The StreetStrider

Have you ever exercised on elliptical trainer at a gym and wish you could do it outside?

Now you can. StreetStrider is like an elliptical trainer on three wheels which feels as though you have blended together jogging, biking, and cross-country skiing. Your feet move in an elliptical motion which drives the chain forward, while your arms push the poles to also move you forward. Therefore, the StreetStrider gives you a full-body workout that is easy on the joints.

The American Council on Exercise sponsored a research team to compare the workout on a StreetStrider with an elliptical trainer. The results of the study concluded that the StreetStrider burned more calories and triggered higher heart rates than an elliptical trainer. Therefore, the StreetStrider is a great workout!

To see the whole StreetStrider study visit: http://www.acefitness.org/certifiednewsarticle/1490/

Maintaining Proper Posture

One hundred and fifty years ago, daily living required us to perform tasks that worked our entire core equally. This resulted in equally toned front, back, and side torso muscles. Therefore, good posture occurred naturally. Now youth and adults are required to do repetitive movements such as small strokes on a keyboard. As we sit at computers all day, our shoulders hunch over causing the front of our shoulders and chest muscles to shorten while the back of our shoulders, neck, and back muscles all elongate. Having our legs bent under a desk then shortens our hip flexors and psoas muscles which pull our lower back out of alignment. All of these things affect our posture.

So how do we maintain good posture (or gain good posture)?

First, we need to exercise. All exercise is great, but weight-bearing physical activity not only helps build muscle, but also helps improve bone density which will help improve posture. Be sure to add in core exercises as well. For sample core exercises, visit ACE-fitness http://www.acefitness.org/workouts/5/

You can also begin making small changes such as adding short stretching breaks throughout your day. Or consider replacing your comfy chairs with stability balls!

The NuVal Nutritional Score

Do you think it is confusing to read nutrition labels? Or that it is difficult to find healthy food options?

The NuVal Nutritional Score can now help you find healthy food options with a quick glance. Look for a double hexagon icon next to the price on the shelf. Within the icon, there will be a number indicating a ranking from 1-to-100. It is simple to determine how healthy the food is, the higher the score the higher the nutritional value!

The next time you go shopping look for this great dietary tool. Until then, learn more about the NuVal Nutritional Score here: http://www.acefitness.org/calculators/nuval-calculator.aspx

Healthy Recipes

Do you want to eat better, but don’t know where to start? Are you tired of the same 5 meals you eat over and over again? Do you think eating healthy is expensive, takes too long, and the food is disgusting?

If so, visit these sites below for some great healthy recipes. You will discover that cooking healthy food is simple. There are hundreds of DELICIOUS, healthy recipes to choose from!

Ace Fitness, http://www.acefitness.org/healthyrecipes/default.aspx

WebMD, http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/guide/health-cooking-recipes

Mayo Clinic, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-recipes/RecipeIndex

American Heart Association, http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/Recipes/Welcome-to-Delicious-Decisions_UCM_301068_SubHomePage.jsp

Global Campaign Against Non-Communicable Diseases

On September 19, 2011, the U.N. general assembly approved a global campaign against non-communicable diseases. Non-communicable diseases are illnesses that are not contagious. These diseases are often considered chronic diseases. Examples include diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancers and chronic respiratory diseases. It is estimated that non-communicable diseases (NCD) accounts for 36 million out of 57 million deaths annually.

NCDs are often times preventable by lifestyle changes such as improving physical activity. In order to achieve the goals of this campaign, they have developed plans on the global, regional, and national levels. Yet, we as individuals must do our part. Begin today to reduce your risk of non-communicable diseases such as exercising and eating right.