Get Educated on Strokes

Controlling Your Risk

Since strokes are the third leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in America it’s time we got educated.    A stroke is a blockage or rupture of the blood vessels that feed the brain.  Given that it affects blood vessels it is easy to see the connection with high blood pressure and why it is important to control external risks to the disease such as:

• Keeping a healthy blood pressure – know your numbers!
• Maintain a healthy body weight – obesity and a high BMI (body mass index) can heighten your risk.
• Eat a well-balanced diet – with lots of fruits and veggies.
• Beware of high sodium intake – and the hidden places it can lurk – from frozen foods to white bread, to antacids.
• Keep exercising – a good goal is 150 minutes of aerobic exercise each week making sure each muscle group gets attention Read More »

How's Your Heart?

May is High Blood Pressure Awareness Month.  It’s a time when we remind ourselves about the risks to our health from this silent killer.  CalorieKing is not just about dieting, but educating consumers about nutrition and the long-term effects it – and exercise – can have on your health.

Did you know that cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the U.S.?  Have you heard that strokes are the third leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in America?  A key contributor to both is high blood pressure – also known medically as hypertension.  It’s estimated that about 74.5 million people in the U.S. suffer from hypertension and many don’t even know it.  In addition to stroke and heart disease, this one condition is a major risk factor for other health problems such as congestive heart failure, kidney disease, blindness and even sexual impotence. As blood pressure goes up, life expectancy comes down. Read More »

A lot of us struggle with motivation and that nagging plateau or external challenge that gets in the way of our weight loss goals.  I wanted to post a Q&A I had with a fellow CalorieKing member who had an amazing weight loss of 115 lbs. to remind us that there IS light at the end of the tunnel.  Sit back and read the words from “J” – who had two very good reasons to lose weight; when you read his story I hope you’ll remember your reason for losing weight and feel a renewed inspiration towards meeting that goal. Read More »

Did you know there was a week devoted to shining a light on Women’s Health?  National Women’s Health Week starts on Mother’s Day, May 8^th and runs through the 14^th.   It’s a week dedicated towards educating women on the steps they can take to improve their mental and physical health.  What a great way to honor yourself and your mother – by taking care of your health!

It’s a topic I feel very strongly about writing about.  So often as women our mental health can be linked to our physical health.  A low self-esteem can come from not looking or feeling like what we see in the movies or the tabloids.  The pressure to be rail thin and go full tilt through life is a lot to live up to.  Being the champion of everyone else’s needs can make you lose perspective. Read More »

Are you a night owl?  It may be a habit that stuck with you from your days in college, chasing a family, or shift work – but you still find yourself up watching late night and sleeping in just a little too late.  And though you may not want to admit it, you eye that fridge when you are sitting on the couch – and it’s eyeing you right back.  It may be hard, but we have to learn how to resist the late night binges.

A recent study by the Northwestern University Fienberg School of Medicine shows there is a link to sleeping patterns (or circadian rhythms) and eating habits. The study showed that late sleepers consumed 248 more calories a day, twice as much fast food and half as many fruits.  Why this happens, scientists haven’t quite determined – it could be there isn’t a structured meal so there is on-going snacking with poor choices at hand.  There could also be a link to a person’s metabolism and their circadian rhythms not being in synch.  Either way if you are eating late at night these kinds of eating habits can lead to significant weight gain and even obesity over time. Read More »