Northgate Gonzalez Markets -¡te da más! (gives you more) is a familiar slogan to their customers and Friday was no exception as four of the San Diego Region stores participated in the annual  Love Your Heart event, where customers and employees were offered free blood pressure checks along with healthy recipe cookbooks and spa water. Participating store sites were in Escondido, City Heights, Southcrest San Diego and in the South Bay on Coronado Avenue. This is the second year in a row that Northgate Gonzalez Markets, a designated Live Well San Diego partner, has participated in this event with support from UCSD NEOP Worksite Wellness Program, County of San Diego Central Region Public Health Nurses, and nursing support from the nursing program at San Diego City College (also a Live Well San Diego partner).

Manuel and Alma Ochoa were stopping by the food court for lunch at the Northgate in Southcrest on 43^rd Street when they were offered a free blood pressure screening. They were both pleased to find out their results were normal and felt that having this type of event in the community is a good thing, “especially for people who don’t have insurance.”

Mr. Ochoa was particularly pleased with his result since he hadn’t checked his blood pressure in a year, when he was told his blood pressure was elevated.

“I lost weight after that and it’s now normal. Losing weight must have helped, said M. Ochoa.

He felt validated knowing that putting in the effort to be healthier had paid off.

There were many reasons why customers and employees took a moment to stop and get their blood pressure checked. The free cookbooks, “Flavors of My Kitchen,” from the Network For A Healthy California was one draw for sure, and so were the Love Your Heart stickers that each participant received.

When asked what motivated you to get your pressure checked today?, one gentleman quickly replied, “My little girl. This sticker, it’s for her.”

At Northgate Gonzalez Market on 43^rd Street, customers got blood pressure screenings and sampled spa water featuring Harvest of Month fruits offered by UCSD NEOP Worksite Wellness Program volunteers
 

Northgate Gonzalez Market on 43^rd Street
 

Cindy Garcia, Northgate Gonzalez employee at the City Heights site, got her blood pressure checked at the end of her shift