Heart2Heart Circle of Life: 2012

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Cities at Risk for Heart Disease

In Rocky III we see two knockouts in the ring—and one in the locker room, where Mickey is Ko'd by a heart attack. It's a familiar script: Philly guy goes up against heavyweight heart disease and is leveled. In fact, if there's an eye of the tiger in the city, we bet it's staring at a cheesesteak.

Here's the tale of the tape. We began with death rates for heart disease and then factored in big clues to cardiac woes: the number of people who smoke, don't exercise, or are overweight or obese, along with the number who have type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol (all from the CDC). Next we checked how many households floss (inflammation from gum disease can contribute to heart risks) and take cholesterol-lowering meds (SimplyMap). Finally, we included EPA stats on the number of bad-air days. (And if you want to keep your ticker in top shape like Rocky Balboa, start our 82-day Speed Shred workout program to blast fat, lose your gut, and strengthen your heart.)

Prime pumps

San Francisco, CA (A+)
Aurora, CO (A+)
Seattle, WA (A+)
Austin, TX (A+)
Colorado Springs, CO (A+)
Burlington, VT (A+)
Minneapolis, MN (A+)
Portland, OR (A+)
Boise City, ID (A)
Oakland, CA (A)
St. Paul, MN (A)
Lincoln, NE (A)
Madison, WI (A)
Salt Lake city, UT (A)
Durham, NC (A)
Sioux Falls, SD (A)
Raleigh, NC (A)
San Jose, CA (A-)
Anaheim, CA (A-)
Denver, CO (A-)
Charlotte, NC (B+)
San Diego, CA (B+)
Bridgeport, CT (B+)
Albuquerque, NM (B+)
Fargo, ND (B+)
Anchorage, AK (B+)
Atlanta, GA (B+)
Chesapeake, VA (B)
Plano, TX (B)
Virginia Beach, VA (B)
Manchester, NH (B)
Sacramento, CA (B)
Boston, MA (B)
Portland, ME (B-)
Orlando, FL (B-)
Bakersfield, CA (B-)
Washington, DC (B-)
Honolulu, HI (C+)
Phoenix, AZ (C+)
Reno, NV (C+)
Los Angeles, CA (C+)
San Antonio, TX (C+)
Billings, MT (C+)
Omaha, NE (C+)
Wilmington, DE (C+)
Nashville, TN (C+)
Freso, CA (C)
Des Moines, IA (C)
Wichita, KS (C)
Ft. Worth, TX (C)
Jersey City, NJ (C)
Norfolk, VA (C)
Tucson, AZ (C)
Cheyenne, WY (C)
Baton Rouge, LA (C-)
Greensboro, NC (C-)
Winston-Salem, NC (C-)
Little Rock, AR (C-)
Houston, TX (C-)
Riverside, CA (C-)
Rochester, NY (C-)
Stockton, CA (C-)
Dallas, TX (C-)
Columbia, SC (C-)
New York, NY (C-)
Laredo, TX (D+)
Jacksonville, FL (D+)
Las Vegas, NV (D+)
Corpus Christi, TX (D+)
Tampa, FL (D+)
Newark, NJ (D+)
Columbus, OH (D+)
Miami, FL (D+)
New Orleans, LA (D+)
Memphis, TN (D)
Cincinnati, OH (D)
El Paso, TX (D)
Providence, RI (D)
Lubock, TX (D)
Lexington, KY (D-)
Chicago, IL (D-)
Louisville, KY (D-)
Kansas City, MO (D-)
Fort Wayne, IN (D-)
St. Petersburg, FL (D-)
Pittsburgh, PA (F)
Oklahoma City, OK (F)
Jackson, MS (F)
Indianapolis, IN (F)
Detroit, MI
Tulsa, OK (F)
Cleveland, OH (F)
Buffalo, NY (F)
Toledo, OH (F)
Milwaukee, WI (F)
St. Louis, MO (F)
Baltimore, MD (F)
Charleston, WV (F)
Birmingham, AL (F)
Philadelphia, PA (F)

HOW TO RESIST ARREST
You know the drill: If a person suddenly collapses and is unresponsive, call 911—he may be in cardiac arrest. Your phone can help in another way too. Take a second now to download the American Heart Association's Hands-Only CPR app (free); it includes a 1-minute instructional video. A Maricopa Medical Center study found that people who watched a video like this were more likely to try CPR and perform it better. The benefit: Immediate CPR can triple a victim's odds of survival. (Better yet, dodge this leading killer with these 5 Steps to Save Your Heart.)

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

9 Dehydrated Fruits That Are Great For You Health

1. RAISINS : OSTEOPOROSIS
Often called "nature's candy," raisins are cholesterol-free, low in sodium, high in fiber and totally fat-free. They are one of the richest sources of boron, a mineral documented to reduce bone loss in post-menopausal women. Sprinkle a handful into calcium-rich yoghurt for optimum bone-benefits and add pecans, another food rich in boron. Average boron intake is 1-2mg a day, but a minimum of 3mg (and maximum of 10mg daily) is probably healthier.

2. DATES : FATIGUE
Feeling exhausted can make you crave sugary snacks. Dates are a great alternative as they have a relatively low glycaemic index (GI), which means they release their sugars slowly and keep energy levels steady, despite their intense sweetness. Eat with protein -- a handful of walnuts, for example -- to keep you feeling full.

3. DRIED APPLES : HEART DISEASE
Help protect women against heart disease lowering blood fat levels by almost 25 percent, a claim unattainable by cardiovascular prescription medications. The flavonoids in dried apples act as antioxidants -- enzymes that target free radicals that can damage DNA.

4. DRIED CHERRIES : GOUTThe anthoycyanins in cherries, particularly the sour, or tart, type that are found in most health stores, may be beneficial for a range of inflammatory-related conditions, including arthritis, gout and post-exercise muscle soreness.
A recent study by University of Michigan researchers revealed a cherry-enriched diet reduced inflammation markers in animals by up to 50 per cent. An effective ‘dose’ for humans seems to be half a cup of dried cherries twice a day.

5. DRIED APRICOTS : HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
Dried apricots weigh in with more than three times the potassium content of bananas and contain only a trace of salt.
That’s good for keeping down blood pressure -- potassium counters the water-retaining properties of sodium, keeping blood volume lower. Recent research at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta showed that consuming more potassium than sodium is protective against high blood pressure and heart disease.
Eating apricots dried means you’re likely to eat more, so will take in more nutrients.
6. DRIED MANGOS : COLON & BREAST CANCER
One of the best tasting dried fruits, mango is a rich source of potassium and is also rich in iron. People who suffer from anaemia can take mangoes regularly along with their dinner. It is especially good for women after menopause. The most impressive findings recently attributed to mangos is their ability to prevent or stop certain colon and breast cancer cells for proliferating.

7. DRIED CRANBERRIES : BLADDER INFECTIONS
If you’re prone to bladder infections -- and 20 per cent of women suffer recurrent problems -- snack on dried cranberries.
In a U.S. study, two handfuls (42.5g) reduced the ‘stickiness’ of E.coli bacteria in infected women’s urine samples.
This means fewer urinary infections because the bacteria cannot attach to the bladder wall.
Proanthocyanidins are the active ingredient in cranberries that provide this anti-adherence effect.

8. PRUNES : CONSTIPATION
Your mother was right -- six prunes (50g) twice daily proved better at easing constipation than the laxative ispaghula (the active ingredient in Fybogel), according to a recent study. Prunes are rich in sorbitol, which draws water into the stool, making it easier to pass.

9. FIGS : ANAEMIA
Vegetarian? Four dried figs supply a quarter of the recommended daily allowance of anaemia-protective iron. To get the full advantage, eat as part of an orange juice-steeped compote -- vitamin C helps improve the iron your body absorbs from plant sources.

*Please note that if you purchase processed dried fruits, many food manufacturers add preservatives, sugars, emulsifiers and sweetners. Most of these ingredients are actually toxic. Whenever you can, purchase organic fruits and dehydrate them yourself with a dehydrator. With the exception of a juicer and blender, a dehydrator is one of the most valuable appliances you will ever own to create delicious snacks while energizing and optimizing your health.

http://preventdisease.com/news/12/091812_9-Dried-Fruits-And-The-Ailments-They-Can-Treat-If-Youre-On-The-Go.shtml

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Eating Red foods for Heart Health

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Cardio, cardio and more cardio...

Cardio training is good for your heart - The increased heart rate you will achieve during your cardio workout will improve the condition of your heart and lungs, by training your heart to pump more blood in fewer beats and your lungs to move more oxygen with less effort. The improvement you will gain in your cardiovascular health will reduce your risk of heart disease and improve your blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Aim for 30-60 minutes at least 3 days a week in order to achieve the best results for improving your heart.

*http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/23142/fitness/7_reasons_to_add_cardio_training_to_your_workout.html

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Healing the Heart

One of the best elixirs for healing the heart comes in the form of...

FORGIVENESS

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Annual 5 Mile Walk

Dont forget to register!! This is an event you wont want to miss!

Heart Health: the benefits of Garlic

Garlic. This delightful, pungent herb not only fights certain cancers, diabetes, and infections; it also helps in the fight against cardiovascular disease. Garlic is excellent for heart health. Garlic's cholesterol fighting abilities have led to its longstanding reputation as a heart healthy herb.
In laboratory tests, garlic has decreased cholesterol production by liver cells by as much as 40 to 60 percent. For those suffering from high cholesterol, garlic has been reported to be able to reduce it by as much as 10 percent. Garlic lowers triglyceride levels and minimizes or prevents blood clots by preventing blood platelets from sticking together. Furthermore, garlic inhibits damage to the endothelial cells in our blood vessels due to oxidized LDL, the "bad cholesterol". Previous European studies suggest that garlic works much like our HDL, the "good cholesterol", in that it dissolves newly formed arteriosclerotic plaque at the molecular level. Other US studies suggest that saponins in garlic interfere with cholesterol absorption in the intestines, preventing it from going back into the blood stream.
Increase your intake of garlic to improve your overall health. Use fresh garlic in cooking or take it as a nutritional supplement. Taking just 600mg of garlic daily in tablet form can lower both your blood pressure and your cholesterol level in only a few weeks.

http://holistichealthnutritionfacts.blogspot.com/2007/10/garlic-for-heart-health.html

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Heart Health snack tip for the day!

Replacing snacks like potato chips, pretzels, nachos, etc with a healthier snack like fresh raw veggies (tomatoes, celery, broccoli, carrots) with ranch dip goes along way.