Want to Live 10 Years Longer?
Take Our American Heart Month Challenge!
People have been looking for the Fountain of Youth — or another immortality-granting body of water — for thousands of years. According to the History channel, the quest dates back to Alexander the Great, who supposedly came across a “healing river of paradise’” in the fourth century B.C. that travelers have been looking for ever since. But recent research uncovered something that might be surprising: The secret to a longer life has been inside us all along. According to a 2018 study published by the American Heart Association Journal, you only have to do five things in order to live 12–14 more years. 1. Eat a healthy diet. 2. Do at least 30 minutes of “moderate to vigorous” physical activity per day. 3. Maintain a healthy body mass index (BMI). 4. Drink alcohol only in moderation. 5. Steer clear of cigarettes.
GREEN GODDESS SMOOTHIE Because February is American Heart Month, we have a challenge for you: Spend the next four weeks focusing on point No. 3 on the list above. This is more important right now than ever because COVID-19 and gym closures have made us all more sedentary. By ramping up your daily exercise, you can really improve your heart health, and you might even add more than 10 years to your life! Your exercise regimen can include anything that gets your heart rate up: running, lifting weights, These five things are pretty simple, and you probably learned them in school, but it’s amazing how they positively impact our race against death in general, and specifically, cancer and heart disease. The latter is particularly impressive because heart disease is a huge problem here in America: 1 in 4 people will die from it, and it kills someone every 36 seconds. Inspired by AmbitiousKitchen.com
walking around the block, doing yardwork, or even playing with your pets.
If you haven’t been exercising because muscle aches, joint pain, or some other issue makes it uncomfortable, our team of physical therapists can help. Before you take our challenge, come in for a checkup. We’ll diagnose your problem, get you on the road to recovery, and put you back on track for a healthy heart and a long life. Call our clinic today at 949.709.8770 to get started.
HAVE A LAUGH
If you’re looking to get your green on, why not try this light smoothie?
Ingredients
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1 1/2 cups fresh organic spinach
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1 1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 tbsp chia seeds
1/2 medium avocado
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1 organic apple, peeled and chopped
1 medium frozen banana
Directions
1. In a large, high-powered blender, add in all ingredients. 2. Blend on high for 1–2 minutes, or until all ingredients are well combined. 3. If necessary, add in more almond milk to thin the smoothie. 4. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Focus Physical Therapy • Call 949.709.8770 • 3
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