People often ask me: “How can I achieve optimal health?” First, identify your health risks, then take consistent steps toward improvement. Focusing on one step at a time will ensure that good health is maintained—and improved—daily. Here are some answers to your frequently asked questions on maintaining good health.
What is the biggest threat to my health?
There are four pillars to optimal health: healthy diet and exercise, heart health, bone and joint health, and sleep. Heart disease is the number one killer in the U.S. The good news is that many of us can reduce our cardiac risk significantly with lifestyle changes.
How? Aside from not smoking, the most important steps toward optimal health are proper nutrition and exercise habits. Keeping your weight, cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure in check are all important ways to reduce cardiac risk. Now, in addition to weighing yourself at home, you can easily check your blood pressure with an at-home electronic monitor such as the Life Fitness Premium Blood Pressure Monitor.
What if I already have heart problems?
If you have any chest pain, headache, unusual nausea or abdominal pain, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing during mild exertion, contact your doctor immediately. But all adults should have an annual physical and discuss their heart disease risk factors.
If you have diabetes, high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol, your doctor may recommend a careful diet and exercise program and/or prescription medicines. Ask if you should also take a daily baby aspirin or any over-the-counter supplements. Many doctors recommend that people at increased risk for heart disease increase their intake of L-Arginine (such as Life Fitness’ Arginine TR Plus, an amino acid that may help get better results from blood pressure and cholesterol lowering medicines) and Omega-3 (a compound that helps decrease cholesterol levels, plaque build up and arrhythmias). Life Fitness Omega-3 Chews are a tasty option.
What if exercising hurts my joints and bones?
Maintaining joint and bone health helps you stay active and pain free. Nearly one in five adults suffers from arthritis, which can cause pain, swelling and stiffness around the joints. Exercise is as important to people with arthritis as everyone else, but it should not be painful. Try taking your medicine before exercising, and focus on low-impact exercises, such as swimming.
For the treatment of arthritic aches and pains, physicians often first recommend treatment with over-the-counter pain relievers. Dietary supplements such as Life Fitness’ Reparagen+Glucosamine can also help restore balance to the body’s genes that govern joint health, and promote healthy joint cartilage within seven days. In addition, taking Reparagen may significantly decrease the dosage of pain medicines needed.
I work long hours and am too tired to exercise.
How can I increase my energy?
There’s nothing like a good night’s sleep to feel refreshed and energized all day! Unfortunately, more than 40 million Americans have sleep disorders. If you have difficulty sleeping, avoid medications that may be habit-forming or leave you feeling groggy in the morning. Instead, try a natural supplement such as Life Fitness Soothing Sleep.
Too many adults turn to unhealthy snacks for energy boosts throughout the day, consuming unnecessary coffee, sugar and calories. Energy enhancing beans and gum are natural, sugar- and calorie-free alternatives. Life Fitness Instant Energy Beans or Life Fitness Rapid Energy Chewing Gum are good options.
Making these four pillars of health the cornerstones of your lifestyle will go a long way toward your optimal health!
Dr. Donnica Moore is a renowned health expert and speaker on topics related to women’s health, wellness and fitness. She is a popular guest on more than 500 television programs, including “Good Morning America,” “The View” and “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” For more information, visit www.DrDonnica.com. All of the products mentioned above are available at your local CVS/pharmacy.
