Lifting & Big Breakfast Key to a Healthy Heart
Two recent studies have pointed to the importance of weightlifting and an energy-rich breakfast as the key to a healthy heart.
The first study by Iowa State University found that lifting weights for less than an hour a week could reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke by as much as 70%
D. C. Lee, Associate Professor of Kinesiology, at Iowa state said as little as 5 minutes of bench pressing is enough to be effective.
The second study argued that people who spent less time watching TV and regularly ate an energy-rich breakfast showed significantly less plaque and stiffness in their arteries, indicating a lower chance of developing heart disease or suffering a stroke.
Sotirios Tsalamandris, MD, a Cardiologist at the Kapodistrian University of Athens and the study’s lead author, said: “Environmental and lifestyle factors are important but underestimated risk factors for cardiovascular diseases
“These two studies emphasize the many factors that impact heart disease and the need for holistic preventive approaches.”
Among these approaches is monitoring how much TV you watcj, with Dr Tsalamandris pointing to a sedentary lifestyle as a major cause of heart disease.
Tsalamandris said: “These findings suggest a clear message to hit the ‘off’ button on your TV and abandon your sofa.
“Even activities of low energy expenditure, such as socializing with friends or housekeeping activities, may have a substantial benefit to your health compared to time spent sitting and watching TV.”