Go Red, Save Lives and Save a Little Cash Too

In honor of American Heart Month and National Wear Red Day, customers wearing any item of red - from an entire ensemble, to lipstick, to the signature Red Dress pin - will receive a special 20% discount on a wide assortment of merchandise (or a 10% discount on sale and clearance watches and jewelry) at all Macy's stores, as part of the retailer's Wear Red Sale event.

Customers not wearing red can support Go Red For Women and receive the special discount by purchasing the official Go Red For Women red dress pin for $2 at any register. All proceeds from the sale of the pin will go to the AHA's Go Red For Women movement, and the customer will enjoy the special Wear Red Sale savings. The Wear Red Sale event takes place Wednesday, Feb. 2, through Sunday, Feb. 6. Additional merchandise exclusions may apply.

Food for Thought…Pay Attention

According to a blog posting on CNN Health posting calories on menus doesn’t necessarily effect what consumers buy. Case in point, customers at TacoTime (a western Washington chain) who read how many calories are in their food selection on the restaurant's menu were just as likely to order them as people who don’t have that information. The findings suggest that having calorie information did not change public health behavior. (full article-> http://bit.ly/eUhP5h )

On the contrary, there is research that supports the claim that when consumers are confronted with nutritional information when ordering, consumers are more likely to use that information when making purchases, and consumers are able to take personal responsibility for their nutritional choices. However, when consumers are not aware of the nutritional content of food at the point of purchase, consumers are more likely to underestimate the number of calories in the food they order. (full article-> http://bit.ly/ew9bkI )

Americans eat most of their meals outside the home. Studies have found a correlation between fast food consumption and obesity. At the same time. most people understand that fast food does not always have the best nutritional value, information about nutritional content is usually located in brochures or other literature where patrons have to search for it. Consumers are not always provided with nutritional information at the time they make their food purchases. As a result, people over eat, under estimate calories and pair that with a lack of physical activity equates to a recipe for disaster.

In terms of calories being posted on the menu, which do you prefer? Do you like the idea of seeing how many calories are in your entrée next to the price or do you prefer not to know? If you like not knowing how many calories you are consuming ponder this…would you every purchase a car without knowing how many miles per gallon the vehicle gets?

Report recommends eating, physical education changes for U.S. elementary schools

In a new report, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Bridging the Gap program finds that when it comes to healthy environments, elementary schools fail. Most public elementary school students had easy access to unhealthy foods and beverages on campus throughout the school day such as sugary snacks and sodas. On the contrary, very few had the opportunity to get enough physical activity to satisfy the minimum recommendations set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Students are overweight and out of shape. Schools need to provide institutions that promote healthier lifestyles.

Major findings:

· Overall, United States elementary schools both public and private are not doing a good job when it comes to providing students with environments that foster healthy food choices.
· The prevalence of obesity among 6-11 year old rose from 4% in 1970s to 20% by 2008.
· Increases can be attributed to unhealthy eating and lack of physical activity
· Schools that have wellness policies around healthy lunch and physical activity are often weak and poorly enforced.

Keys to improvement:

· Improve nutritional quality of meals. Students need meals that are high in nutrients and low in calories.
· Increase federal reimbursement rates for school meals that are healthy and nutritious. Students need more fruits and vegetables and less packaged meals that contain Trans fats and massive amounts of sodium. Reimbursement rates for healthier options are critical to enabling effective school breakfast and lunch programs.
· Support School Gardens and Farm-to-School Programs. School gardens can support students in the areas of curriculum/ course work about nutrition and food consumption. We must work together to support these healthy causes.

Take action on causes similar to this. It's one click away:

http://www.houstondines.org/

Heart Exercises You Will Love!!

As we dive into the New Year its important to keep track of resolutions, especially those who resolved to be more healthy and physically fit. With 18 days under your belt your well on your way to becoming a fine tuned vessel. Fitness is always in, but there are trendy work outs that can help you get your heart healthy and tighten those abs. According to an article found on U.S. News, the following types of exercises are fun routines that burn calories and provide an aerobic workout to strengthen your heart.

Zumba. Try this dance workout and you'll know why dancers are in such great shape. This is a high-energy cardio routine based on Latin dances like Salsa, Merengue, and Reggaeton (Latin hip-hop) mixed with other international moves from Asia and Africa. Zumba typically incorporates plenty of stretching and strengthening: Squats and lunges tone the legs, while kicks and forward bends engage the core. Classes are usually built around standard moves with a lot of repetition, making it easy for beginners to jump in. Hand weights may be used for resistance training. Ole!

Cardio Kickboxing. This combination of boxing, martial arts, and traditional cardio movements, is a great outlet for stress. The nonstop bobbing and weaving, shuffling and jumping will help you burn fat, while the rapid-fire punches, knee strikes, and kicks can improve muscle tone, balance, and coordination. The hooks, jabs, and uppercuts in this workout tone the shoulders, biceps, and triceps. Its side, front, and roundhouse kicks target the glutes, quads, inner and outer thighs, hamstrings, and calves.

Hula-Hooping. Spinning a 2-pound hoop around your waist tones and strengthens your core muscles and requires you to improve your balance and coordination. Keeping the hoop in constant motion helps strengthen your heart and improve your endurance. Most of these cardio workouts incorporate other moves like arm and leg circles with the hoop to tone shoulders, biceps, triceps, hips, thighs, and glutes. When you're ready for an additional challenge, look for variations like "Hoopilates," which mixes abdominal-strengthening Pilates into the workout, or use a heavier hoop to burn more calories and further advance your weight loss goals.

Click here for the full article:

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/on-fitness/2010/9/1/4-cardio-workouts-that-are-creative-and-fun.html?s_cid=related-links:TOP

You're the Cure Houston, TX

It is an exciting time for the American Heart Association’s Advocacy Team as the start of the 82nd Legislative Session is finally here. Today lawmakers have convened at the Capitol and will work for the next 140 days on official state business. This is our opportunity to make sure that heart and stroke issues are properly represented.

Will you help make sure heart and stroke prevention is a priority for all Texas decision makers? Click here to email our top priorities to lawmakers today!

Here are a few of the things we will be supporting this year:

1. Smoke-Free Workplaces. All major cities in Texas are now smoke free as are nearly 30 other communities of varying sizes. It’s time we step up and protect all workers from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.

2. School Health. We want to restore the PE and Health credits for high school graduation that were lost in 2009 and remove trans-fats from all school meals.

3. Prevention funding. The cheapest way to treat heart disease and stroke is to prevent it in the first place.

However, with the state budget under close scrutiny we can’t afford to cut any CVD prevention programs By taking these steps we can reduce the number 1 and number 3 killers in our state, heart disease and stroke. Since this is the beginning of a more active time of year I hope you will understand the higher volume of emails coming from us in the coming weeks and months.

Thanks for your continued support! Again, you can click here to take action.

Your email will be sent to Comptroller Susan Combs and Health Commissioner David Lakey in addition to your elected officials.

Spidey Senses Tingling?

Check out this article we found on U.S. News and World Report

'Gut Instinct' May Stem From the Heart

LINK01/07/2011
U.S. News & World Report

Everyone feels gut instincts at one time or another: Marry that guy! Don't take that job. Stay inside during this snowstorm! Now, a new study suggests there is indeed a link between your heartbeat and the decisions you make. "These findings can help explain how we make key choices in life -- for example, which house to buy, which job to go for -- for better or for worse," explained study author Barnaby D. Dunn, a clinical psychologist who works with the Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit in Cambridge, England. The findings don't indicate that your heart is very good at giving you insight into what to do. And the research doesn't point to any particular way to get better at decision making.

Still, the study does manage to find evidence that there's something to the idea of trusting your heart. This link between gut feelings and intuitive decision making was stronger in people who were more aware of their own heartbeat." What's the connection between the heart and brain? The 'rational' parts of the brain then listen in to these bodily responses to find out what the 'emotional' parts of the brain are doing. This allows both logic and emotion to shape our choices." Dunn said better understanding of the link between the body and the mind might eventually help people who struggle with depression and anxiety.

For more information on the heart check out the American Heart Association's website.
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/

New Year New You: Come Train With Stars

As a gift for the New Year you are invited to join the American Heart Association for a special fitness event this Saturday.

Let the American Heart Association’s Houston DINEs project help you become the Biggest Winner in 2011 as we work out with Calvin Lawson, the NBC’s The Biggest Loser season ten Trainer! Here are the details:

Saturday, January 8, 10:00 AM
Spike Sport
10914 S. Gessner Dr
Houston, TX 77081

Calvin will conduct an amazing hour long course to bring in the New Year on the right foot. The training is free and space is limited so please RSVP today by replying to this email or emailing t-arsheill.sinclair@heart.org.

The greatest resolution of a new year is a pledge to good health. Start your 2011 off right by engaging in activities that can help your heart. Whether it is a structured exercise program or physical activity that is part of your daily routine, all exercise adds up to a healthier heart and a healthier you.

For a sneak peek into Calvin’s world check out his video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKWLBmudPHA. Thanks!