Her Active Life

Click here for the Lead Stories

4 Ways to Be Naughty - And Love Your Heart

Posted February 1, 2008 at 11:00 AM by Caroline Shannon

Section: Her Fitness, Athletics, Her Health, Body Image, Her Motivation

For the past several years, the #1 killer of women has been heart disease. But while that statistic still stands, on this very day women all around the world will be showing their support to fight the disease by slipping into something red for National Wear Red Day. Part of the Go Red For Women project sponsored by the American Heart Association, Wear Red Day is an effort to help raise awareness about heart disease and stroke. So, put on some red lipstick, a t-shirt or socks and support the effort. And while you’re at it, take a peek at these four – kind of rebellious – ways to love your heart:

1.) A Little Chocolate Therapy – While it is true that sugar from candy is full of empty calories that go straight to the hips, experts have concluded that a bit of cocoa-rich goodies every day, such as dark chocolate, can actually help lower high blood pressure. But don’t go stuff your face just yet. According to a study published in the July 2007 Journal of the American Medical Association, that “bit” of chocolate is equivalent to about 30 calories a day which is only slightly more than a Special Dark Chocolate Hershey’s Kiss.

2.) Pump It Up, but Don’t Forget Your R&R – Most women know breaking a sweat is important for weight loss, cardiovascular health and just all-around feel good effects for the body. But is it necessary to crunch, curl, sprint and kick-punch every day? Experts around the globe have concluded a resounding “no” to that popular question. According to the latest American Heart Association and American College of Sports Medicine guidelines on physical activity, all healthy adults ages 18 to 65 should be getting at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity five days of the week. That is not to say that a little activity every day is a bad habit – of course we want you to get up off of that couch! But a rest day? That’s absolutely necessary for physical and mental well-being.

3.) Everything in Moderation – No one here is going to try to rattle off the health benefits of the kegs that were a constant fixture at parties in the college days. But red wine? Ah! Now, there we can dish out a bit on the benefits of a little nip here and there.  Red wine has been noted for its antioxidants, specifically resveratrol. Resveratrol, which is found in grape skins, has been shown to actually slow the aging process and improve the immune system. Other antioxidants in red wine include polyphenols, a powerhouse of nutrients that is touted for its anti-inflammatory qualities and ability to help fight heart disease. But if you are wine lover, moderation is the key; experts recommend no more than two 1.5-oz. servings a day.

4.) Mix It Up, Girl! – Sometimes it may seem easier for a woman to stick to the few exercise forms with which she is familiar because venturing into the unknown seems, well, scary. But changing it up is important, not only for weight loss, but also to help avoid overuse injuries and boredom. So, to motivate yourself to keep getting out the door, or lose those last few pounds, check out a few new activities. This might mean adding a jog to your weekly walks, testing out a yoga class or lifting weights – the options really are endless!

In addition to writing for several publications, including the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Divorce360.com, long-time journalist Caroline Shannon is a lover of all things related to health and nutrition. She has been a runner for more than ten years and is a certified Pilates instructor. Check out more from Caroline on her her blog, Eat, Pray, Run.

One Comment, add yours | Permalink | Share this article

Tags: aging, american heart association, antioxidants, cardiovascular, dark chocolate, exercise, go red for women, healthy, heart disease, national wear red day, physical, red wine, weight lifting, well-being, yoga

Like what you see? Subscribe to our feed!

1 Responses to “4 Ways to Be Naughty - And Love Your Heart” (Leave a reply)