Today, a lot of significance is given to how much a person weighs. We go on a diet to improve our appearance according to what people think we should look like. Improved health and energy are other reasons we want to lose weight.
Should your heart be a point of concern, you should watch your weight. However, weight is not always about pounds. The proportion of your hips to waist is more important than what you weigh.
According to the American Heart Association, men who have a waistline above 40 inches and women who have a waist above 35 inches are at an increased risk for heart disease. In fact, people who have a higher waist to hip ratio are more likely to have heart problems than people who are overweight and obese with lower ratios.
The fat that accumulates in the body, called visceral fat, is the culprit for this increased risk. This is the fat that lies beneath the muscle and around your organs. It puts more strain on the heart than other types of fat.
It can cause high blood pressure, high levels of blood sugar, and high cholesterol. All of these risk factors added together greatly increase the risk of heart disease for an individual.
But one of the advantages of losing even a bit of weight from your abdomen is that it lowers your heart disease risk by a considerable amount. And surprisingly, a great way to specifically work on your waist area is by practicing yoga.
It is not necessary to spend hours at the gym. An exercise program lasting anywhere from twenty minutes to forty will not only treat your illness but leave you healthier.
You can take care of that weight problem by adjusting your diet to include fruits, vegetables, lean meat and whole grains. Get rid of those products that contain fats - saturated or trans - and sugar.
A healthier diet helps you to lose excess fat, and it also regulates your blood sugar and blood pressure, as well as lowering your cholesterol. Together, this addresses your worries about heart disease and is the path to a healthier heart.
By getting rid of that extra weight around your waist, you might be able to fit into that new outfit. But more importantly, it will help you to stay healthy and have a more enjoyable life.