The Metropolis of Johannesburg’s Activity and Recreation hosted the Balanced Way of life Programme, #CyaZeeVocaVoca, at the Paterson Park Multipurpose Centre in Norwood on Saturday, February 12, 2022.
With a DJ on website, ear-blasting songs poured from the speakers, and the air of the Norwood neighborhood was loaded with young children’s squeals of enjoyment as they indulged in adrenalin-packed conditioning things to do.
The Norwood neighborhood pulled out all the stops to organise the most intriguing and energetic #CyaZeeVocaVoca Nutritious Life style Programme in 2022.
Dressed in grey Metropolis of Johannesburg branded sporting activities t-shirts with matching white caps, the enthusiastic kids played indigenous online games, when many some others took component in demanding and perfectly-coordinated sporting codes these kinds of as netball, basketball, 6 a facet, tennis and other recreational routines such as painting.
“I feel fortuitous to be a aspect of this programme considering that basketball is my favorite activity and there are not quite a few programmes that cater to woman basketball gamers,” claimed Angel Oguegbunam, Team South Africa player.
“Basketball, I feel, is my most liberating activity exactly where I present males that girls are not helpless. I reveal to them that a woman can be as solid as, if not, additional effective than a person,” she included.
Sport and Recreation has been functioning to maintain the people of the Metropolis of Joburg engaged in activity and leisure things to do at its amenities, and the the vast majority of residents use the City’s services to workout, continue to be match and healthy. #CyaZeeVocaVoca Wholesome Life-style is a programme was produced to expose people today to a healthful life style and to instruct them why it is important to live a healthier lifestyle.
“The advantages of living a healthy life-style incorporate discovering about our overall health and comprehending what need to go into our bodies. Exercising can also be very pleasurable and social,” said Tondi Davhana, the mentor of Alexandra Basketball Club “It is vital for children to understand that primary a balanced life-style minimises the threat of creating daily life-threatening health problems that strike our people today in the city,” he continued.
Physical inactivity may well indirectly add to obesity-relevant malignancies (which make up 40{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of all cancers identified). Childhood obesity is linked to an enhanced threat of obesity, premature mortality, and disability in adulthood. Mothers and fathers and guardians require to guarantee that their youngsters are physically lively and make nutritious foods and beverage choices.
Far more #CyaZeeVocaVoca Healthy Lifestyle programmess will be held during the yr. The organisers adopted all the Covid-19 polices by web hosting the programme outside the house with social distancing, capping the selection of participants at 250, and necessitating members to wear masks upon coming into the facility. Ahead of getting into the premises, participants’ temperatures ended up taken sanitisers have been laid out on the fields and distribute all through the facility.
“This event was mind blowing and all credit history has to be supplied to the Activity and Recreation workforce as they extremely perfectly to provide the #CyaZeeVocaVoca programme in a perfectly-coordinated method,” stated function organiser Dipuo Chauke.
“With the support of our stakeholders, the Department of Co-operative Governance and Conventional Affairs, Section of wellbeing, Virgin Lively and the South African Countrywide Council on Alcoholism, we were in a position to greatly enhance the programme and for that we are grateful,” she added.
Anti-hypertensive drug use in combination with a healthier life-style is involved with the finest reduction in all will cause of demise
The use of anti-hypertensive medications when merged with nutritious lifestyle measures appears to be the most effective system to reduce all-induce and result in-unique mortality. This is according to a study by Chinese researchers from the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Community Health, Huazhong College of Science and Technological innovation, Hubei, China.
For the current examine, the Chinese crew examined the romance in between anti-hypertensive use and life style actions and the impact of this on all-bring about and trigger-precise mortality among the hypertensive patients. They utilized data from the Dongfeng-Tongji cohort, which prospectively adopted hypertensive patients for a median of 7.3 yrs. The staff assessed precise way of living elements together with human body mass index, using tobacco position, food plan, physical action and sleep period and computed an in general life style rating centered on these five attributes, with higher scores (ranging from to 10) indicating a much healthier lifestyle. In addition, members were being categorised into the pursuing subgroups: favourable way of living (scores 8 – 10), intermediate (5- 7) and unfavourable ( – 4). The use of anti-hypertensive medicine was dichotomised into sure or no.
Anti-hypertensive use and subsequent mortality
A whole of 14,392 members with a imply age of 65.6 many years (50.6{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} male) employing anti-hypertensive medicines had been integrated in the analysis. In excess of a median of 7.3 a long time, there had been 2015 deaths including 761 owing to cardiovascular condition and 525 from cancer. Using folks not making use of anti-hypertensives and pursuing an unfavourable life-style as the reference group, people applying anti-hypertensives and with a favourable lifestyle experienced the cheapest risk of all-result in mortality (hazard ratio, HR = .32, 95{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} CI .25 – .42). This was also legitimate for cardiovascular mortality (HR = .33) and death owing to most cancers (HR = .30).
Curiously, when utilizing the very same reference team, people today who had been not applying anti-hypertensives but adopted a favourable life style, also experienced a decrease possibility of all-trigger mortality (HR = .34), cardiovascular (HR = .40) and most cancers mortality (HR = .33). In reality, there was a linear association with way of life score and mortality, these kinds of that irrespective or anti-hypertensive medicine use, every 1-stage raise in lifestyle score was related with a 17{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} decreased threat of all-trigger mortality, with similar reductions for cardiovascular and most cancers deaths.
There was also a lessened mortality chance by the adoption of way of living steps soon after a diagnosis of hypertension. For example, compared to people with a continuously reduced way of living rating between baseline and the to start with follow-up, individuals who instigated a adjust in lifestyle score from lower to significant also had a noticeably lessened hazard for all-bring about (HR = .52), cardiovascular (HR = .53) mortality whilst the decreased danger of most cancers mortality was non-important.
The authors concluded that the merged outcome of anti-hypertensive treatment and adoption of a nutritious lifestyle resulted in a significantly lessened hazard of all and certain result in mortality.
A desperate housewife, she is something but, as at 46 yrs outdated, Eva Longoria is the epitome of class, class, and health and fitness. The former soapie actress has graced our screens for more than 20 several years and irrespective of how considerably time has passed, one particular factor that stays the very same is her dedication to a nutritious way of life. So, what can we master from the Devious Maids producer when it will come to healthy residing?
Eva Longoria’s Wellness Secrets at 46
1. She prefers salty snacks over sugary treats
Talking to Women’s Health and fitness, the Brooklyn 9-9 actress uncovered that when it arrives to her snacking habits, she prefers salty of sweet, “I do not like sweets or chocolate, and individuals hate me for it. Bread too—I dislike bread. I’m never tempted by the breadbasket,” she described. Alternatively, she prefers olives, pretzels, popcorn, and potato chips.
evalongoria/instagram
Now, although we don’t suggest indulging much too substantially in popcorn and potato chips, olives and pretzels are a fantastic snacking possibility as they’re each very low in energy and olives are loaded in a amount of vitamins and minerals, notably vitamin A and iron.
2. Work out to cope
When it comes to performing exercises, quite a few folks credit rating its effects on our physical health and fitness, nonetheless many usually disregard the outcomes it can have on our mental health. Luckily, Eva Longoria is not one of these people.
“I truly operate out for my mental wellness,” she states, incorporating that she utilizes 60-75 minutes of her working day to focus on going her physique.
3. An avid jumper
If you’re curious about how Eva Longoria stays active, a person of her preferred ways is to jump on the trampoline, telling Women’s Health and fitness, “It makes me present. You genuinely have to target on the plan and memorize the actions. They switch sides a great deal, which can toss you off, so you have to be on top of it. I love that.”
4. Make time for me time
If there’s one factor Longoria thinks in, it’s me-time. As these kinds of, she will make absolutely sure to meditate just about every working day, at times for 5 minutes, from time to time for 20.
evalongoria/instagram
What is a lot more, she and her good friends a short while ago signed up for a 21-working day guided meditation the place they’ll be creating down their ideas, introducing that “It’s so terrific, mainly because when you do it with your tribe, it’s far better you can be far more accountable,” she states.
5. Keep track of your slumber
Snooze is essential, and you will need to make guaranteed that you are having more than enough of it. A single way to make sure this is by monitoring your rest.
Longoria shared with Women’s Wellness that shewears an Oura Ring, which works by using skin temperature and motion sensors to measure the duration and good quality of her snooze.
A further way in which Longoria manages her snooze styles is by guaranteeing that she does not have as well a lot wine with her evening meal, in which she then shares an appealing anecdote about a well-known Cuban singer,
“I hardly ever utilised to experience a sugar hurry when I would drink wine. But 1 working day, Gloria Estefan told me she cannot consume wine due to the fact she wakes up at 4 a.m. The day she told me that, it started happening to me.”
6. An intermittent speedier
Intermittent fasting is a preferred among a variety of superstars, these as Jennifer Aniston and Kate Hudson.
Eva Longoria is also an intermittent quicker, indicating that she ordinarily eats inside an eight-hour window each working day, often 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
evalongoria/instagram
“Breakfast is black espresso,” she suggests, followed by her producing breakfast for her family. She admits that in some cases she’ll have a chunk of her son’s breakfast, usually if it aligns with her fasting agenda.
6. Plant-centered warrior
A nutritional behavior that we can learn from the actress is to action back again from processed food items and try to eat food items that expand from the floor,
“I’ve been dabbling with additional plant-primarily based elements,” Eva suggests. She shares that rising up on a ranch gave her such an appreciation for in which foods comes from and a single of her preferred foods is beans, declaring that “Beans are a big supply of protein for us. I love building portobello tacos, jackfruit tacos, and cauliflower fried rice.”
Main Picture Credit score: evalongoria/instagram
Want to know more?
In a environment the place social media appearances appear to be to be the new currency, Alicia Keys is having a new strategy. The 15-time Grammy award-winner is below to remind us that inspite of what our Instagram feeds might try out to convince us, we’re all stunning, no subject our model or entire body form.
With the Covid-19 pandemic getting into its 3rd yr, the odds to create a stability in professional and particular lives proceeds and girls are dealing with the brunt of it much more savagely, be it at residence or in place of work courtesy the extensive perform hrs along with family obligations and domestic chores with absence of social interactions. As a final result, girls are compromising on their well being, not realizing the extensive phrase affect.
Brushing apart the gloomy circumstance in an job interview with HT Way of living, Dr Anjali Kumar, Founder of Maitri Woman’s Health and fitness lifted spirits by featuring, “40s is the new 20s. Ladies really should embrace this interval entirely as by now they have knowledgeable each and every thoughts of their lives. It’s essential that they should really now give priority to their wellbeing 1st.”
Overall health recommendations for girls above 40:
Dr Anjali Kumar recommended, “Begin your working day with a balanced breakfast. In no way skip your breakfast as experiments have also recommended that women who consume breakfast shed more excess weight and maintain their loss additional successfully than those on a low-carb food plan. Really do not pass up out on your exercising. It’s will have to to include in any kind of actual physical action for at the very least 50 {fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} an hour.”
Asserting that this is the time when gals ought to pay back awareness to their bones, Dr Anjali Kumar explained, “Give them a enhance with calcium and vitamin D which you can get obviously from foods. Don’t forget to program your critical overall health examine-ups which include breast most cancers and cervical cancer.”
Emphasizing on the will need for women of all ages, particularly these over 40 yrs of age, to continue on with regime test ups with their gynaecologist to detect any sinister diseases they may be harbouring just before the predicament receives out of hand, Dr Ritu Sethi, Senior Consultant – Gynaecology at Cloud Nine Clinic in Gurgaon reported, “The most important of this is the yearly mammography which is a specialised X-ray of the breast carried out to detect modest lumps or nodules which may not even be detected by normal self -examination. The mammogram is a straightforward check, inexpensive and carried out at most diagnostic centres and need to be carried out every year in all women of all ages over the age of 40 decades.”
She also instructed that a regimen pelvic examination along with a Pap smear should be performed routinely. “The pelvic assessment alongside with ultrasound, will detect some cancers of the feminine genital tract like ovarian cancers which are silent killers are typically are detected after the disorder has unfold extensively. A Pap smear is one more exam suggested for all females as it can detect cervical most cancers in the precancerous stages by itself. All over again it is a affordable, easy to carry out and very simple tests carried out by the gynaecologist,” Dr Ritu Sethi certain.
It is significant right here to note that most feminine cancers like breast, ovarian and cervical most cancers are typically detected at late levels and if a girls is undergoing routine check out ups with her gynaecologist, these cancers can be detected at an early stage when they are thoroughly curable. For this reason, Dr Ritu Sethi warned, “Women begin losing their bone density thoroughly right after 40, which is why program bone densitometry is advised for all women of all ages right after 40 yrs. Other than this, regimen assessments like blood sugar, lipid profile and thyroid investigations are also recommended for all gals to screen for onset of way of life issues like hypertension and form 2 diabetes which, if not dealt with in time, can direct to stroke and myocardial infarctions later on on in life.”
Echoing the same, Dr Akta Bajaj, Senior Advisor and Head- Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals, explained, “Annual mammograms are recommended for women of all ages more than the age of 40 to detect breast most cancers in its early phases. The similar is real for coronary heart condition: a calcium examination can expose whether the arteries are beginning to harden and regardless of whether a female calls for key way of life adjustments or medicine.”
She extra, “Women around 40 ought to also enhance their calcium and vitamin D consumption to strengthen the wellbeing of their bones. Regular eye exams should really also be carried out in order to rectify any refractive glitches. A diet loaded in anti-oxidants, nutritional vitamins, and minerals, this sort of as fruits and veggies, may perhaps help to lessen vision decline. It is really a great idea to look at blood stress, cholesterol, blood sugar, and system excess weight around the age of 40.”
Highlighting that we develop into a lot less versatile as we turn into older, Dr Akta Bajaj recommended that incorporating yoga or Pilates into a every day schedule can assistance improve overall flexibility, core energy, stability, and so forth. and advisable that ingesting less calories can assistance you feel better when metabolic rate slows about the age of 40.
The medical doctors stressed that if way of life and nutritional modifications are completed properly in time, many of these lifestyle disorders can be handled early hence, avoiding the long term wellbeing issues arising from these conditions. They insisted that it is crucial for girls to realise the great importance of consulting their gynaecologist regularly and carrying out appropriate investigations higher than the age of 40 many years.
Comprehending your cholesterol can just take a minimal do the job, but it’s a great thought to fully grasp. In accordance to the Centers for Disease Command and Avoidance, extra than a person-third of Us citizens have higher cholesterol.
Cholesterol is a organic material that is produced predominately in the liver and is essential for healthier perform. It assists to build new cells, and produces necessary nutritional vitamins and hormones for your overall body. Cholesterol does not just float close to in your blood it is carried as a result of your entire body by lipoproteins. You have most likely read of these referred to as lower-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and superior-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C).
Lipoproteins & Cholesterol Transportation
“I like to assume of lipoproteins as tiny boats that transportation cholesterol about your body,” explained Ryan Reeser, DO, a resident medical professional at coronary heart-healthful food items like fruits, greens, lean protein and beans, full grains and healthful fat.
Dr. Reeser encourages people to prioritize lean protein and fiber in their food planning. Reducing liquid calories such as soda and sweetened espresso drinks is also practical.
2. Work out Every single Working day
In accordance to Dr. Reeser, a healthier diet regime and everyday exercising are the two most significant things you can do to continue to keep your cholesterol ranges in the goal ranges. “Exercise and diet work alongside one another to increase your cholesterol amounts, and have lots of other wellbeing advantages,” he said. Goal for 30 minutes of intentional, reasonable to vigorous exercising most times.
3. Quit Smoking
Smoking cigarettes can injury your blood vessel partitions, producing it less difficult for plaque to construct up. The good news is, quitting can help. Analysis released in the American Heart Journal located that people who smoke who stop enhanced their healthful cholesterol ranges, even although they obtained fat. Discuss to your overall health treatment service provider for means if you have to have enable quitting.
4. Limit Drinks to A single a Day
Moderate consuming – up to one particular consume a day – is fine as section of a healthier diet regime (sorry, no preserving up for the weekend). Even so, ingesting much too considerably can have a negative impact on triglycerides and blood force, reported Dr. Reeser. Even with its coronary heart-healthful track record, wine is not advised by the American Coronary heart Association for its wellbeing added benefits, so really don’t use that as an justification to pour a second glass.
5. Add Muscle, Lose Fat
If your objective is to strengthen your overall overall health, concentration on physical exercises that establish muscle mass and minimize excess fat, recommended Dr. Reeser.
“The variety on the scale only tells element of the story. It is really about dropping body fat,” he reported. “If you now stroll or do other cardio training, include energy coaching to your regime. You may well not see a big fall on the scale but your entire body composition will adjust and you are going to be healthier.”
Speak to your health and fitness treatment provider if you need to have support with weight decline or exercise and are not absolutely sure the place to start off.
You really don’t have to wait to make way of living improvements. If your cholesterol concentrations are at present within your goal array, Dr. Reeser noted that adopting these routines now will hold you balanced perfectly into your senior many years.
When Way of living Isn’t More than enough
For some, lifestyle improvements could not be sufficient and cholesterol-reducing treatment identified as a statin may perhaps be a consideration.
“A statin has the double benefit of decreasing LDL cholesterol and lowering over-all swelling in the body,” reported Dr. Reeser. “These medicine can reduce your overall danger of a cardiovascular occasion drastically.”
Your wellbeing treatment service provider can speak to you about the challenges and benefits of statins and no matter whether you are a good applicant.
“A blend of way of life and medicine can make the most important affect for people today who are at a superior threat from cardiovascular condition,” mentioned Dr. Reeser. “Implementing these variations now can have a large profit on your quality of everyday living in the long run.”
Just take our coronary heart threat assessment to study more about your threat for heart sickness.
Get enable conference your health aims – come across a health care provider around you.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s mortality data from 2020. And, February is American Heart Month, where the U.S. highlights the implications of heart disease.
On a global scale, cardiac arrest kills more people than the collective deaths caused by colorectal, breast and prostate cancer, influenza, pneumonia, automobile accidents, HIV, firearm incidents, and house fires combined, according to the American Heart Association.
Due to the hecticness of college life in which Penn State students need to focus on homework assignments, internships and independent living, many students said they pay minimal attention to their heart health.
For Kylie George, she said she hardly focuses on preventative measures to help her future health.
“I don’t think it’s something a lot of people really think about,” George (senior-English) said. “So I don’t think there’s a big effort made by a lot of people our age.”
However, she said students should improve their heart health awareness — in terms of how their actions consequently impact their bodies — and attempt to improve their daily behaviors.
“It’s never a bad thing to be aware of what you’re doing and how that can impact your overall health, especially your heart health,” George said. “It’s good to be aware now and be preventative — if at all possible — at our age because a lot of people get to [a] point when they’re older and say, ‘Oh, I wish I had done this and that when I was younger.’”
George said the main way she maintains her health is through her daily walks around campus to get from class to class.
Maintaining an active lifestyle can improve one’s heart health due to lowered blood pressure, improved blood circulation throughout the body and reduced stress levels, according to the American Heart Association.
Research from the University of Michigan Health highlights the benefits of consistent walking, since it’s a form of aerobic exercise.
“A lot of people our age do a lot of walking,” George said. “But that’s not even really by choice or done in an effort to be healthy.”
Since George lives a decent distance away from campus, she said she walks approximately 30 minutes each day to get on campus alone — not including the time it takes to travel to the necessary buildings.
Although participating in daily exercise for approximately 30 minutes to an hour a day aids people’s physical and mental well-being, a Johns Hopkins Medicine article said people should not solely rely on periods of exercise and instead increase their overall hourly activity.
In fact, Johns Hopkins Medicine said people’s health would benefit from less sedentary behavior as a whole.
To do this, the article said people should aim for 10,000 steps a day, five minutes of movement or activity per hour and a minimum of 30 minutes of vigorous exercise throughout the week.
According to a study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, college students typically experience changes in their lifestyle that increase their risk for heart health issues, including cardiovascular disease.
The main lifestyle changes include a decline in activity levels and an increase in sedentary behavior — along with worsened sleep, eating patterns and stress levels.
A 2019 NCBI study found that decreased or poor sleep schedules increase students’ risks of being stressed, overweight and having higher blood pressure.
High blood pressure, without interference by medical professionals and lifestyle changes, can lead to increased risk for “heart disease, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease, pregnancy complications and cognitive decline,” according to the CDC.
Although George has never taken a first-aid or CPR course in the past, she said she finds the skills to be “very helpful” to know and may look into certification processes in the future.
Immediately performed CPR, which is a lifesaving procedure performed in times of emergency when a person’s heart stops beating, can “double or triple” the likelihood of survival following an incident of cardiac arrest, according to the AHA.
“It’s obviously a good tool to have, especially since so many of us are living with others and out taking care of ourselves without our parents to help with everything,” George said.
MORE LIFESTYLE CONTENT
It’s not every day that artwork from the European Renaissance finds its way to State College.
Kareena Pandya, who currently serves on the diversity and health care task force within Penn State’s pre-medicine honor society Alpha Epsilon Delta, said people should begin considering their heart health early and learning how to approach heart issues.
Beyond taking personal measures to prevent heart disease, Pandya (freshman-genetics and developmental biology) said early access and certification in CPR is “super duper” important today because individuals can be better prepared for any situation that develops.
Pandya said Campus Recreation is an American Red Cross Authorized Provider for safety courses like American Red Cross Adult CPR/AED and First Aid, which teaches participants how to appropriately respond to emergencies regarding cardiac issues, breathing or general first aid.
“Before I got started, I thought it would take months [to learn CPR] and would be a long windy process to get certified [and] understand all the different nuances to the actual technique,” Pandya said. “But in reality, it actually only takes a couple hours to learn and perform.”
She said students and community members have an array of CPR certification resources available to them across campus — even through programs offered through Penn State’s Kinesiology Department.
“A lot of different demographic groups and ethnicity groups have different risk factors for heart disease compared to others,” Pandya said. “I think if you couple that with [the] lack of proper health care access that they have, then that can also contribute to heart health [outcomes] overall.”
For instance, Pandya said Indians are “three to 20 times at higher risk of developing heart disease compared to other demographics,” and she said other minoritized groups are also disproportionately affected.
“I would say a healthy heart is central to overall good health,” Pandya said. “Embracing a healthy lifestyle at any age — no matter if you’re a college student or older — can really help you in taking the preventative steps toward heart disease and lowering your risk for both heart attack and stroke.”
Pandya said college students go through a period of adjusting when transitioning to college life due to their new environment and routine, and these adjustments can create risks for heart disease.
MORE LIFESTYLE CONTENT
With five weeks of upcoming stand-up shows in the State College area, Wise Crackers Comedy C…
For instance, Pandya said some college students may struggle with maintaining proper sleep schedules, physical fitness regimes or dietary decisions — all of which can increase one’s risk for heart disease.
“Some major lifestyle choices that college students can make toward improving their heart health for the future would be decreasing their use of tobacco, cannabis and alcohol consumption,” Pandya said.
Pandya said exposure to secondhand smoke acts as a significant contributor toward coronary artery disease, which she described as a “very, very significant heart disease within our society.”
Beyond these limitations, Pandya said students could take preventative measures by monitoring their blood pressure levels and educating themselves about their family medical history, especially heart history, so they can “make better and more appropriate lifestyle changes.”
In terms of her own personal health, Pandya said she tries to complete physical activity at the on-campus gym at least twice a week and simply increases her fitness by walking to class rather than taking the bus.
When selecting meals at Penn State’s dining halls, Pandya said she keeps in mind Michelle Obama’s “MyPlate” dietary guidelines that help people balance their carbohydrates, proteins, vegetable, fruit and dairy intakes.
To maintain one’s health, many doctors promote healthy diets composed of “fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and low-fat dairy products,” according to the CDC.
Foods containing high levels of omega-3 fatty acids — which is commonly found in fish like salmon and tuna — also aids heart health, according to research conducted by the AHA.
Consumption of nuts like almonds, walnuts and pecans is known to lower one’s risk for cardiovascular disease due to the high amounts of healthy fats, proteins and fibers within the products, according to the AHA.
Although the costs of healthy food can limit some students’ purchases, Pandya said she’s found many dining locations on and off campus that provide reasonable heart-healthy food options, such as Roots Natural Kitchen and Playa Bowls.
She said the a la carte food locations within on-campus dining locations, such as Bowls @ South and In a Pickle, allow students to choose exactly what they will eat for the day — unlike the buffets where food is already prepared in its entirety.
Pandya said she especially enjoys eating at In a Pickle because she can choose how many vegetables are in her meal and whether she wants to use wheat or white bread, which are decisions that “help make sure you’re getting proper nutrition.”
After finishing a workout at the gym, Pandya said Shake Smart is another dining location that consistently offers healthy food options for the student body.
Since stress is a contributor to heart disease as well, Pandya said she attempts to minimize her anxiety by listening to music and participating in yoga, which helps “bring [her] back to [her] center.”
Pandya said students should consult with their primary care doctor about methods to improve and monitor their heart health if they’re interested in undergoing a lifestyle change.
Kelsey Eckerd, a student involved in Penn State’s chapter of the American Medical Student Association, said many factors impact heart health — some controllable and some not.
“I don’t think college students really think about heart health unless they have some sort of medical condition,” Eckerd (senior-biology) said.
MORE LIFESTYLE CONTENT
While I enjoy going to counter-service breakfast and lunch spots in downtown State College l…
Nevertheless, Eckerd said college students can begin monitoring and considering how their daily behaviors affect their current and future health.
Eckerd said college students have access to a wide range of health-related programs and resources that they’ll likely never have access to later in life — at least not in such breadth.
“For college students, this is probably the only time in [their] life that [they] have access to a free gym and free workout classes, so take advantage of that while you’re here,” Eckerd said.
While attending Penn State, Eckerd said she utilizes the free workout classes at the Intramural Building to achieve her recommended amount of exercise each week.
Penn State also has the Nutrition Clinic that provides free, individual nutrition counseling provided by a registered dietitian, according to the Nutrition Clinic website.
“It’s easier to start a [healthy lifestyle] now rather than after you graduate and are truly on your own,” Eckerd said. “It’s easier to start with the safety net of college, that way when you’ve [graduated], you know how to do it yourself.”
She said an easy modification college students can make is being more aware of their alcohol consumption.
“Obviously it’s pretty characteristic to be a heavy drinker in college, but if that continues throughout your life, it could increase your heart rate and blood pressure over time,” Eckerd said.
A study conducted by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health discovered individuals who engage in binge-drinking behaviors were 72{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} more likely to have a heart attack than their counterparts who didn’t participate in the behavior.
Eckerd said college students could also work to make their daily meals more nutritious by considering different add-ins or substitutions that could be made.
To enhance her dinners from Trader Joe’s, Eckerd said she adds her own proteins and vegetables into the frozen food products to make them more healthy.
Eckerd said students should also be aware of the training programs available to them.
Beyond CPR certification, Eckerd said students should look into automated external defibrillator training because AEDs provide users with “verbal cues” on what to do for the victim, and they’re required in every building.
Mariella Dixson, who is also a member of AMSA, said learning CPR and AED is “smart” because “you never know if you could be in an [emergency] situation,” and by learning basic medical protocols “you could be able to help someone.”
Dixson (senior-biobehavioral health) said choosing heart-healthy lifestyle choices while in college can make it easier to continue those behaviors at an older age.
“A lot of people will at least eat fruits and vegetables semi-regularly, so that’s better than nothing,” Dixson said. “There’s no point in doing cold turkey [diets] or jumping right into new routines because you’re not going to be consistent [with major adjustments].”
If students hope to implement heart-healthy behaviors into their lives, Dixson said they should make “attainable goals” that could slowly be met — like adding a certain amount of fruits or vegetables to one’s diet each week.
“A lot of college students — I’m sure — love pasta because it’s a very easy meal to make,” Dixson said. “But what I started doing was adding a bunch of cooked vegetables into my pasta dinners, [which] was a [simple] way to start adding in various vegetables to [my diet].”
Dixon said making small changes during young adulthood is essential.
“Establishing those patterns while you’re younger will most likely make it easier to continue [making heart-healthy decisions] when you get older and are more at risk for disease.”
MORE LIFESTYLE CONTENT
In the early morning, Penn State students scramble through snow and ice to 8 a.m. classes in…
If you’re interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor, click here.
