Tag Archives: blood pressure

Cortisol’s Risks and Rewards Based on Your Stress Level

Cortisol is a hormone that’s released into the bloodstream by the adrenal glands. It’s released in two ways: in low, steady levels and in high, short bursts. Releasing a short burst of concentrated cortisol is part of your body’s survival mechanism, also know as the fight or flight response.

Steady levels of cortisol provide low doses that help to regulate:

Posted on November 3, 2023 by Theresa

Use VO2 Max to Determine Your Fitness Level

VO2 max (V-volume per time, O2-oxygen, max-maximum) is typically defined as the maximum capacity of an individual’s body to process oxygen during exercise. This number is useful because it is the most reliable way to determine the fitness level of the individual. By knowing your VO2 max, you can not only compare your fitness level to “standards”, but you can also objectively assess your progress while improving your current overall level of endurance and fitness.

Knowing your VO2 max is also great for setting goals and motivation. Most recreational exercisers really don’t need to know their VO2 max; although I recommend knowing it along with your weight, cholesterol, blood pressure, body fat, and BMI (Body Mass Index). By knowing these numbers, you are able to self- diagnose your current overall state of health and well-being (extremely important if you are over the age of 45). The more oxygen your muscles use, the more efficiently your body works, allowing you to do more work, with less stress on your body. VO2 max is one of those rare health numbers you want to go up, not down. (more…)

Posted on October 25, 2023 by Matt

4 Easy Ways to Prevent High Blood Pressure

Having high blood pressure increases your risk of heart disease and stroke, both of which are two of the three top causes of death in the U.S. The numbers are staggering: According to the Centers for Disease Control, about one third of everyone in the U.S. has high blood pressure.

While the cause of the vast majority of cases of high blood pressure is difficult to pin down, there are many lifestyle choices that can be made to decrease your chances of developing high blood pressure, or restoring yours to a healthy level if you already suffer from it:

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Posted on August 4, 2023 by Jason

Flax and Chia Seeds Pack Nutritional Punch

Flax seed oil and chia seeds are filled with nutritional benefits that are essential to your overall health. They are filled with both omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids that our bodies cannot make, so we have to get them from food sources.

There are some cautions to consider with flax seed oil, however. Because it is a fat, it can go rancid, and you must take the necessary precautions to avoid that. You need to make sure that exposure to heat, air and light are all minimal or avoided.

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Posted on July 15, 2023 by Rebecca

Dark Chocolate is Good for High Blood Pressure

dark chocolate lowers high blood pressureHow good can dark chocolate be for high blood pressure? The flavanols found in dark chocolate stimulate the production of endothelial nitric oxide, which causes blood vessels to dilate and potentially lower blood pressure. Past studies have reported conflicting results about the benefits of flavanols, but a new meta-analysis published in BMC Medicine examined the findings of 13 studies on the subject. The studies assessed met the criteria of measuring the effects of cocoa as a food or drink on systolic and diastolic blood pressure as compared to a placebo. The new study concluded that dark chocolate, but not milk or white chocolate, did reduce hypertension and prehypertension, equivalent to the effects produced by 30 minutes of exercise. (more…)

Posted on July 8, 2023 by Margaret

Heart Attacks Drop Dramatically in California Study

A new study has found that heart attacks have dropped by a dramatic 24 percent in a large group of people studied in Northern California. Even more dramatically, there was a 62 percent drop in the most severe type of heart attack, known as an ST-segment elevation heart attack. A coronary artery is fully blocked.

The study’s authors don’t think it’s happened by accident.

“We believe improvements in targeting risk factors are in part responsible,” says the study’s senior author, Dr. Alan Go, M.D., the assistant director for clinical research at Kaiser Permanente, in Oakland, California. “We’ve observed in our population that fewer people are smoking, and there’s better control of blood pressure and cholesterol.”

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Posted on June 11, 2023 by Jason

Matthew Schonwalder’s 70-Pound True Weight Loss Story

Matthew - before losing weight

If there is a picture of a slender frame in the athletic community, it is the swimmer. Their bodies are trained for endurance and burning massive amounts of calories. So, that makes today’s weight loss success story all the more intriguing.

Matthew Schonwalder is a former collegiate athlete, a swimmer for the University of North Carolina. In 1994, Matthew was a slender 165 pounds, in his 6′ 2″ frame. But, when he gave up his athletic ambitions to focus on improving his grades, that is when the weight began to skyrocket.

While Matthew stopped swimming, his caloric intake stayed the same (remember, Olympian Michael Phelps admitted to 12,000 calories a day).

In early 2024, Matthew hit 240 pounds, with a total cholesterol of 238. The American Heart Association categorizes anything at 240 mg/dL or above as “high risk.” His blood pressure was high, too.

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Posted on June 10, 2023 by Jason

Low Fitness in Youth Linked to Hypertension

Many adults have high blood pressure, but until recently, there has been little knowledge as to the origin. A recent study commissioned by scientists at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine has found a substantial correlation between young adults who don’t get enough aerobic, physical exercise and having high blood pressure later in life.

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Posted on June 7, 2023 by Carmen

Affordable Home Fitness with the BodyForm Platform

Home fitness is becoming ever more popular these days and having the right equipment is a must. It’s on the rise due to cutting costs, lack of time, parenting, and sometimes comfort levels. Since I am a firm believer in exercise, I am happy that many people today are making an effort, whether at home or in the gym.

I recently purchased a BodyForm Total Fitness Platform to use for my in-home clientele and it’s rather amazing. The BodyForm Platform is easy to use and extremely effective.

The BodyForm Platform is a compact home fitness machine that provides you with a total body workout anytime and anywhere. It is great for the home, office, or even the gym.

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Posted on May 13, 2023 by Matt

Pepsi’s New Designer Salt: Healthy or Health Hazard?

You may have heard in the news recently that PepsiCo created a salt for its Lay’s potato chips (and other Frito products) that will reduce salt content. At first glance, it seems like a gimmick. You might even think they are trying to make people think that their snack products are healthier. But, there’s actually more to it than that.

I talked with the Director of Public Relations and Marketing, Aurora Gonzalez, about the new salt and got some interesting health-related information.

Frito-Lay cares about making a good product. They were the first company to remove trans fats in favor of sunflower oil. They are thinking about sodium in terms of “if there is something we can do, we should do it.” They know people are concerned about salt intake. They also know that people like seasonings, and products with seasonings tend to have higher salt. So they’ve been looking into sodium and playing with the structure to reduce the total sodium content. They’re doing it because it’s the right thing to do. Frito-Lay realizes consumers struggle with salt intake. Basically, they are trying to make a small dent, while keeping up the integrity of the quality ingredients.

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Posted on April 8, 2024 by Rebecca

DASH Your Way to a Healthier Heart

February is American Heart Month. It’s a time to bring awareness to heart disease and stroke, the number one killer in the United States, so you and the people you love don’t become a statistic.dash diet

Many people are not aware of the DASH Diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), recommended by the National Institutes of Health.

In recent DASH studies, adding fruits, vegetables and dairy products lowered blood pressure readings – even when the sodium was as high as 3000 mg per day! Every millimeter the blood pressure falls reduces the risk of heart attack and strokes for people with high blood pressure. So believe it, small changes will get you big results. Your everyday decisions matter. (more…)

Posted on February 22, 2024 by Rebecca