Health Topic

2013, Time to Recommit to your Health! 

Let's Eat! We could all benefit from making healthier eating choices. Whether it is adding more vegetables in our day, drinking more water or putting a stop to midnight snacking, celebrate this month by EATING RIGHT!

 

Want to avoid overeating?  Go to bed earlier! A study published in the SLEEP journal, November 2012, showed that lack of sleep may cause men and women to overeat. Aim for 7 to 9 hours of shut—eye nightly, and stick to the same sleeping schedule everyday of the week to reduce your urge to overeat.  There are different hormonal methods as to why men and women overeat. For men, reduced sleep hours  increases the total level of ghrelin, a hunger-stimulating hormone. Reduced sleep for women reduces the level of GLP-1 a hormone that makes you feel full.  The study also reported that in addition to increasing your risk of obesity, sleeping less than seven hours per night also puts you at risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and depression.

Every year, about 715,000 Americans have a heart attack. About 600,000 people die from heart disease in the U.S. each year. Cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, costs the United States $312.6 billion each year (CDC, 2013). Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women – the situation of heart disease in America is alarming. The good news:  heart disease is preventable and controllable! Follow Life's Simple 7 as according to the American Heart Association and reduce your risk.

Life's Simple 7

(according to the American Heart Association)

Get Active

Eat Better

Lose Weight

Stop Smoking

Control Cholesterol

Manage Blood Pressure

Reduce Blood Sugar

 

 

 Eat a diet rich in colorful fruits and vegetables. Read More.

Incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your diet may reduce your risk of many diseases. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends eating more fruits and vegetables than any other food group.