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Dogs are called ‘man’s best friend’ for a reason – they are always willing to listen and comfort us, are always happy to see us, and provide us with constant companionship. But they also offer something that isn’t as widely publicized – they help keep us healthy.
Dogs of all shapes, sizes, colors, and ages need exercise. Whether you have a six-year-old, five-pound Chihuahua or a six-month-old, fifty-five pound Boxer, exercise is a must. And who is going to give your dog exercise? You!
According to a survey conducted on behalf of the Petcare segment at Mars Inc., which includes such well-known pet brands such as Pedigree, Whiskas, Nutro, Royal Canin and Banfield, nearly two-thirds of dog owners engage in exercise on a weekly basis because of their dog and that 29 percent of dog owners who engage in regular exercise other than walking do so because of their dog. The survey also found that dogs are the driving force behind two-thirds of the walks their owners take each week.
Dogs force you to get outside for some fresh air and exercise, no matter if it is raining, snowing, you have little time, or you just don’t feel like it. And inevitably, once you are forced outside, you feel better and appreciate the push. It’s almost like having a very persistent personal trainer in the family.
There are many forms of exercise you can participate in with your dog that goes beyond daily walks.
Hiking – Taking your dog into the great outdoors is great for both of your health and wellness. Hiking trails are perfect for dog walking. You can even purchase a backpack for your dog so he can carry his own water and food supplies.
Rollerblading – Dogs love to run and if you are not able to run yourself, strapping on a pair of rollerblades can be a great compromise. You still get plenty of exercise but can also keep up with the pace set by a high-energy dog.
Beach Combing – There are many dog-friendly beaches all over the country and walking in sand is one of the best workouts you can do. Wading in the water and chasing the surf is also a fun way to get more exercise.
Agility – Training classes are highly beneficial for your dog’s mental and physical well-being, but agility in particular can also provide an avenue of exercise for a dog owner as well. You will definitely break a sweat running along the obstacles leading your dog.
So, it turns out you don’t need a gym membership to stay healthy. Bringing a dog into your life can keep you healthy while also providing all the additional benefits of being your constant companion.
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Being and staying heart healthy doesn’t have to be a confusing or stressful endeavor. By following the five simple tips below you’ll be well on your way to getting and staying healthy, overall heart attack prevention, and having your ticker tick for a long, long time.
1. Move your butt
And your legs and your arms and your whole body! Being active is a sure-fire way to keep your heart healthy. And really, there’s a whole slew of positive reasons to exercise. It can help improve your immune system, cut your chances of getting some cancers and just generally make you a healthier and happier person. And the great thing is you don’t have to spend two hours daily at the gym to see the benefits. Start off walking fifteen to twenty minutes every second day. Then, as you get healthier and stronger, make it thirty minutes daily. Or take in a dance class a few times a week. The key is to get and stay active. So do things that you like, when you like, for the amount of time that you can handle.
2. Eat your fruits and veggies
Turns out your mom was right: eating all your veggies is good for you! Having a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help lower your risk of heart disease. And the more colorful the fruit or vegetable, the better! Colorful fruits and veggies are full of heart disease fighting antioxidants. The rule of thumb is that at meal time half of your plate should be vegetables. And instead of snacking on sugary carb treats, grab an apple or a hand full of berries. They have the same sweetness as candy, and are actually good for you.
3. Laugh more
You know that saying “laughter is the best medicine”? Well, when it comes to keeping your ticker healthy and happy, it isn’t too far off. Turns out that laughing more is good for your heart. And not just because it makes you happier. Studies have proven that when you laugh you have 20% more blood flowing through your body. What does this mean for your heart? Well, periods of increased blood flow expands and relaxes your blood vessels. Like they’re getting a workout. This keeps them healthy and doing what they’re supposed to do.
4. Lower your stress
While laughing more is definitely a step in the right direction for lowering your stress, it may not be enough. And high, constant stress is a major factor when it comes to heart disease and heart attacks. So if you are a stressful person, you will want to take some measure to lower the amount of stress in your life. This could include taking stock of what is stressing you out and making some changes. Maybe work less (if it’s an option) or get help at home. Another route you can take is to better manage your stress. For most people who can’t get rid of the stressful things in there lives, this is their only option. Take some time for yourself. Learn some deep breathing exercises. There are an infinite amount of resources on dealing with stress.
5. Clean up your act
If you smoke or take drugs, stop. Right this second. Because even if you follow the other tips, you’ll still be severely at risk for heart disease. Same with drinking. The good thing about alcohol consumption is that as long as it’s moderate, you’re okay. Although, if you must have a glass of something every once in a while, why not make it red wine? Studies have shown that red wine every once is actually good for you. But cigarettes and drugs definitely aren’t.
Getting and keeping your heart healthy doesn’t have to be a big struggle. How many of the above tips are you already following?
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Most weight loss programs give you an idea that it’s easy to lose weight and some diet books will tell you that you can do it just with the right diet. A proper diet will help you lose weight but I also recommend doing exercise. Our body is made to exercise and if you don’t do it you might end up gaining weight or having other health related problems.
Many people complain that they can’t exercise to lose weight but reality is quite different because you don’t even need to exercise at high intensities. A medium intensity is perfect to lose weight because you use mostly fat, you use fat as a energy source when you have enough oxygen to oxidize the fat and that doesn’t happen in high intensity exercises where you use carbon hydrates to burn without oxygen. But remember that the main thing is to burn fat and because of that you want to exercise at a moderate rate were you burn all the fat.
So I think that by now you agree with moderate exercise and the best is to perform daily sessions, start with 15 minutes and try to go up to an hour or more of daily exercise but an hour should be more than enough for you to lose weight.
The next step is to make a good collection of diet books, diet books that work will allow you to vary your meals so that you don’t get bored from eating the same things every day. Most diet books will allow you to have a healthy diet but the best to lose weight are the weight loss diet books and those also improve your health.
It’s important to follow the diet books guidelines and portions, if you eat too much there’s no point in doing exercise, you need to make sure that you eat less calories than the ones you spend, don’t starve yourself but get a caloric table from the recommended food in the diet books and compare the number of calories relative to the amount of food you eat, make sure you don’t have more calories than the daily guidelines for your age and sex. You can find all this information in the internet and it’s completely free.
You’ll see that diet books will recommend a lot of vegetables and will teach you not to cook them in oil, cooking in oil isn’t good because oil turns into fat in your body and is especially bad for your health if it gets too burned up while cooking. Like vegetables, seeds are also very good especially sesame seeds that have a lot of protein and no fat at all. Fish and mollusks are really good. Cereals are also recommended and cereals derivates like seitan that have many proteins, have no fat, and is very easy to cook. Fruit is also high advisable and you can eat it with the meals or between the meals if you feel hungry.
A diet book that works will tell you this and much more but I can’t write everything in a single article, I advise you to check my website where you’ll find more information. But you should keep in mind that I don’t want to trick anyone and that’s why I tell you that you need good diet books.and some exercise, you can really invest in this solution because it won’t disappoint you if you follow it to the letter. You should always remember that like diet books exercise also is essential to obtain good results. Exercise will make you lose weight and improve your health which leads to a better life quality.
Why should you spend your hard-earned money on a house plant? Sure they can help decorate your house and even, in some cases, be used to cover that ugly stain on your wall. However, you are probably unaware of the many health benefits plants provide. It has been proven that house plants can clean the air, reduce stress, and even prevent allergies. Cleaning the Air One of the wonderful benefits to having house plants is that they are natural air purifiers. Most of us already know that plants remove carbon dioxide and provide oxygen, but they also remove many other toxins. Research done by NASA shown that a few of the toxins plants filter are:
- Benzene- A very common solvent which is known to irritate skin and eyes as well as cause dizziness and even headaches if high levels are inhaled.
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)- Used in several industrial products such as paints and adhesives. Is considered a potent liver carcinogen.
- Formaldehyde- Used in particle board, foam insulation and even furniture. It can irritate your eyes and throat and cause headaches and even asthma.
Nature’s Stress Ball
Indoor plants seem to relax people. Bruno Cortis, M.D., who is a cardiologist from Chicago, says that house plants have a calming effect and cause people to be more optimistic. Many companies have even reported that after placing plants around the office they noticed an increase in morale and in some cases even creativity.
Plants Prevent Allergies?
Most people, including myself, believe that plants cause allergies, and they are 100% correct. However, it has been proven that if you expose children to “allergy villains” (allergens) early in life that they tend to build an immunity to those specific “villains”. It works basically like an allergy shot. Given small doses of the allergen that you’re allergic to causes you to build up a tolerance to it.
Read the Labels
Now you know that plants have several great health benefits, but like most things, they can have a downside. I cannot stress enough that you read the printed labels on the plant pots and plant stakes. Understand the plants benefits and research it. Find out what allergens it may contain. You need to consider others that live with you or colleagues that you work with. If they have severe allergies the plants can make them feel worse it this case.
All-in-all plants do wonders for a home or even office. They create a serene, breathe easy environment. If you are looking for natural ways to help boost your immune system as well as feel better I definitely suggest buying some house plants.
As you grow older, it is important to remain physically active. Research has shown that sedentary lifestyles can lead to lowered aerobic power and significant muscle loss. Any regular exercise, like walking, provides health benefits for seniors including a strong heart and a positive mental outlook. Older adults, especially women, may not think of themselves as athletes and that exercise is not for them. Walking is a great activity that is never too late to begin. Regular walking will increase your chances of being independent.
Loss of strength and endurance in older people is due to inactivity. Aerobic exercise is a key to reducing the risk of heart attack. Walking is an easy way for elderly people to increase strength and endurance and incorporate aerobic exercise into a sedentary lifestyle.
Benefits of Walking
People are at a greater risk of developing osteoporosis as they get older, and walking can help slow the process of weakening bones. Walking can reduce the chances of developing clinical depression due to loneliness or other social problems. Walking allows older people to be independent and get involved in volunteer work or part-time work. Some of the benefits of walking are:
• Improved cardiovascular function with reduced chances of having a heart attack.
• Weight loss or controlled weight.
• Preventing and treating depression.
• Lower chances of becoming diabetic, and if you are diabetic, then walking has a positive impact in managing diabetes.
• Builds muscle strength and endurance.
• Builds and maintain stronger bones and muscles.
• Lower risk of developing high blood pressure, and helps in lowering blood pressure if you already have high blood pressure.
Getting Started
To get started, you just need a pair of good sturdy walking shoes, loose comfortable clothing, and Motivation! You might already have a good pair of shoes and comfortable clothing, and then you only need to motivate yourself by doing some of the things mentioned below:
• Wear a pedometer as a powerful reminder that each step counts.
• Count your steps using the pedometer.
• Choose different routes as the same route can get boring after some time. By focusing on the new route and its environment, you might even forget you are exercising!
• Listening to music when walking will make the exercise more enjoyable.
• To stay motivated try and find a walking buddy. You will not only have a walking buddy but also a companion who can go with you to the movies or sometimes on a vacation too.
• Find out if your neighborhood has a walking club – if you join the club, you will find more ways to socialize with your new friends.
• Choose the best time that works for you to make your walking exercise a success, otherwise you are likely to find excuses to avoid walking.
• Reward yourself when you achieve a new goal.
Walking Safely
The following tips will ensure your safety while walking:
• Wear proper walking shoes that are skid resistant with good tread.
• Walk indoors if the weather is bad. If you have a home treadmill, you do not have to walk in bad weather.
• Walk on the sidewalk, and always cross the street at the pedestrian crossing.
• Avoid walking at night to avoid falls.
• Carry a cell phone and personal ID
• Have a medical alert device with you if you’re at risk of falls or fainting.
• Listen to your body and take a break when you are tired or your legs hurt.
Walking is an inexpensive form of exercise that has tremendous health benefits. With these tips, you are on your way to having fun while walking.
For more tips on senior health, elder care, medical alert review and other products for happy and healthy living in your golden years, visit www.ElderKind.com.
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