Women’s Health Prevention

“Go Red for Women” is a women’s heart health initiative celebrated annually on the first Friday in February (Feb 3rd this year). The goal is to spread women’s health awareness by donning something red for the day, red representing, of course, the heart. This tradition started in America nearly twenty years ago and has now spread to over 42 countries around the globe. What better month to talk about heart health awareness than the month of February, corresponding also with Valentine’s Day and National Women’s Heart Month.

The importance of women’s well-being is getting more recognition in recent years as health providers advocate for more research into women’s illness prevention and wellness. Cardiovascular disease, aka heart disease, is said to be the cause of one out of five deaths in women. Cardiovascular disease is caused from plaque-build-up on the walls of arteries making them narrower and harder for blood to flow. This can cause irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath and fatigue, along with possible heart attack or stroke. Plaque builds up from a poor and improper diet, lack of movement and exercise, and from family health history.

Bex Kitchen is women-owned and Chef Becky approaches a healthy lifestyle with a preventative approach. Chef Becky having improved her own health issues through a healthy diet, along with caring for her mom when she had cancer,  knows the value in the “food-as-medicine” connection. Chef Becky employs women in the kitchen and has helped provide advice in the form of her anti-inflammatory diet to combat their various health related issues using macrobiotic approaches. Chef Becky’s gluten free and vegan menu is helpful to those seeking to be more mindful eaters and features such items as lentil mushroom stew and vegan tofu scrambled egg burrito.

Some simple steps that can help you start a healthy lifestyle regime is to eat more whole foods in their natural form, along with consuming more fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. Another skillset you can hone on your road to healthier living is to cook meals at home with the ones you love. Cooking a meal from scratch involves thoughtful consideration for meal planning, time for shopping, preparation and then cooking. This process helps you take charge of your  health by creating more joy and is a creative outlet to life stressors. Cooking at home also increases bonding time with our loved ones while also allowing us to regulate ingredients and portion sizes all fitting into a healthy lifestyle. Spending time cooking together also fosters a wellness mindset as you learn and impart life lessons through the process of preparing a home cooked meal. Not only are you preparing delicious food, you are also passing traditions and valuable skills from one generation to another.

The heart is seen by many, including the Greek philosophers,  as the center of the entire body along with representing the spiritual life of a person. Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, felt that the heart was one of the most important organs in our body. The entire crew at Bex Kitchen is here to help you be more aware of your health journey, keeping in mind heart health this month, and every month. Your friends at Bex encourage you to slow down, reduce stress and eat your fruits and vegetables. Plan time to prepare a meal together all in the name of good heart health and fun!