Baby Boomer Women: Think of Your Heart Health this Valentine’s Day!

By Kathi Casey, ERYT, CPI –

February is the month of hearts and flowers. Every store has heart cakes, valentine shaped cupcakes, pastries – I even saw a macaroni salad the other day tinted pink and in a heart shaped bowl. Yikes!

While people think of loving each other this month and I’m all for that, I’d like to suggest that we also love ourselves enough to forego the red velvet chocolate cake and think about the health of your heart!

fall scents for your home

This article is filled with tips and techniques to keep us Baby Boomer Women vital and healthy, and enjoying life for many years to come!

Heart disease has become the number one killer of women in the US, yet heart disease is preventable; this fact boggles my mind! We are currently the largest demographic in this country and that makes us a force to be reckoned with; it’s time for us Baby Boomer women to take charge of our own health care, regardless of what Congress does! You’ve seen the headlines stating that 60 is the new 40. OK, now let’s make 70 the new 45! Here are a few simple, natural ways to prevent heart disease from controlling our lives:

  • Don’t underestimate the effect of stress on health. Stress is inevitable in today’s fast paced world, but our reaction to it is not. Try laughing your head off. Really! Laughter releases the tension in many stressful situations. Laughing releases endorphins (feel good hormones) in our bodies and endorphins chase away those harmful stress hormones. Plan some time every day to read some good jokes, watch a comedy sketch, or listen to Robin Williams in your car during rush hour. Your heart will thank you.

Here is a link to my favorite ten minute guided relaxation which can also help you beat stress anytime anywhere!

  • Spice up your life! Herbs and spices are rich in antioxidants, low in calories, and they are potent inhibitors of inflammation, which science now believes is one of the top causes of heart disease. Turmeric, cinnamon, and other spices have been used as medicines in India and China for centuries and western science is finally catching up. Some examples:
    • A recent study substantiates that “cumin’s traditional use as a culinary spice in foods is beneficial in combating stress and related disorders.” Another study in 2009 proved cumin’s antioxidant benefits are stronger than that of Vitamin C.
    • As little as a half teaspoon of cinnamon has been shown to significantly reduce blood sugar levels in people with type 2 Diabetes as well as reduce other risk factors associated with heart disease.
    • Nutmeg reduces high blood pressure and increases circulation.
    • Turmeric is high in antioxidants which support your immune system and reduce inflammation.
    • Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties as well.
  • Omega 3 fish oils are amazing anti-inflammatories – ever see a grizzly bear with heart disease? Omega 3’s from cold water fish like salmon, anchovies, herring, tuna, and striped sea bass can significantly reduce high blood pressure and other risk factors for heart disease. So what are you waiting for, pick up some salmon today!

For those of you who really can’t stand the taste of fish, most doctors recommend taking 1000 – 1200 mg. of Omega 3 fish oil supplements a day for optimum heart health.

  • Exercise is not a bad word and doesn’t need to be a chore. Exercise can be fun and can also easily fit into our daily schedules. According to the Mayo clinic, physical activity helps control your weight and can reduce your chances of developing other conditions that may put a strain on your heart, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. It also reduces stress, which can be a factor in heart disease. For us busy Baby Boomers, the Mayo clinic suggests breaking a workout into three, ten minute segments, so:
    • Most of us get a ten minute coffee break in the morning – use it to run downstairs to a bathroom on a lower level and then walk back up and take the long way back to your desk. Or walk fast around the block for ten minutes.
    • Another option is purchasing a head set and walking around your desk while talking on the phone.
    • We Boomer women invented multi-tasking, so it’s second nature to fit exercise into our daily routines. Push-ups are a great way to get the blood pumping and can be done on your knees or forearms if military style is not possible for you. I sometimes do a few push-ups while preparing dinner. Then as I walk around the kitchen getting dishes, spices, etc. I’ll do lunge walks. This is a great workout I can do right in the kitchen, I don’t need to drive to a gym to do it!

Get creative and find as many ways to fit ten minutes of fitness into your schedule as you can, while spicing up your cooking to include these beneficial herbs, so together we can stamp out heart disease in our lifetimes.

 

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2003/12/13/holiday-spices.aspx
http://organicindia.mercola.com/herbal-supplements/turmeric.aspx
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080310164906.htm

 

Kathi Casey, “The Healthy Boomer Body Expert” is a renowned health and wellness coach, popular Baby Boomer columnist, Amazon bestselling author, has appeared on Fox 23, ABC-8 Evening News, and produces her own TV show, “To Your Health.” She’s the founder of The Healthy Boomer Body Center in Massachusetts. Her book “STOP Back Pain” is an Amazon international best seller. Her blog ranked #10 in nursingschools.net list of 50 top Health Blogs. For the last 9 years, she’s been teaching people how to take charge of their own Health Care – Regardless of what Congress does! http://www.HealthyBoomerBody.com

1 thought on “Baby Boomer Women: Think of Your Heart Health this Valentine’s Day!”

  1. Great article and will share it on my FB page…… Eat healthier, live longer…. Heart healthy is Xocai healthy dark chocolate, not a candy but a health food rich in antioxidants, nutrients.. Lose weight, improve health and more. Eat 3 pieces of a day, is equal to 12 servings of fruit and vegetables in antioxidants, nutrients in one day. Remember not all chocolates are created equally!

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Baby Boomer Women: Think of Your Heart Health this Valentine’s Day!
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