Adventure Boot Camp

North Palm Beach Boot Camp Owner: Even a little cardio exercise can go a long way

Many of us believe that only strenuous daily exercise will keep our hearts healthy. However, a new body of research shows that even a little physical activity performed on regular basis can lower our risk of cardiovascular disease, which remains the leading cause of death in the United States.

A new study conducted by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and published last week in Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association (AHA), found that as little as 2.5 hours of exercise every week could reduce heart problems by 14 percent.

“The message here is clear: every little bit of exercise helps, and 14 percent is certainly better than nothing,” says Maribel Bleeker, owner of North Palm Beach Adventure Boot Camp for Women, noting that, according to AHA, every 25 seconds an American suffers a heart-related event, and one person dies from it about every minute.

“Considering that heart disease is so prevalent in our country and in our area, we can only hope that the positive findings of this new study will encourage inactive people to begin a physical fitness program, so they can start reaping heart health benefits as soon as possible,” she adds.

Bleeker points out that there is even more promising news coming out of this research: Those who double their workout time to five hours a week, will decrease their risks of heart disease even further.

How does regular physical activity help prevent cardiovascular disease?

“Exercise strengthens the heart's contractions so it can pump more blood with less effort,” Bleeker points out. “Also, exercise controls weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels – all of which are known factors in heart disease.”

Many different routines can benefit the heart, she notes. “The best exercise is the one you will enjoy doing and stick to on a regular, sustained basis.”

For example, fitness boot camps provide effective heart-friendly workouts that are varied and fun.

“The advantage of these programs is that they are not only terrific heart boosters, but they also provide great total body workouts, which burn fat, tone and shape,” Bleeker says. “The more fit you are overall, the less chance you have of developing coronary heart disease – and many other medical conditions for that matter.”

The important thing to remember from this newest research is that “when it comes to improving your heart health, every little bit of exercise counts,” Bleeker says. “So take this advice to heart: Start moving!

Ideal fat - Elk Grove Adventure Boot Camp

Fat is one of the building blocks of a healthy nutritional program. Ideal fat sources are: fatty meats, eggs, and of course the beloved coconut / coconut oil. Nuts are a fat but they're not ideal. Paleo / cave man and woman ate them because they were the lowest thing on the food chain. In moderation they're ok but the key is moderation and to focus on intake of the more ideal fats. I don't know about you, but guys like me need to lay off the almond butter (drool)...

A great way to integrate ideal fats into your diet is to cook with coconut oil. It can be cooked at higher temps without altering it. Unlike olive oil which is great uncooked but when you heat it to certain temps it alters the oil and isn't as good for you. Also, if you can find olives (personally find them disgusting) that aren't soaked or preserved in anything you can add them to salads or just eat them by the handful.

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