GiveYour Heart aWorkout
So You Can Feel the Love
risk of heart disease — it can reduce fat and create leaner muscle. In combination with aerobic exercise, resistance training may also raise good cholesterol and lower bad cholesterol. Try to do some form of it at least two days per week using free weights, weight machines, resistance bands, or body-resistance exercises like pushups and situps. FLEXIBILITY AND BALANCE Stretching doesn’t directly contribute to heart health, but it does benefit musculoskeletal health. If you can stay flexible, fight joint pain, and reduce cramping and other muscular issues, then your body has more capacity for aerobic exercise and resistance training. A good foundation enables you to do the exercises that directly help your heart, so it’s important to stretch before and after every time you exercise. Dozens of stretches and balance exercises are at your disposal, and tai chi or yoga can advance these skills.
Everyone knows that exercising regularly is one of the keys to a healthy and happy heart. But exercise comes in many forms, so how do you know what’s best for giving your heart the workout it deserves? Research shows that these types of exercises come out on top. AEROBIC EXERCISE This is the type of exercise that really gets your heart pumping. That means it improves circulation, which in turn lowers your blood pressure and resting heart rate. It also increases your cardiac output, or how well your heart pumps. You should aim to do aerobic exercises for a total of at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Running, swimming, cycling, jumping rope, and participating in fast-paced team sports like soccer and basketball are great options. RESISTANCE TRAINING Also known as strength work, resistance training more specifically affects body composition. For people carrying a lot of body fat — and a higher
Combine this fitness with proper diet and reduced stress, and you’ll be on your way to a healthy heart so you can spread the love this Valentine’s Day!
SUCCESS STORIES
“There are a lot of choices for physical therapy. After having a very positive experience with ProPT after my knee surgery, there was no doubt where I would go after my a total hip replacement surgery. Dr. Patt and all the therapists are amazing at guiding, directing, and pushing for a complete return to full activities. Within three months, I am able to do more than I could before and already look forward to skiing again this year.”
Easy Shrimp Scampi
Make date night simple with this easy shrimp scampi recipe.
Ingredients
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4 tbsp butter 4 tbsp olive oil
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1/2 cup dry white wine 1/4 cup lemon juice 8 oz cooked linguine
–Bill Wright
1 tbsp minced garlic 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/4 cup parsley
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1/2 tsp oregano
Directions 1. In a skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tbsp of butter with 2 tbsp of olive oil. Add garlic and cook for 2 minutes. 2. Add shrimp and oregano, stirring frequently until shrimp is pink. Remove shrimp from skillet. 3. Add wine and lemon juice to skillet and bring the mixture to a boil. 4. Stir in remaining butter and olive oil and cook until butter is melted. 5. Add cooked shrimp to skillet and cook for 1 minute, stirring occasionally. 6. In a serving bowl, top cooked linguine with shrimp mixture. Garnish with parsley and serve.
“My experience with ProPT was incredible. I came in with severe back pain after a spinal fusion five years prior. A CT scan revealed a bulging disc and disc degenerative disease. The treatment was highly effective in healing my back and relieving my pain. Their program was quite different from previous places I have been, and it works! May God bless this team.”
–Joan Loud
Inspired by The Blond Cook
Professional Physical Therapy | 508-528-6100 • 3
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