve heard it before, but exercise improves mood. Get those endorphins pumping with a brisk walk, some power yoga or your favorite workout DVD. It doesn’t take much time–just 10 minutes or so, to reap the mood-boosting benefits.
• Just relax. Don’t wait for your yearly vacation or the infamous “someday” to take a break. Make regular time to relax, whether it’s by soaking in a bath, getting a massage, meditating, or watching your favorite television show. Whatever it is you choose to do, be present and savor the time.
• Have a good laugh. Put in a funny movie, have lunch with a friend who always makes you laugh, or read the Sunday comics. It’s hard to NOT be happy when you’re laughing so hard your belly hurts.
• Spin it. When something has you down, try seeing the experience from a positive angle. There’s always a silver lining, you just need to locate it and put your focus on it. It may not eliminate the negative, but it might make it a little more bearable.

Don’t worry, be happy. Have some fun. Try new things. Accentuate the positive whenever you can. Happiness just might be medicine for your heart.

"Eat well. Live well. Be well."

We often use the excuse of not having enough time to keep us from going to the gym or getting some exercise. There’s no need to fight the clock, though. Instead of going out for lunch, why not use your lunch break to get fit? Try some of the ideas below to take advantage of a mid-day break.

If you have an hour:

• Head to the gym and workout for 30 minutes, giving you 30 minutes for changing, showering and travel time.
• Take a brisk 3- to 4-mile walk around the neighborhood.

If you have 30 minutes:

• Close your office door and do a yoga workout or weight-lifting routine.
• Take a brisk 1.5- to 2-mile walk around the neighborhood.
• Do calisthenics (jumping jacks, squats, lunges, sit ups, push ups, etc.) in your office.

What do you do to fit exercise into your day? Share your ideas in the comments.

"Eat well. Live well. Be well."

Are you crazy about all things sweet? Do you have a hard time passing up cake or cookies when they’re around? Do you add sugar or another sweetener to everything from tea to cereal? If so, your sweet tooth may be building up a tolerance to sweet flavors. The more sweet you eat, the more you may crave.

Thankfully, there’s something you can do about your sweet leanings. With a little bit of effort and some gradual changes, you can retrain your sweet tooth, decrease your sweet cravings and reduce your calorie intake, too.

Reduce or eliminate your use of artificial sweeteners. Limit purchases of food and drinks that contain artificial sweeteners and decrease the amount of added sweetener using the technique below. Artificial sweeteners are often sweeter than their natural counterparts, can contribute to sweet cravings, and may even affect how much you eat throughout the day.

Halve the amount of sweetener (sugar or otherwise) that you use in your coffee and tea. It may take a few days to get used to it, but once you do you’ll realize it’s plenty sweet. After a week, try halving the amount again. Keep halving until you reach your limit or until you’ve eliminated the need for sweetener altogether.

Buy unsweetened cereals. If you find they’re not sweet enough for your liking, control the sweetness by adding your own sweetener. Try starting with less sweetener than you think you’ll need. You can also use the technique above to decrease the amount of sweetener you need over time.

When you crave sweets, eat some fruit. It’s still sugar, and it’s still a sweet, but you’re getting fiber and other nutrients, too.

It’s not necessary to completely eliminate sweets from your diet, but the less you eat them, the less you’ll crave them. And that can add up to weight loss and improved health over the long run.

"Eat well. Live well. Be well."

It’s February and there are hearts all over the place. Which is probably why the American Heart Association chose February as American Heart Month. What better reminder to check in with your heart than a holiday celebrating love?

Women are especially at risk for heart disease, with more women dying from heart disease and related conditions than all forms of cancer combined. The good news is, February is just as good for making changes as it is for giving chocolates. To improve your heart health and reduce your chances of developing heart disease, follow some of these recommendations.

Eat right. A diet with plenty of vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein (especially fish high in omega-3 fatty acids) can be good for your heart. And being within an appropriate weight range can reduce your risk of heart disease, as well.

Quit. Smoking, that is. Especially if you’re using birth control pills. You’ll reduce your risk of heart disease significantly if you do.

Know your numbers. The next time you visit your doctor, take note of your blood pressure, lipid levels, and HDL and LDL cholesterol numbers. If they’re outside the healthy range, ask your doctor for suggestions on how to improve your numbers, and if necessary, get them under control with medication.

Get moving. Regular, moderate aerobic exercise will help keep your heart strong. It will also help you lose weight if you need to, and can improve your cholesterol levels as well as your blood pressure. Exercise is as close to a cure-all as you can get when it comes to your heart. (Remember, for your safety, consult with your doctor before you start an exercise routine.)

Take care of your heart and you’ll be celebrating Valentine’s Day for years to come!

"Eat well. Live well. Be well."