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Happy Hearts
Eating for Heart Health
By Donna Smith
Last, but Not Least...
Don't forget the importance of cardiovascular exercise for your heart! "Cardiovascular exercise is defined as moderate- to hard-intensity exercise that is sustained for 20 minutes or more and uses large muscle groups," says Catherine Cram, a fitness expert from Middleton, Wis. "Activities such as walking, bicycling, running, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing all are good examples of exercise types that help strengthen the cardiovascular system (heart, lungs and blood vessels). When you regularly include activities such as these in your lifestyle, you improve your cardiovascular system by challenging your body to meet the physical needs that your exercise program requires. Your heart pumps faster and stronger and your lungs increase their efficiency to provide the extra oxygen and fuel needed for working muscles." Lisa Cohn, author and mother of four, including two stepchildren, from Portland, Ore., says her family plays basketball together often for fitness. "We also play ping-pong, which can get your heart racing," she says.
Cram says the best cardio workouts for families are walking and biking. "The positive effects of exercise can help kids from becoming overweight, and may help them avoid developing health problems later in life," she says.
Morrow agrees. "We bicycle as a family," she says. "The kids love it! My husband is very creative and we make an adventure out of each ride – sometimes we take a picnic."
