Heart Health

ARE YOU WORTH IT?  
Start a Heart Healthy Life Style Today!

by Christine Huppee - Punch Kettlebell Gym Austin & South Austin

“Research shows that men and women can lower
their heart disease risk enormously—by as
much as 82 percent—simply by leading a
healthy lifestyle.”
 
Did you know that the leading cause of death for men and women is HEART DISEASE!?!

According to theAmerican Heart Association, these are the leading factors that put you at risk for coronary artery disease or a heart attack:
 
  • Age: More than 83% of people who die from coronary heart disease are 65 or older. Older women are more likely to die of heart attacks within a few weeks of the attack than older men.
  • Being male: Men have a greater risk of heart attack than women do, and they have attacks earlier in life. Even after menopause, when women’s death rate from heart disease increases, it’s not as great as men’s.
  • Family history. Those with parents or close relatives with heart disease are more likely to develop it themselves.
  • Race: Heart disease risk is higher among African Americans, Mexican Americans, American Indians, native Hawaiians, and some Asian Americans compared to Caucasians.
  • Smoking: Cigarette smoking increases your risk of developing heart disease by two to four times.
  • High cholesterol: As blood cholesterol rises, so does risk of coronary heart disease.
  • High blood pressure: High blood pressure increases the heart’s workload, causing the heart to thicken and become stiffer. It also increases your risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, and congestive heart failure. When high blood pressure exists with obesity, smoking, high blood cholesterol levels, or diabetes, the risk of heart attack or stroke increases several times.

  • Sedentary lifestyle. Inactivity is a risk factor for coronary heart disease.
  • Excess weight: People who have excess body fat—especially if a lot of it is at the waist—are more likely to develop heart disease and stroke even if they have no other risk factors.
  • Diabetes: Having diabetes seriously increases your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. About three-quarters of people with diabetes die from some form of heart or blood vessel disease.
 
Some of these factors are out of our control but at least 5 can be controlled by us choosing a healthy life style! It takes a team effort. Get your family involved and your friends.  If you are a parent, remember we are role models for our children. It starts at home!
 
  
   
     


Minute of Food

Today February 3, 2011 marks the first day of the Chinese New Year Celebration. The year 2011 will be the year of the Rabbit. The Chinese measure their years based on the lunar calendar. The first day is the new Moon and the last is at the Full Moon.
 
This is really a Spring Festival in Chinese tradition even though the date always falls in the Winter. This is the time of year for cleaning the home to make room for fresh beginnings. Celebrating with food, small gifts and visiting with family and friends is the theme of this fifteen day holiday. There is a day dedicated to different kinds of celebration for the two week period. The final day is celebrated with grand lantern lit processions and the lighting of fireworks. All this celebrating is for the purpose of welcoming new life and new beginnings to the families.
We at AOS are all about new life and new beginnings as this is our mission every day as we work with our clients to improve their quality of life through exercise and nutrition.  Our Chinese New Year recipe is heart healthy and delicious. Don’t cut those noodles as they represent long life!
 
Chinese Chicken and Noodles: This is a quick and delicious meal that is healthy too. It is very easy to substitute all veggies and eliminate the meat if you choose. Celebrate the Chinese New Year and make new beginnings with this great dinner.


Chinese Chicken and Noodles

Ingredients
 
• 2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts cubed
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup sliced onion
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 2 carrots, julienned
• 2 cups snow peas
• 4 cups dry Chinese noodles
• 1/4 cup teriyaki sauce
 
Directions
 
1. In a large skillet brown chicken in oil, stirring constantly until juices run clear. 
2. Add the onion, broccoli, carrots and peas. Cover skillet and steam for 2 minutes. 
3. Add the Chinese noodles and teriyaki sauce. Stir noodles into chicken/vegetable mixture, making sure they are coated with sauce. When the noodles wilt, serve. 
 
  
     
     




When was the last time you Cleansed?

When it seems there is a new cleanse coming to market every month it’s difficult to decide which one is right for you.  

Ritual Cleanse

An environmentally friendly company, operating in California, Ritual Cleanse was born out of the idea “that there must be a better way to cleanse.” Whatever category you fall into, whether you are an avid cleanser or a first timer looking for something to find a way to kick-start a healthier lifestyle, Ritual says they have you covered.  

 
This 3 Day Cleanse is offered in two categories, the Classic Cleanse, which in a single day gives you more than 15 lbs of the highest quality, raw vegetables and fruit, and the Season Reset Cleanse, which, like the Classic Cleanse is spread over 3 days but replaces one classic blend for a blend of season fruits and vegetables.  
 
And for all of you worried about training while on a cleanse, Ritual Cleanse offers the “Shred” component, two pre and post workout blends added to your normal cleanse.