Having trouble coming up with the perfect gift for Dad this Father’s Day? Instead of the usual necktie or bottle of cologne, try something different: the gift of good health. From lowering stress to boosting cardiovascular fitness, try these four ways to make the dad in your life healthier — so you can keep him around for a long time.
Help Him Relax
Stress can spell trouble for his health. Too much of it can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar or even heart disease. This Father’s Day, help Dad de-stress. Spend an afternoon at the pool, schedule him a massage or plan a mini vacation. One study found that men who took at least one vacation each year were almost 30% less likely to die from a heart-related cause compared with men who didn’t.
Cook Him Dinner
You don’t have to be a seasoned chef to make a delicious, healthy Father’s Day meal, thanks to this simple oven roasted salmon recipe. Salmon is high in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce the risk of heart disease.
Keep Him Active
Don’t let Dad spend all of Father’s Day on the couch watching golf. Get active with him: Go for a walk, play tennis or hop on a bike. Any aerobic activity that gets the heart rate up can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol and increase cardiovascular fitness.
Show Him Some Love
Here’s something you can do to keep the dad in your life healthy — and won’t cost you a penny: Give him a nice long hug, which cues oxytocin’s release from the pituitary gland. Oxytocin is a hormone and brain chemical that’s linked to happy feelings and security in relationships. Even better, oxytocin is related to lower heart rate and blood pressure.