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Exercise
Inactivity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes. Regular moderate-to-vigorous physical activity contributes to increased HDL "good" cholesterol levels and decreased LDL "bad" cholesterol. The best exercises for your heart are aerobic exercises. Swimming, cycling, jogging, skiing, aerobic dancing, walking can help your heart. Even light to moderate exercise has been shown to have health benefits. It can be as easy as walking the dog, playing tag with your children, or hiking with a friend.
CLUE Bars are the perfect food to throw in your pocket or backpack before you go to exercise. The combination of nutritious foods contributes to cardiovascular health and also provides energy and stamina.
It’s valuable to know the calorie expenditures per hour for common activities to give yourself a starting point for lowering cholesterol and improving heart health through exercise. The key is to find activities that are fun, relaxing, or otherwise enjoyable. That may mean getting creative or just finding the right person to do them with. Pick a workout buddy to walk with or ask a friend to call you to make sure you do your workout. Mix it up and try adding different activities to your heart healthy lifestyle. Set goals, like walking three times a week, and reward yourself when you reach them. Even something as simple as buying a package of star stickers to put on the calendar for days you exercise can be a good motivator.
Remember the key is to get started. Be patient and start slow. Build gradually as you become more fit you can exercise harder or longer.
Did you know that many of the factors that lead to type 2 diabetes are the same ones that lead to high cholesterol? It’s true: animal derived foods and foods containing high amounts of fat, sugar, and refined ingredients are major offenders in both conditions. Lack of physical activity is another cause of both conditions as exercise both raises HDL cholesterol "good" and helps shuttle sugar from the blood into the body’s cells which means your body doesn’t need to use as much insulin.
Overall, heart disease is almost twice as likely to develop in inactive people than in those who are more active. Regular physical activity (even mild to moderate intensity) can help reduce your risk of heart disease. In fact, burning calories through physical activity may help you lose weight or stay at your desirable weight which also helps lower your risk of heart disease. The best exercises to strengthen your heart and lungs are the aerobic ones like brisk walking, jogging, cycling and swimming.