IN Pine-Richland Winter 2017 | Page 31

GIVE THE GIFT OF MASSAGE
Wexford
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• 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!
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 consume
only 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,
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2017 Elements Therapeutic Massage, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Massage session includes time for consultation and dressing. Each
Elements Massage ® studio is independently owned and operated.
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. Foot pain may be caused by other problems in your
body that shouldn’t be ignored.
Keep tabs on your feet by:
• examining your feet 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.   ■
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