FitSugar

Guinness - It Really Is Good For You!

FitSugar — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 18:40:08 PDT

Whether you're Irish or not, many of us will be celebrating St. Patrick's Day by knocking back some Jameson whiskey and a pint or two of Guinness - and don't forget the Irish soda bread! Before you start feeling too bad about the alcohol and carb overload, you'll be glad to know that all those ads from the 1920s that read "Guinness Is Good For You" had some truth to them.

Researchers from a University of Wisconsin study discovered that drinking Guinness reduced blood clots and the risk of heart attacks. Like red wine and dark chocolate, and unlike other beers, Guinness also contains immune-boosting antioxidants. Some other reasons you may want to enjoy a pint of beer on St. Patty's Day: better bones, weight management, and a better memory. This is not a license to go out and get blitzed though. As always, everything is better in moderation, but if you end up kicking back a few too many, check out these hangover cures.

Source: Flickr User Stijn Debrouwere

Younger Women Getting Heart Attacks Without Realizing It, Study Says

Leta Shy — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:18:19 PST

You may think that heart attacks happen when you're older, and when they do, the sudden, gripping pain in your chest will be all you need to know that you're having one. But a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has found that in reality, women are getting heart attacks younger and without the normal symptoms we think are the signs of a heart attack.

The study, which followed 1.4 million heart attack patients for 12 years, found that 42 percent of the women experienced a heart attack without any chest pain, compared to 30 percent of the men in the study. Heart attacks also led to death in more of these women - possibly because they didn't think they were having a heart attack in the first place, and therefore put off going to the hospital. Also worrisome was the fact that most of the women with these atypical symptoms were younger (less than 55 years old).

Knowing what symptoms other than chest pain you should look out for may help you get the timely care you need. Read on to find out the common heart attack symptoms in younger women.

Minka Kelly Shares Her Heart-Healthy Fitness and Diet Tips

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 04:02:38 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Fitness Magazine here on FitSugar!

Esquire magazine once named actress Minka Kelly the “sexiest woman alive," so walking in the Heart Truth’s Red Dress Fashion Show to raise awareness for women’s heart health should be a breeze, right? Not quite. “I’ve been nervous all week!” Kelly said when we got the chance to chat with her on her new ambassador title with Diet Coke. We caught up with the brunette bombshell hours before showtime to get the scoop on how she lives a heart-healthy lifestyle, the exercises she swears by, and more.

Tell us about your partnership with Diet Coke and Heart’s Truth Red Dress Fashion Show. What made you decide to get involved?

Before I started working with Diet Coke as an ambassador, I wasn’t even aware that heart disease is the number-one killer for women. I figured this would be a chance for me to use my voice and let other women know how important it is to eat right and exercise to keep your heart in good health.

How do you manage to stay in shape, especially with such a busy schedule?

I try to do yoga every morning at 7 a.m.; it’s good to get your workout out of the way early. I also work out with my trainer Gunnar Peterson two days a week on top of that. I owe him a lot of credit for the shape I’m in because I love to eat! I have to work out extra hard to balance my love for food out.

Keep reading to learn how Minka Kelly is trying defying gravity.

5 Pink and Red Products That'll Get Your Heart Pounding

Leta Shy — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:44:31 PST

It's almost Valentine's Day, so chances are that everywhere you look you see red or pink. If you love the bright, energizing colors, time to incorporate the happy hues in your workout gear as well. After all, it's also American Heart Month - what better way to a healthy heart than with a few new pieces of exercise clothing to keep you motivated to work out? Here are five pink and red products that'll get your heart racing!

5 Heart-Healthy Foods For Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Leta Shy — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:58:10 PST

February is American Heart Month. You may not think you have to worry about your heart until you're older, but in fact, the healthy things you do now can help prevent serious heart conditions later.

One such healthy habit is to eat foods that help lower cholesterol or improve your heart function. We've made it easy with these five foods that you should be incorporating into your breakfast-lunch-dinner routine (don't worry, we didn't forget snacks and desserts!), so read on to find out what, how much, and why you should be adding these heart-healthy foods to your diet.

Watch Out For These Top 10 Saltiest Foods

Leta Shy — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:46:08 PST

Collectively, we really love our salt. We eat so much more than we should, often because of high levels of sodium hiding in many of our favorite foods. A new report released by the Centers For Disease Control identifies the top 10 saltiest foods, and some may surprise you.

Paying attention to the amount of salt hidden in your food is important because too much sodium in your diet can lead to diseases like hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. The recommended daily intake of salt is 1,500 milligrams to 2,300 milligrams (about a teaspoon), depending on your risk factors. But most Americans (about 90 percent of us) eat more than 3,300 milligrams a day. Want to know which foods are the worst to eat if you're watching your salt intake? Read the list below.

The 10 saltiest foods are:

Snacks like potato chips, popcorn, and pretzels
Meatloaf and other "meat-mixed" dishes
Pasta dishes
Cheese
Cheeseburgers and sandwiches

Read on for the top five saltiest foods.

5 Healthy Reasons to Eat Valentine's Day Chocolate

Leta Shy — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:07:13 PST

It's almost Valentine's Day, and that may mean you've got chocolate on your mind. Though you may be fearing the amount of calories in those heart-shaped boxes, there are many reasons to love Valentine's Day sweet treats. In fact, here are five healthy reasons to eat dark chocolate.

It helps you exercise longer: A recent study found that eating a tiny amount of dark chocolate before a workout helps fight fatigue, which means you can go that much further during your workout. The amount that worked in the study was tiny - just half a square, but if it's good quality chocolate, a small square will go a long way.
It's stress-relieving: And not just when you're PMSing. A study found that when highly stressed participants ate an ounce and a half of dark chocolate (the equivalent of a Hershey's bar) a day for two weeks, the level of stress hormones in their bodies, dropped significantly. While eating a candy bar a day can contribute to a whole new set of stresses if you're watching your weight, it's nice to know that dark chocolate has a measurable effect on stress levels.

Read on for three more reasons to eat dark chocolate.

6 Ways You're Hurting Your Heart and Don't Know It

FitSugar — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:33:03 PST

February is all about hearts, and not just because of Valentine's Day. In the spirit of Heart Health Month, we're taking a look at some of the harmful health patterns that may be affecting your ticker. You think you're doing something good for your body, but what if that's not the case? From unsafe sips to sleeping late, here are six habits to avoid in order to improve your heart health.

Get Heart Healthy With Just 30 Minutes of Exercise a Week

Heather Dale — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:37:26 PST

Don't just sit there! A little exercise goes a long way. A recent study led by the Population Health Research Institute at McMaster University in Canada found that just 30 minutes of exercise a week can lower the risk of a heart attack by about 30 percent. Fighting heart disease might not be your biggest concern, but the power of even a bit of physical activity is certainly motivating.

The study followed over 24,000 men and women of all ages, from 52 countries, and compared the work and exercise habits of the participants, 10,043 of which had already experienced a heart attack and the other 14,217 had no history of cardiovascular disease. The research found that any level of physical activity can lower the risk. The data, which made its way into the European Heart Journal this week, notes how the risk drops 13 percent for mild activity like yoga or slow walking, 24 percent for moderate activity like biking, and 30 percent for more strenuous physical activity like running. Surprisingly, the percentage didn't increase if the duration of physical activity went up - although 30 to 60 minutes of exercise a week was the sweet spot - which can be spread out over each day.

Now we all know how good exercise is for our overall health, which is why it's important to make sure you are exercising at least 60 minutes each week. And if you are looking to lose and maintain a certain weight, you'll want to engage in moderate exercise for five days a week. And by moderate, I mean "slightly breathless," making sure you get your heart rate up.

Too Much Vitamin D Can Be Harmful For Your Ticker

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:49:16 PST

In the Summer, we don't need to worry about getting enough vitamin D since we spend so much time in the sun. When cold weather blows in, most of our skin is covered and we spend less time outdoors, so doctors often recommend taking vitamin D supplements. Before you start popping capsules, be warned that a recent study presented at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association shows too much vitamin D can be dangerous for your heart.

When higher than normal levels of vitamin D are found in the blood, it can cause your heart to beat too fast and out of rhythm, a condition known as atrial fibrillation. Taking supplements doesn't automatically put you at risk since people absorb them differently, but high levels of vitamin D only happen in people who take supplements. That means if you do take over-the-counter Vitamin D, it's important to have your blood tested to make sure your levels are within a healthy range (41 to 80 nanograms per deciliter). Also talk with your doctor about the dosage that's right for you.

The RDI of vitamin D for healthy adults is 600 IU (15 micrograms). You can skip the supplements (and the risk to your heart) by making sure to get your fill of vitamin D-rich foods such as milk, soy milk, salmon, tuna, egg yolks, and cheese. For more sources, check out this list of 10 common foods high in vitamin D.