Whole Earth Sweetner Co.

Tips for a healthy style of life

Being active is an important part of leading a healthy, balanced style of life. Exercise not only energizes your cardiovascular fitness improving your vitality—it can also prevent disease. Maintaining an active healthy style of life makes you less likely to develop cardiovascular disease, type 2 Diabetes and osteoporosis.

Whatever your age, exercise and physical activity provide a range of other health benefits: weight loss, muscle gain and increased flexibility. Not only can exercise help us feel better now, it is essential for a long, healthy life. Activities such as walking, swimming, cycling or even aerobic dancing can improve the fitness of your heart.

The American Heart Foundation and other leading authorities recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity, most days of the week.

If the thought of fitting in a daily 30 minute workout seems virtually impossible in your already hectic style of life, try breaking it into manageable chunks of 10 minutes.

Daily benefits of physical activity include:

• Boosts energy levels
• Helps to maintain your healthy weight
• Increases muscle strength and core stability, increasing the ability to do other physical activities
• Improves blood cholesterol levels
• Releases tension & helps you manage stress
• Reduces the risk of heart disease by improving blood circulation throughout the body
• Establishes a healthy habit in children and counters the conditions (obesity, high blood pressure, poor cholesterol levels, poor style of life habits, etc.) that lead to heart attack and stroke later in life.

It's easy to get started. Try these tips to get active in your daily life. Make physical activity your daily habit:

• Successful weight loss depends on the body burning more energy than it takes in. Consuming fewer calories from your food and beverages or increasing the amount of energy you burn during exercise or physical activity will help you lose weight.
• If the idea of committing to a daily exercise regime seems unmanageable, remember you can split up your exercise into manageable chunks of time. Take a couple of short walks a day or take the stairs instead of the elevator. Aim to fit in spurts of 10-15 minutes of physical movement throughout your day and your body will thank you.
• Aerobic activities like walking, running and swimming keep your heart healthy.
• As little as half an hour of exercise a day can improve your heart health. Remember, exercise does not have to be vigorous; a brisk walk is great for your health!

Having trouble getting started?

• Get a friend involved—make exercise social and regular!
• Take classes at the gym or join a club—it's easier when you've got others to motivate you.
• Get off the bus a few blocks early and walk the rest of the way to home or work.
• Fit in a brisk walk around the block during your lunch break.
• Plan family outings and vacations that include physical activity (hiking, backpacking, swimming etc.)