• Realize how much sitting you do.
Sitting for eight hours at your job has
negative effects on your body, but going
home and sitting on the couch for the
rest of the night doubles those effects,
increasing cause for concern. If you have
a sedentary job, make a point of taking a
walk when you get home or spend some
time on your feet with your kids or at
the gym. Keeping active during breaks
and on the weekends will help combat
negative effects from the workweek.
HEART HEALTH—SKIP THE
SUGAR!
Heart disease is the number-one killer of
all Americans, but awareness of the disease
and its causes has allowed for a decrease in
the number of deaths associated with it in
recent years. Eating well and exercising are
obvious ways to prevent the onset of heart
disease, but a recent study by the Journal of
the American College of Cardiology looks
at another culprit that has damaging effects
on your heart: sugar (fructose). According
to the study, one to two servings of sugary
drinks per day raises a person’s risk of heart
disease by 35 percent.
It is important to be cognizant of sugar
intake, as it can often sneak into your diet
unnoticed. Men should only consume
about 37.5 grams of added sugar (think
coffee drinks, sodas, yeast breads, cereals,
fruit drinks) per day, while women should
stay around 25 grams. Starting out the
day with a latte, frozen beverage, or soda
could add anywhere from 20 to 63 grams
of sugar in just 12 ounces! Make sure to
stop and think before you consume added
sugar for the sake of your heart health
because sugar isn’t as sweet as it seems.
BEST FOOT FORWARD
After hours of physical abuse from
constant pounding and tapping, your
feet deserve a break! Feet take a constant
beating every day and we often blame foot
pain on a long day on our feet or shoes
with poor support, but foot pain may be
caused by other problems in your body
that shouldn’t be ignored.
Keep tabs on your feet by:
• examining them regularly
• wearing comfortable shoes that fit
properly and offer plenty of support
• keeping your toenails trimmed straight
across
• allowing your feet to air out after being
in shoes.
Talk to your doctor if you are
experiencing:
• joint stiffness
• tingling or numbness
• swelling
• discoloration or bruising
• inability or limiting of physical tasks
due to foot pain. ■
MILLCREEK
❘
WINTER 2019
59