Can You Be Fat and Fit?

A study conducted in the Netherlands found some obese individuals to not be at increased risk for heart disease due to their weight. I’m going to share what they learned because I don’t want you to start seeing headlines saying you can be fat and still be fit and start thinking it’s okay to remain a couch potato.

The Study

Dutch researchers identified a subset of 1,325 obese individuals, between the ages of 28 to 75 years-old, from the 8,356 participants in the Dutch Prevention of Renal and Vascular Endstage Disease study. Out of the 1,325 obese individuals only 90 were determined to be “metabolically healthy”.

Metabolically healthy means the participants did not have risk factors for diabetes and heart disease, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, or the use of cholesterol lowering medication. The Dutch study found only 6.8 percent of obese individuals in a larger population are metabolically healthy.

The Results

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Steps to Lose Weight

Here are a few steps to promote weight loss:

  1. Increase physical activity throughout your daily routine (i.e. park further from your office door, take the stairs instead of the elevator)
  2. Cut back on dining out (i.e. pack a lunch for work)
  3. Keep fresh fruits and vegetables within reach
  4. Clean out your cupboards and eliminate foods that don’t support heart health
  5. Cut back on TV time (just how many hours do you log each day in front of the tv?)

The list of steps you can take to promote weight loss and reduce heart disease risk goes on and on. Take it one step and a time!

Receive 1-A-Week Weight Loss Tips at http://www.weightlosswithlisa.com.

All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
https://www.lisanelsonrd.com

6 Habits to Lower High Blood Pressure

The second Nurses Health Study has identified six dietary habits that reduce high blood pressure in women by almost 80%.

The Nurses Health Study includes 83,882 adult women between the ages of 27 to 44 years-old. Researchers analyzed data to determine if there was a connection between a healthy lifestyle and high blood pressure prevention.

Here are the six diet and lifestyle factors researchers identified to decrease high blood pressure risk in women.

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Heart Disease and Agent Orange

What is Agent Orange?

Agent Orange was used in Vietnam between 1961 and 1971. It is a specific blend of herbicides used to remove leaves from trees in the thick jungle canopy which may hide enemy forces.. Many Vietnam veterans were exposed to the Agent Orange herbicides.

How is Agent Orange Linked to Heart Disease

The Agent Orange Act of 1991 was passed by Congress due to uncertainty surrounding the health effects of Agent Orange exposure on Vietnam veterans. This act led the Institute of Medicine to review scientific and medical information connecting Agent Orange exposure to health effects.

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Health Care Reform – Healthy Aging Program and Child Obesity Program

Here’s a few details on how the Health Care Reform Bill impacts the Healthy Aging Program and funds the Child Obesity Demonstration Project.

Healthy Aging: Preventive Services for Adults 55-64

A grant program for state and local health departments and Indian tribes will be established. The grant will be used to provide public health interventions, preventive screenings, and referral/treatment for chronic diseases for individuals 55-64 years-old. Some of the intervention activities include improved nutrition and increased physical activity levels.

Child Obesity Demonstration Project

The Child Obesity Demonstration Project will be fully funded with $25 million. The goal of the project will be to reduce childhood obesity in community-based settings, including schools. The project will provide education, counseling and training activities.

All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
Heart Healthy Tips
http://www.hearthealthmadeeasy.com

2 Foods to Lower High Blood Pressure

Here are two foods containing nutrients that will promote a lower blood pressure:

1. Garlic

Garlic is a source of allicin, which has been shown to lower blood pressure. Around 10,000 mg of allicin (~4 garlic cloves) is needed daily for a blood pressure lowering effect. Studies show the average reduction in systolic blood pressure to be 5-8 mm Hg. Important to note – not all forms of garlic are equal! Cultivated garlic, aged garlic, wild cultivated garlic, fresh garlic, and long-acting garlic preparations have variable effects.

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