Heart Smart
Since February is American Heart Month, we wanted to share some important health tips for men, as the No. 1 killer of men is coronary heart disease. Women should also take note since heart disease is the top killer of women over age 25.
Sleep: Very important. Between 6 to 8 hours is generally recommended. Anything below that number is less than ideal. Strategic slumber also allows us to recover and for muscles to actually grow. Contrary to belief, muscles grow while at rest, not while exercising, even though it may feel and look like they’re growing while hitting the weights.
Physical Checkup: Fellas, go see your doctor. Get yourself checked out. Many of the maladies that grab us as men could be avoided if we put our pride aside and pay a visit to our doctor to get regular checkups. Men tend to accumulate fat more in their upper bodies than women, putting them at greater risk for dangerous diseases, including heart disease.
Resistance training: Essential for muscle growth and maintaining lean body tissue. It is also a great way to burn fat by increasing your metabolism. The more muscle you develop, the faster your metabolism, the more you burn fat. At least three times a week is good. Do not work the same muscle group directly on successive days. Technique is the key to exercising longevity. It is better to work out correctly, with good form, than to injure yourself trying to impress others with bad form and heavy weight.
Eat nutritiously: Men tend not to eat enough fiber, and folate is very important for men. Our plates should have a healthy variety of natural colors, especially dark green leafy vegetables, which contain folate. Folate deficiency has been linked to many of today’s more modern diseases and can lead to increased risks of stroke, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and, yes, even depression.
Cardiovascular exercise: The buzz words here: diet and exercise. Take a walk, a jog, try out a new sport, but most importantly, make it fun so you’ll want to do it again. It doesn’t have to be long, but it does have to be challenging. At least three or more times a week.
For more healthy living tips, please visit Healthy100.org