Exercise & Heart Health

There are many great reasons to exercise! Whether you’re changing your physical appearance, wanting to feel stronger or just simply feel healthier the bonus is, all these reasons will also help improve your cardiovascular health!
Exercise, while promoting weight loss, helps to reduce blood pressure. It can also reduce the “bad” kind of cholesterol while increasing the “good” kind and helps the body to control blood glucose levels. It only takes 30 minutes or more of moderate intensity exercise to improve the body’s ability to take in and use the oxygen we breathe, improving energy levels. Increased energy means increased blood flow which leads to a healthier heart beat!
The best types of exercise to improve heart health are:
Circuit training: High intensity workouts that allow for short breaks between exercises, such as HIIT classes. Cycling and interval training also works great!
Swimming: Not only does it get the heart pumping, it will also improve strength and is more gentle on your joints.
Weight training: Many over look weight training for heart health, however some suggest it may be just as good, if not better than cardio. Weight training increases blood flow to the active muscles which helps reduce the pressure in the arteries helping to lower blood pressure.
Yoga: Stress and anxiety are one of the biggest causes of cardiovascular issues. Yoga helps to lower stress levels and improves your heart rate, even while you’re relaxed!
Adding exercise to your daily routine, as well as other healthy lifestyle factors can significantly decrease the risk of heart disease. Start small with a brisk walk, and work your way up to more exercise options when you’re feeling you are able to. Your heart and the rest of your body will thank you for it, we promise!