Let it Flow

The American Heart Association (AHA) has updated exercise guidelines for women. According to the AHA women now need to do a minimum of 60 to 90 minutes of moderate intensity exercise (brisk walking) on MOST and preferably ALL days.

Guidelines were published in the February 20 issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association and focus on women’s lifetime heart risk, not just short term risk.

A few of the new guidelines include:

• Women are encouraged to make lifestyle changes to help manage blood pressure. How? Weight control, increased physical activity, alcohol moderation, sodium restriction and emphasis on eating more fruits and vegetables.
• Physical activity recommendation for women who need to lose or sustain weight loss - a minimum of 60 to 90 minutes of moderate activity on most days.
• Women are encouraged to decrease saturated fat intake to less than 7% of calories
• Folic Acid should not be used to prevent cardiovascular disease - this represents a change from 2004 guidelines.
• In addition to advising women to quit smoking, the 2007 guidelines recommend counseling, nicotine replacement or other forms of smoking cessation therapy.

For more information on the new guidelines visit www.americanheart.org. The website also offers free podcasts to keep you up to date on health news. Users must subscribe to the podcasts and the subscription is free.

Source: IDEA Fitness Journal, June 2007 (www.ideafit.com)

Tags: Fitness and Exercise, In the News //