Cracking the HAPPY HEART CAKE Code!

Who doesn’t love a well-made cake, right? With the multiple layers full of a variety of flavors, topped with frosting, and embellishments galore! Well then, let’s see the heart as a cake. No, it’s not covered in frosting, but all the components needed for just the right cake, make up a happy heart. 

First Layer - This is the grounding. The base to stack up everything on top. When you think about the fork hitting a plate and indulging the bottom part of the cake initially in your mouth, think about what you have eaten ever since you were born. As the saying goes, “You are what you eat,” the foods you eat on a daily basis impact the health of your heart. The bottom of the cake may not seem the most appetizing to all, with its slight burns and less frosting, but it truly keeps your heart pumping and flowing. Now what is this base made up of? No, not the flavor of the cake, but the balanced/ nutritional diet centered around fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and proteins to keep your heart both strong and healthy.

Second Layer - The most beloved time. With frosting covering both its top and bottom, this is the piece enhancing the qualities that will take us to the top. This piece of the delicacy that we devour is under-appreciated but keeps us longing for more and anticipating the future results that are to come. This is where you put some sweat into it, yes quite literally. In order to keep your heart happy, you have to put in some work, specifically exercise. The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise (brisk walking, swimming or biking) or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise (running or aerobics) each week. If that seems like a lot, you can build movement into your everyday routines like taking frequent breaks to stretch and walk.

Top Layer - The taste that we will remember. The official last bites creating the best memories. The parts you just want to recreate over and over again by licking that spoon. The taste that keeps you longing for more. Just like you can’t forget the cake, the frosting is an important piece too. This is where you significantly reduce your stress. Other than eating cake, stress can also contribute to weight gain and affect your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Similarly, stress can lead to unhealthy eating behaviors which aren’t good for your heart. So, keep your stress in check by doing breathing exercises or meditating, and your heart will thank you!

Embellishments – These are what pull us in: the smell, the sight, the flavor! What attracts one to approach this beauty. The delicate frosting, the eye-catching add-ons, and the urge to eat it, is what pulls the person in, only to get the insight of all other things. People see your heart as a cake, with a glorifying frosting, and want to cut right in. No, not literally, but want to get to know more about how your heart is so healthy and happy. 

Being a presentable cake, allows you to understand all that life has to offer with you being able to do everything your heart desires. So next time you see cake, remember all the different components that make it up, make up your happy heart too!