St Mary's Maine Blog

Heart Health

It’s good to follow your heart. Follow it to the grocery store to buy low saturated fat foods and extra fruits and vegetables. Follow it to the gym or on a long, brisk, walk around the neighborhood. Follow it to your doctor’s office to have it listened to on a regular basis. Follow it in pursuit of a hobby that makes you happy. Follow it to a laugh-filled movie. Follow it to spend time with those you love. All are the keys to a healthy heart.

How Much Control Do You Have Over Your Life?

People who feel they have little control over what happens to them have low expectations in life. They are also more frustrated, stressed, and prone to heart attack. People who take control over their life are more resistant to stress and live healthier, more fulfilled lives. Learn how to be the latter.

Dietary Fiber – So Good For Your Heart

Dietary fiber protects your heart, normalizes blood sugar, and lowers cholesterol. Here are some practical tips for getting more fiber into your daily diet.

Take 10 Here and There – Short Brisk Walks Help Heart Health, Fitness, and Mood

The thought of doing 30 minutes of exercise a day can be daunting. This is most true for people who aren’t very active. But researchers have found that three 10-minute sessions of brisk exercise per day can have the same effect on your health as one 30-minute session. Got 10 minutes?

Gum Disease and Heart Disease:
The Link

Many people are aware of the common risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or uncontrolled diabetes. But few people are aware that gum disease could also be harmful to the heart. Knowing how and how often to brush and floss are vital to good gum health. So is seeing a dentist regularly. Learn how it all leads to a healthier heart.

Fitness & Exercise

For some people, exercise is a lonely venture. For others it’s fun and rejuvenating. But for everyone, it’s vital for good health. If you’re not very active, think about what you might like to do. Is it walking? Dancing? Gardening? Shopping? There’s a way to do almost anything more actively. Do jumping jacks during TV commercials. Power-walk through the mall. Go on. Start now.

Energize Your Exercise…With a Snack

Ready to exercise? Eat something first. You’ll have more energy and be able to exercise harder and ultimately burn more calories. A pre-exercise snack has other important functions too. Read more. 

How to Remove Barriers to Exercise 

How can you make physical activity a part of your daily life? It might help to first identify what’s stopping you. Are you too tired? Afraid of getting hurt? Is it the weather? Whatever the barrier is, there are ways to remove it.

Do You Need Exercise Equipment

Before plunking down hard-earned dollars for home exercise equipment, ask yourself: What kind of physical activity do I enjoy? What motivates me to exercise? Will it be more convenient to work out at home? What type of equipment is best? (The answer to that one is easy: The kind you’re really going to use!) Choose carefully.

Your First Fun Run, Bike-a-thon, or Group Walk

Thinking about doing a 5K fun run? That’s a long way. How do you prepare? Millions of first-timers take on this type of adventure each year. Millions more never get around to doing it. The limiting factor usually isn’t their ability or endurance. It’s that they don’t know how to get started.

Take the Monthly Health Challenge™

Sit Less, Move More

If you’re a high-energy person who doesn’t like to sit still, you know about being active. But what if your natural tendency is to take up your spot as a couch potato at home? Or if you stay glued to your chair at the office? To combat the downside of sitting, you’ve got to find ways to be more active. When you make the effort, you’ll burn more calories, feel healthier, and add years to your life.