subject: Skiing your way to a Healthier Heart [print this page] Skiing your way to a Healthier Heart Skiing your way to a Healthier Heart
It is generally believed that keeping in shape and maintaining a balanced diet is enough to keep one healthy. All types of media coverage have been done to ensure that people preserve their health. Of course our bodies are the only real assets that we have so we have to take care of it.
Muscles need exercise in order to grow, and having bigger muscles usually mean they are stronger. This, however, is not the case for one of the body's most important organs, the heart, which is made up of a specialized type of muscle tissue. It needs to be pliant or flexible in order to accommodate a certain volume of blood, and powerful enough to pump it back out, thus supplying much needed oxygen and nutrients towards the various parts of the body. As with all types of muscles, frequent and excessive use of the heart will make it grow or hypertrophy. But instead of getting stronger, the heart muscle gradually weakens when it grows to a disproportionate size. When the heart grows bigger, it loses its elasticity, thus lessening its capacity to hold a larger volume of blood. It also loses its contractile force, or the strength needed to propel the blood outwards, hence supplying only a small amount of blood to the body. When this happens, bodily functions suffer greatly because the vital organs do not receive its constant supply of nutrients any more. Lesser blood supply to the brain may cause strokes, and renal failure can ensue if the kidneys have a reduced amount of blood flow.
In order to prevent this scenario from happening, we need to take care of our bodies. Of course, a nutritious diet and exercise should be part of everyone's regimen. When buying food, make it a habit to read package labels to keep you from eating oversized portions. Choose foods that are high in fiber and less in sugar and trans fat. Avoid processed meats and prepackaged meals, and instead opt for fresh produce. Also avoid deep-frying if you are cooking at home. A healthier alternative is to bake, grill, or steam foods. Season your dishes with fresh herbs and spices instead of using salt.
If you are exercising, it is best to do it with a partner who can follow your fitness routine and encourage you to do better. Try to keep up with each other and soon you will find that you both are in great shape. A good cardiovascular exercise is running or jogging. For beginners, try alternating between speed walking and jogging at first and then gradually increase your speed as you build up your stamina. For those who are office junkies, walking up and down the stairs is also a great way to exercise your heart. For a more advanced cardio exercise, skiing is also a great way to shape up your heart. The combination of balance and power needed to keep you upright is a remarkable way for building up your body. Aside from exercise, skiing also keeps you in tune with nature. Some people also advocate this type of sport since it can relax your mind, therefore decreasing blood pressure, and lessening the risk for a heart attack.
