Tag: cardio exercise

Wo/man’s Best Friend

Today was Belle’s grooming day and she looks cute as can be. She got me wondering if there really is a health benefit to having a dog.

I have a lot of new clients who when I ask them about their physical activity tell me that they walk their dog. I usually think this doesn’t count because the pace isn’t high enough to raise one’s heart rate–especially if you’ve got a dog who loves to stop and sniff.

A little research yielded an article from the Harvard Medical School: https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/walking-the-dog-yes-it-counts-as-exercise. It surprised me in a positive way.

The research indicates that dog owners have a much higher rate of achieving the 150 minutes of exercise recommended each week for adults: 87% for dog owners as opposed to 47% for non-dog owners. Obviously the people at Harvard never met Belle; I don’t know if my heart rate increases but I’ll bet my blood pressure increases as she drags me along doing everything except for the business at hand.

Owning a dog, of course, has other health benefits. They can be calming and provide a sense of lightness in our lives. Additionally, when we walk your dog or go to the dog park it increases our social interaction; we meet others and develop a sense of connectedness to our neighborhood.

As for cats….most of them I have met are not so walkable. Dogs, though, are indeed our best friends in a whole variety of ways.

Brain Games may be just that…

Fixer Kayleigh Duddin

CNN reported on the new global guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) about preventing dementia.

The guidelines reinforce what many of us in the Fitness Industry and who have an interest in brain biology already know. Many of the gimmicks that are advertised to help stave off dementia are just that–gimmicks that are not proven to really work.

For some time now, experts in brain biology have been able to cite only one factor that is known to reduce the chances of developing dementia: cardio exercise. But wait, what does the heart have to do with the brain (sounds like a country music song)? It’s actually not that complicated; the more blood that we get pumping throughout our bodies (which is what cardio exercise does), the more blood that flows to the brain; the more blood to the brain, the healthier it is!

What the WHO guidelines add is that there are now a few other factors that also can contribute to preventing dementia: “regular physical exercise, not using tobacco, drinking less alcohol, maintaining healthy blood pressure and eating a healthy diet — particularly a Mediterranean one. “

Just one more reason to head to the gym…or outside…or to that piece of cardio equipment in the basement. Not only is it good for your heart, it is good for your brain too!

Here is the article from CNN.com:
https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/14/health/who-guidelines-dementia-intl/index.html