Step Up, Florida! Healthy Communities. Healthy People.

The chronic diseases of heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease, in that order are the six leading killers in the U.S. and they have a lot in common.

They are expensive - together, they account for 25 percent of the nation's annual health care expenditures, said Jonathan Skinner, a health economist at Dartmouth College.

They come in clusters - accumulations of plaque in arteries lead to heart attacks but also can lead to strokes and predispose to Alzheimer's disease. Diabetes can lead to heart disease, stroke and even cancer. Smoking can lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as well as cancer and heart disease, which in turn predisposes to Alzheimer's.

And the outlook for them is improving.

Step UP! To Good Health!

Having an active lifestyle is great for your heart. Your physical activity should get your heart rate into your target heart rate zone for at least 30 minutes, on most days. Start slowly, aiming for the low end of your target heart rate zone.

Your maximum heart rate is about 220 minus your age. The figures above are averages, so use them as general guidelines.
Note: A few high blood pressure medications lower the max heart rate and thus the target zone rate. If you are taking such medicine, call your physician to find out if you need to use a lower target heart rate.

Defining Overweight and Obesity
Overweight and obesity are both labels for ranges of weight that are greater than what is generally considered healthy for a given height. The terms also identify ranges of weight that have been shown to increase the likelihood of certain diseases and other health problems.

Body Mass Index

Source:  www.bodyshapingtips.com

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a height to weight ratio that is a way to tell if you are at a healthy body weight. While BMI is accurate for most people, it does not work for everyone. It is important to remember that:

• You could have a high BMI but be at a weight that is considered healthy if you are muscular or athletic.

• You could have a normal BMI and have poor nutrition.

• At the same BMI, women tend to have more body fat than men.

What are the health consequences of overweight and obesity for adults?
The BMI ranges are based on the relationship between body weight and disease and death. Overweight and obese individuals are at increased risk for many diseases and health conditions, including the following:

• Hypertension

• Dyslipidemia (for example, high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, or high levels of triglycerides)

• Type 2 diabetes

• Coronary heart disease

• Stroke

• Gallbladder disease

• Osteoarthritis

• Sleep apnea and respiratory problems

• Some cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)

Physical activity helps you maintain a healthy weight, but is not the only factor to consider when aiming for good health. The food choices we make each day affect us today and for years to come. We can form good eating habits to help us feel strong and full of energy. There are six kinds of nutrients in food:

• Proteins

• Carbohydrates

• Fats

• Vitamins

• Minerals

• Water

What Can You Do? Walk                               Garden Play Softball                        Bike Sail                        Play Baseball Stretch                                Swim Jump Rope                        Dance Skate       Play Tennis

Find The Fun in Fitness.   Think about what you already like to do—and look for ways to make those activities more physical.    If you like to read, take a brisk walk to the library.  If you love the nightlife, head for a dance club.   If you enjoy spending time with your family, play with your children.  If you enjoy outdoors, work in your garden.   If you love spending time with your dog, turn his daily walk into your workout.   Social time with friends can be activity time.  Go bowling.  Play tennis.  Try golf. Take a hike.  Go kayaking.   Take a class.  Try Hula or Belly Dancing.  Learn to Line Dance.

How Much Is Enough?

The Centers for Disease Control and the American College of Sports Medicine recommend that kids and teens participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity most days of the week—7 days is best.

30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on 5 or more days of the week can make a difference in adult health.

Check with your health care provider before you begin and before you increase your activity if you have been inactive for a long time, or have health problems.

Any amount of regular physical activity is better than none at all.  Every bit counts!  In addition, physical activity does not have to be strenuous or exhausting to be beneficial.

It is best to start modestly, and build based on your fitness level.

You can add up 10 to 15 minutes here and there to meet your “total.”

The more intense the activity, the less time you need to get your physical activity quota.  For example, 20 minutes of jogging or running is about equal to 45 minutes of walking.

Step Up! To Good Nutrition

Mix up your choices within each food group.

• Focus on fruits. Eat a variety of fruits—whether fresh, frozen, canned, or dried—rather than fruit juice for most of your fruit choices. For a 2,000-calorie diet, you will need 2 cups of fruit each day (for example, 1 small banana, 1 large orange, and 1/4 cup of dried apricots or peaches).
• Vary your veggies. Eat more dark green veggies, such as broccoli, kale, and other dark leafy greens; orange veggies, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and winter squash; and beans and peas, such as pinto beans, kidney beans, black beans, garbanzo beans, split peas, and lentils.
• Get your calcium-rich foods. Get 3 cups of low fat or fat-free milk—or an equivalent amount of low-fat yogurt and/or low-fat cheese (1½ ounces of cheese equals 1 cup of milk)—every day. For kids aged 2 to 8, its 2 cups of milk. If you do not or cannot consume milk, choose lactose-free milk products and/or calcium-fortified foods and beverages.
• Make half your grains whole. Eat at least 3 ounces of whole-grain cereals, breads, crackers, rice, or pasta every day. One ounce is about 1 slice of bread, 1 cup of breakfast cereal, or ½ cup of cooked rice or pasta. Look to see that grains such as wheat, rice, oats, or corn are referred to as "whole" in the list of ingredients.
• Go lean with protein. Choose lean meats and poultry. Bake it, broil it, or grill it. And vary your protein choices—with more fish, beans, peas, nuts, and seeds.
  Source: www.mypyramid.com

Whether you want to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight, it is important to understand the connection between the calories your body takes in (through the foods you eat and the beverages you drink) and the calories your body uses (through normal body functions, daily activities, and physical activity).

There is a right number of calories for you to eat each day. This number depends on your age, activity level, and whether you are trying to gain, maintain, or lose weight. You could use up the entire amount on a few high-calorie foods, but chances are, you wont get the full range of vitamins and nutrients your body needs to be healthy.

Eat healthy by including a variety of complex carbohydrates and soluble fiber in your daily diet. Whole grains, oatmeal, fruits, vegetables, nuts, dry beans and peas are all good sources.

• Choose foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Avoid Trans fat.
• Limit alcoholic drinks.
• Choose foods that are low in sodium and sugar.
• Make sure to drink 8-10 glasses of water each day.
  

Finding a Balance
Becoming a healthier you is not just about eating, it is also about being active. The important thing to remember is that there must always be a balance. Calorie balance is like a scale. To remain in balance and maintain your body weight, the calories consumed (from foods) must be balanced by the calories used (in daily activities and functions).

Estimated amounts of calories needed to maintain energy balance for various gender and age groups at three different levels of physical activity.

The estimates are rounded to the nearest 200 calories and were determined using the Institute of Medicine equation.

Activity Level a,b,c Gender Age Sedentary Moderate Active Child 2-3 1,000 1,000-1,400 1,000-1,400 Female 4-8 9-13 14-18 19-30 31-50 51+ 1,200 1,600 1,800 2,000 1,800 1,600 1,400-1,600 1,600-2,000 2,000 2,000-2,200 2,000 1,800 1,400-1,800 1,800-2,200 2,400 2,400 2,200 2,000-2,200 Male 4-8 9-13 14-18 19-30 31-50 51+ 1,400 1,800 2,200 2,400 2,200 2,000 1,400-1,600 1,800-2,200 2,400-2,800 2,600-2,800 2,400-2,600 2,200-2,400 1,600-2,000 2,000-2,600 2,800-3,200 3,000 2,800-3,000 2,400-2,800

a Sedentary means a lifestyle that includes only the light physical activity associated with typical day-to-day life. b Moderately active means a lifestyle that includes physical activity equivalent to walking about 1.5 to 3 miles per day at 3 to 4 miles per hour, in addition to the light physical activity associated with typical day-to-day life c Active means a lifestyle that includes physical activity equivalent to walking more than 3 miles per day at 3 to 4 miles per hour, in addition to the light physical activity associated with typical day-to-day life.      Source: www.mypyramid.com Although food and proper eating habits are essential to life, food alone cannot make you truly healthy.  Being active is also fundamental in maintaining a well body and healthy lifestyle.  —Live Well to Feel Well Back to Health Promotions Home