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
There are ways to prevent the negative
effects, such as stiffness and poor
circulation, of constant sitting:
• Get up and move! If you find yourself
sitting for extended periods of time, you
need to break the habit. Schedule an
alarm for every 30 minutes to get up and
take a lap around your office. Manage
your time effectively by going to pick up
your paper from the printer or grabbing
a glass of water. Even better? Visit a co-
worker to talk about a project instead of
sending an email.
• Establish proper sitting habits. Keep
your back straight, feet at 90 degrees, and
eyes level with the top of your computer
screen. Make sure your shoulders aren’t
hunched when resting your elbows on
your desk to type.
• Stretch in place. Adding stretching to
your daily routine is beneficial for anyone.
Stand up and do a few stretches at your
desk to get your muscles loosened up
and moving. Feeling spunky? Add a few
jumping jacks in to get your heart rate
pumping for some extra energy.
• 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! 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.
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 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. ■
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.
NORWIN ❘ WINTER 2019
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