Watch What You’re Drinking
Here’s more evidence for why you should limit your consumption of caffeinated energy drinks, especially if you have elevated cardiovascular risk: Drinking large volumes of them not only raises blood pressure but can also prolong the heart’s QT interval, a measure of electrical activity that’s linked to dangerous arrhythmias that can lead to sudden death, according to a recent study.
Source: BerkeleyWellness
Millions of Americans simply aren’t moving enough to meet the minimum threshold for good health — that is, burning at least 700 to 1,000 calories a week through physical pursuits. The benefits of exercise may sound too good to be true, but decades of solid science confirm that exercise improves health and can extend your life. Adding as little as half an hour of moderately intense physical activity to your day can help you avoid a host of serious ailments, including heart disease, diabetes, depression, and several types of cancer, particularly breast and colon cancers. Regular exercise can also help you sleep better, reduce stress, control your weight, brighten your mood, sharpen your mental functioning, and improve your sex life.
If you exercise regularly, your overall risk of a heart attack is about half that of people who are sedentary and out of shape. Regular exercise reduces risk of death from all causes, including heart disease and cancer. With routine exercise, you may reach a level of physical fitness comparable to an inactive person 10 to 20 years younger.
How exercise promotes longevity
Regular exercise may help you live longer by:
• Increasing the size of your coronary arteries and reducing atherosclerosis
• Decreasing the level of cholesterol in your blood
• Lowering blood pressure slightly
• Helping to control weight
Source: 8 Ways to Lower Your Risk of Heart Attack or Stroke, 2002, p15. 3p
Gym bag packed, water bottle ready, both shoes found (score!) … When it comes to working out, eating before you go can keep your blood sugar steady. . . .  Nutrition tip: Mix protein, healthy fats and a bit of good carbs. And sure, throw in some healthy desserts after (you’ve earned it!). Here are our top picks for what to eat right before a workout.
1. Whole grain toast, peanut or almond butter and banana slices
2. Chicken thighs, rice and steamed vegetables
3. Oatmeal, protein powder and blueberries
4. Scrambled eggs, veggies and avocadoÂ
5. Protein smoothieÂ
The easiest way to lose weight and improve your health? Ditch the white stuff! Most white foods (bread, rice, pasta, sugar, flour) are primarily made up of refined carbs and empty calories, so cutting them out of your diet is one of the quickest ways to shed pounds and improve your well-being, Dr. Oz says. There are a few exceptions to the rule, including egg whites, cauliflower, and fish, he says. Those are the only white foods you should have on hand.
Source: Shape.com
Individuals who get an annual flu shot have half the risk of having a heart attack or dying of heart disease. The best time to get a flu shot is between September and the end of November, which should protect you for the entire flu season.
Heart attacks are more common in the winter, and this rise could be due to an increase in cases of the flu. People may be more likely to have ruptures in plaques in their arteries when they have a respiratory infection.
Source:Â Heart Attack Prevention. 2015, p34-45. 12p.
Burn off tension. Exercise is a crucial component of stress management, because physical activity can actually reduce cortisol levels. But you will find excuses to avoid workouts if you dread them. Finding an activity you love — your “soulmate workout,” as Dr. Stanford calls it — can help you maintain the regular physical activity you need in order to dissolve daily stress. For some people it might be yoga, for others, high-intensity exercise — or a combination of the two.
Starting a fitness program may be one of the best things you can do for your health. After all, physical activity can reduce your risk of chronic disease, improve your balance and coordination, help you lose weight, and even boost your self-esteem. And you can reap these benefits regardless of your age, sex or physical ability. The Department of Health and Human Services recommends that healthy adults include aerobic activity and strength training in their fitness plans, specifically:
- At least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week, or an equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous aerobic activity
- Strength training exercises of all the major muscle groups at least twice a week
Vitamin B12 helps the body manufacture red blood cells and nerves; it also helps with DNA maintenance and other functions. . . . Like most vitamins, B12 can’t be made by the body and so is classified as an “essential” vitamin. Some people don’t consume enough vitamin B12 to meet their needs, while others can’t absorb enough, no matter how much they consume. . . plants don’t make vitamin B12. The only foods that deliver it are meat, eggs, poultry, dairy products and B vitamin-enriched pastas and cereals. Strict vegetarians and vegans are at high risk for developing a B12 deficiency if they don’t eat grains that have been fortified with the vitamin or take a vitamin supplement. . . . If you are a strict vegetarian or vegan, it’s important to eat breads, cereals or other grains that have been fortified with vitamin B12, or take a daily supplement. A standard multivitamin delivers 6 micrograms, well above the determined daily need of 2.4 micrograms.
Illness or injury may often be the instigator, but frailty is what kills us, says Dr. Mehmet Oz, cardiothoracic surgeon, author, and host of The Dr. Oz Show . Our bodies can’t recover as well if we’re not strong, which is why he recommends a balanced workout plan that includes strength, cardio, and flexibility training. . . . Say goodbye to boring treadmill sessions. Instead, Dr. Oz suggests getting a basic pedometer and setting a goal of 10,000 steps per day (that’s about five miles) to stay slim and healthy.
