Benefit to Being Overweight and Over 70
New research indicates using body mass index (BMI) as a tool to measure health risk in older individuals may not be so accurate.
What is BMI
Body mass index is calculated using an individual’s height and weight. Weight in kilograms is divided by height in centimeters squared. BMI is frequently used to assess overall health. The World Health Organization established four BMI categories:
3 Activities to Burn Calories in the Great Outdoors
Take your fitness routine outside! Here are three activities you can add to your week for fun with friends/family and calorie burning to reach your health goals.
Calories burned for each of these warm-weather activities:
Freestyle Fitness – Swim laps
Take you kids to the pool and swim laps while they play. Swimming works the entire body, toning your chest, back, abs, arms, and shoulders.
Calories Burned per 30 minutes = 238 calories
3 Foods to Lower Blood Pressure
Here are 3 foods containing nutrients that promote a lower blood pressure:
1. Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a rick source of potassium. Adequate potassium intake is essential to balance sodium and promote a lower blood pressure. The recommended ratio of potassium to sodium is 5:1. Increasing potassium intake can result in a blood pressure reduction of ~5 mm Hg systolic and ~2.5 mm Hg diastolic.
High Blood Pressure – 4 Frequently Asked Questions
High blood pressure is a serious condition that requires treatment. Here are answers to four frequently asked questions you need to know.
What is high blood pressure?
Blood pressure equals the force pushing against your artery walls when your heart beats and when it rests. The systolic pressure is the force against artery walls when your heart beats (contracts), while the diastolic pressure is the pressure against your artery walls when the heart relaxes (between beats).
High blood pressure is a reading equal to or greater than 140/90 mm Hg. A reading between 120-139/80-89 mm Hg falls within the pre-hypertension category. A blood pressure below 120/80 mm Hg is considered normal. High blood pressure is typically diagnosed after more than one elevated blood pressure reading.
Why is high blood pressure dangerous?
Mediterranean Diet – Common Questions Answered
Here’s a guest post from Eva Alexander providing answers to some frequently asked questions about the Mediterranean diet.
Most people say the Mediterranean diet is high in fat. Can people still lose or maintain weight on a Mediterranean diet?
The Mediterranean diet is high in fats. But these consist of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. These are healthy fats needed by your body. In contrast, the typical American diet is rich in saturated fats. It should be noted also that fat content in your diet does not determine weight loss. It is your calorie consumption that will generally influence weight loss and optimum weight management. Mediterranean diet provides lots of healthy benefits but it is still essential to lower your calorie consumption to achieve better results.
What’s the major difference of American and Mediterranean diets?
Health Care Reform Impact on Restaurant Nutrition Labeling
Health care reform has a direct impact on nutrition information available at restaurant chains.
Nutrition Labeling of Menu Items at Restaurants
This provision requires restaurant chains (those with 20 or more outlets) to include calories on menus, menu boards (such as drive through menus), and food display tags. Additional nutrition information will have to be available and provided upon customer request, such as fat, saturated fat, carbohydrates, sodium, protein, and fiber. The intent is for the information to be uniform and consistent within a restaurant chain and between different restaurants to reduce confusion and make the information consistent. It doesn’t look like this will go into affect until 1 year after bill passed into law.
All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
Heart Healthy Tips
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