Welcome to this week’s Five from David
Your exercise tip – how exercise prevents heart attacks
Heart attacks are the biggest killer of men and women in Australia. Although the rate is decreasing, we can use exercise as a great preventative measure. So how does it work?
Exercising regularly and eating well will help increase our lean muscle on the body and decrease our fat storage. Overweight and obese persons are at much greater risk of having a heart attack than someone in a healthy weight range.
For those that have high blood pressure, exercise will reduce the pressure by initiating the production of nitric acid. This will dilate the arteries and veins, making blood flow smoother, thus reducing blood pressure. This can last from four to 18 hours afterwards. It will also allow the body to have an ongoing sensitivity to pressure by storing the nitric acid and having it readily available when pressure rises again.
Exercise is perceived by most as hard work, but by just being consistent, not only will you feel better, you can have longer lasting health benefits, not just heart attack prevention.
Your health tip – good nutrition and cancer
Eating well has been shown to increase our body’s natural disease fighting ability and reduce the risks of being diagnosed with most forms of cancer. Currently, on average, Australians eat less than 1/3 of the recommended serves of fruit and vegetables each day and three to four more serves of processed meats and food than is recommended.
Eating well keeps our body weight maintained at a healthy point, reducing our chance of being overweight (which is one of the key risk factors in most cancers) and will allow us to absorb all those essential vitamins and minerals that keep our body functioning well.
Ideally combining good nutrition and regular exercise is the best preventative. Looking after yourself is also an investment in those that you love and your friend’s lives.
Winter chill tip – band aids will make running more comfortable
With the colder weather, exercise can be more abrasive against our skin and especially in more sensitive parts like our nipples. A couple of strategically placed band aids will ensure we don’t get and friction burns and bleeding, and can save a whole lot of discomfort.
Your life tips
Listening to others opinions can be enlightening. Hearing valid points on a difference in thoughts on a subject can make for an engaging conversation.
This week’s wise words
“To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities.”
Bruce Lee
Have a great week and keep healthy in 2018. David.