My Healthy Habits

By: Jim Rollince of Gym Source, a vendor of home gym and fitness equipment, including treadmills, bikes, arc trainers, ellipticals and more!

The Journal of the American College of Cardiology has done it again. In a recently conducted study, they found that spending too much leisure time in front of a television can and will affect the chance of heart disease and premature death.

The most fascinating part about the whole study is that these results are regardless of how much exercise one accomplishes. The study analyzed the association between screen time and fatal/non-fatal cardiovascular attacks. According to Dr. Emmanuel Stamatakis from the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at The University College London, UK, boldly proclaims that people who watch a lot of television are more likely to die of “any cause,” and suffer from heart-related issues. According to him and his team that conducted the research, those who spent at least two hours in front of a screen each day were at greater risk.

This study consisted of 4,512 adults, all of whom responded to the 2003 Scottish Health Survey. During a period of 4.3 years, there were a total of 325 all-cause deaths and 215 cardiac happenings. The statistics are astounding!

These relations were autonomous of traditional external risk factors such as smoking, BMI, hypertension, social class, as well as fitness. These results have prompted a spread of advocacy for public health guidelines that promote longer periods of activity and standing, outside of work. This translates to habitual things like watching tv, playing video games, etc…

These test were very similar to the studies that pinpointed prolonged sitting as a direct factor in inflammation and problems in metabolism, and can be directly tied into the simple cliché of being lazy is unhealthy. But it was also found that inherent biological factors also played a role in determining the risk of heart problems. Some of these included:

CRP (C-Reactive Protein)

BMI (Body Mass Index)

High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol

All of which suggest that deregulation and inflammation of lipids may be one pathway through which prolonged sitting increases the risk for cardiovascular events. People who spent more than four hours a day watching TV has a CRP that was twice as high as those who didn’t.

Although it’s likely that people will not stop watching TV for extended periods because of this, it is recommended to “turn it back a notch.” Reasonably so (and Dr. Stamatakis will agree), we should attempt to figure out what extended periods of sitting do to the body in the long and short term; find out if exercise can alter these consequences, and ultimately how to alter our current lifestyles!

It has always been said that breakfast is the most important way to start the day. It is also always said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Breakfast can have a major effect on the way your day go. Eating a good breakfast provides a large number of benefits.

People who have a good breakfast generally have more energy. These types of people often engage in more physical activities through out the day than those who skipped breakfast. Those who eat a good breakfast are more focus and often more productive all throughout the morning. Breakfast makes you more focus and productive because your brain gets a refill of glucose. Glucose is often referred to as the brain’s main energy source. People who start their day off with a good breakfast have lower cholesterol which in return reduces the risk of heart disease. People who have a breakfast take in less dietary cholesterol than people who don’t eat breakfast.

People who eat breakfast often take in less fat and cholesterol throughout the day while consuming more vitamins. People who eat breakfast general get more favorable nutrients while taking in less unfavorable nutrients such as dietary cholesterol. It has been come to know that people who eat break are better at controlling their weight. This is because eating breakfast reduces the hunger throughout the day. Or sometimes it might influence the person who ate breakfast to eat far less-dense foods throughout the day.

Parents should always make their children eat their breakfast. No matter how bad they might not want to and how bad they try and fight it the benefits or eating breakfast are just too good to give up. It is crucial that your children learn the right habits especially eating breakfast. Children who eat breakfast usually have been problem solving skills, eye hand coordination and better concentration. They are often more alert. Of course, they are also less like to miss school because they are much healthier. Children who eat breakfast are often more creative and generally learn more in school than children who have not eaten their breakfast.

Eating breakfast doesn’t have to be a huge ordeal. Breakfast doesn’t need to be expensive to be effective either. A break is considered good if it includes at least one of these types of foods grains, dairy, protein and fruits and vegetables. Cereal is a very common form of breakfast.

I am sure you see Pilates and Yoga on television or hear it on the radio almost daily. With that much exposure they must work right? Yes, but how do you know which one is better? What’s the difference? These are only a few questions that arise when the subject is brought up. You should ask yourself these questions before you decide for yourself. You don’t have to select. Many people do both in conjunctions with one another. This allows them to reach their set goals much faster.

Yoga consists of you performing yoga poses. Yoga aims to increase healing, flexibility and strength of the joints. Yoga aims to make you feel a much better well being and strength. Yoga activities often include breathing techniques, meditation and reflection. Yoga workouts often display the myth that yoga leads you to an understanding of the nature of existence as well as a spiritual experience. Yoga is often associated with many religious beliefs. Yoga goals consist of improving overall fitness and health to one day reaching Moksha. Yoga is intended to give you an insight into your body’s alignment, posture and patterns of movements. Yoga is well known for helping your body become more flexible while making you feel more relaxed. Yoga can make you feel happier, peaceful and more energetic. If you are interested on Yoga you should visit a yoga trainer.

Pilates is much different. It not only improves your mind but it works the entire body, concentration and control of both the body and the mind. Movements are move focus on quality instead of quantity. The center of all movement is the abdominal muscles, buttocks and lowers back. This allows other body parts to move more freely. Becoming stronger inside and out is crucial for advancing with Pilates. Pilates is a great healer often used as an injury prevention method as well as rehabilitation. Breathing, centering, control, concentration and precision are the main factors that help the body move efficiently with a much lower impact on the body. Pilates intends to balance between flexibility and strength. This makes for a health vigorous symmetrical workout for all muscles which leads to a stronger, more balances and leaner body.

You shouldn’t be asking yourself which one is better. You should be considering combining both techniques to help keep the balance and reach your goals a lot faster than normal. Your best bet when you first get started it to contact a professional in both techniques and have them walk you through it step by step. Or visit classes and seminars.