3 Things Your Heart Wants From You

In keeping with Heart Health Month, Teresa Elias helps me out!

Hey, you. Yeah, you, the one with the heart beating 100,000 times a day, every single day. I’ve got a bone to pick with you. I was supposed to give you a USANA Test Kitchen recipe this month, but I’ve heard you’ve been neglecting the hardest working organ in your entire body, and that’s just not cool.

When was the last time you thanked your heart for everything it does for you? Do you even remember the last time you stopped and thought about how while you get to rest at night, your sturdy, reliable heart is still going strong? Listen. You need to show your heart you care. It doesn’t ask for much, but it still needs (and deserves) your loving care and attention.

So today, I’m here to tell you what your heart wants from you. Do these three things, and you and your heart’s relationship will flourish. You’ll both grow old together. You’re welcome.

Fill Up on Fiber
Your heart is pleading with you to eat good food with loads of fiber. It knows in its deepest depths that fiber helps with proper digestion, but it also hopes you’ll realize that fiber has been shown to lower the risk of heart disease. Score! Easily up your fiber intake by having oatmeal for breakfast (and feel free to dress it up with raisins, dried cranberries, and some walnuts). At dinner, try mashed cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes, and if you’re making burgers, mix some black beans in with your meat.

Say Hello to Plant Sterols
The word “sterol” may not have the nicest ring to it, but trust me when I say your heart wants them much more than a measly box of cheap, assorted chocolates. Plant sterols help block the absorption of cholesterol, which may lower your LDL cholesterol and allow your blood to more easily flow through your arteries. For your heart, this is a major plus. It already works hard—no need to make its job harder, right? You can find plant sterols in vegetable oils, nuts and seeds, fruits and vegetables, and in higher amounts in certain types of margarine spreads (like Smart Balance), yogurt products, and snack bars.

Work it Out
My dad used to try to get out of working out by saying that if the heart only has a certain number of beats, it’s better to be as inactive as possible. Full disclosure: My dad is not a doctor. And, in fact, he was completely wrong. By getting your heart rate up through exercise, you can help make your heart stronger. A stronger heart is a heart that’s better and more efficient at doing its job. And a more efficient heart is a happier heart and one that’s more likely to stick around longer. Take your heart out for a walk around the block, go on a bike ride, or do anything that gets your heart really pumping.

Remember. Don’t listen to my dad. You don’t have a limited number of beats in that heart of yours. Take care of your heart and it will continue to take care of you, just as it has your entire life.

Disposable Work Syndrome

I read an article today by Robert Oak. In the article he states that 23% of Americans have been fired in the past 4 years. If you have never lost a job then you can't relate. He also states that of almost a quarter of those fired, 22% can't find another job. About 8 million people. This got me thinking how blessed we are to have the freedom to not accept this!

My husband has been a Solider for over 20 years. Since he graduated from High School. Now he is nearing retirement. But with all the budget cuts, just about a week ago, he received a letter from the Military that he MUST be out of the Military by August 2014. So there isn't even job security in the Military. In case you don't know our story, 9 years ago I was the one who lost her job. The solution was either get on public assistance, or get another job and place my son in daycare for someone else to raise.

Thankfully after looking for a job and then losing it due to it being a temporary position, network marketing, a home-based business, became the best solution. Today it is a viable option for millions. But many fail to gain a full understanding of how it works and why it works. If you are looking for a way to chart the course of your life, have time freedom and give back, then study an industry that can do just that! There is nothing nice about being disposable. There is EVERYTHING in being your own boss. Don't listen to people who say it doesn't work. To view the article in its entirety: http://www.economicpopulist.com/content/fired-america

Weight Loss Helps Lighten Your Heart’s Heavy Load

Your heart works hard. Really hard. It’s pumping away, keeping you alive and well. But are you working hard for your heart?

If you’re participating in USANA’s RESET™ Challenge: Destination Transformation, you can answer with a resounding yes. Your effort—even if you started out to just to lose weight, look good, and win amazing prizes—is definitely helping your heart out. Because the more weight you carry, the harder your heart needs to work.

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), being overweight or obese increases your risk for suffering from heart disease. If you have a body mass index of 25 or higher and a waist circumference measurement of greater than 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men, the NHLBI says you need to lose weight. Plain and simple.

The good news is that weight loss of just five to 10 percent of your current weight over a six-month period will lower your risk of developing weight-related diseases. It’s a realistic, achievable goal. And the RESET Challenge is a great way to lose that weight, and begin a transformation that will do wonders for your heart.

Losing weight is hard work, but simple math. You need to use more energy than you take in. That means eating a healthy, well-balanced, nutrient-rich diet and incorporating regular physical activity. The NHLBI suggests an emphasis on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products. The institute also mentions controlling portion sizes, minimizing saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, sodium, and added sugars.

Luckily, USANA has products that make it easy for you to eat right, control portions, and get the nutrients your body—and especially your heart—needs to keep you healthy and happy. 


To learn more about how these products can help you give your heart a helping hand, check out this video featuring Dr. Brian Dixon, USANA’s executive director of scientific and clinical affairs.

Isn’t it time everyone lightened his or her heart’s load a little? Committing to the RESET Challenge is a great first step. If you haven’t done it already, opt-in now! There’s still time to win great prizes and get a big high five from you heart in the process.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.