Heart Health NBA Coaches Guide To “Fighting the Pressure” (Heart Health Part II)

 

• Reduce alcohol intake – If you choose to drink, have only a moderate (limited) amount.

• No more than 1 drink a day for women

• No more than 2 drinks a day for men

Excessive drinking in adults = 4 drinks/day/men, 3 drinks/day/woman
If you’re drinking more than the suggested amounts, cut back.

ONE DRINK EQUALS= 

• Stress management – Meditation, massage therapy, yoga can decrease blood pressure by

~ 5mmHg. Get adequate sleep. Avoid excessive alcohol and caffeine. Make time for

enjoyable activities. Forget the past, the future is unknown, live life in the present! – Be

mindful. Give yourself a break from electronic devices.

• HTN – impact of healthy living on hypertension

Table 1. Key lifestyle changes to prevent and manage hypertension

Modification	Recommendation	Impact on Hypertension*
Sodium Reduction	Depending on age, limit sodium intake: 1500 mg per day maximum for those 50 years and younger. 1300 mg per day maximum for those 51-70 years. 1200 mg per day maximum for those 71 and older.	2-8 mm Hg
Physical Activity	Engage in regular physical activity: Children aged 5-11 years and youth aged 12-17 years should accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity daily. Adults of any age should accumulate at least 150 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity per week, in bouts of 10 minutes or more.	4-9 mm Hg
Healthy Weight	Maintain or achieve healthy body weight (BMI 18.5-24.9) To achieve a healthier BMI, set a weight-loss goal of 5% to 10% body weight with no more than a 0.5 kg (0.5-1.0 lb) weight loss per week.	5-20 mm Hg per 10-14 kg weight loss
Moderate Alcohol Consumption	Limit alcohol intake: Less than two standard drinks per day for men. Less than one standard drink per day for women.	2-4 mm Hg
Stress Management	Learn to deal with everyday life challenges and obtain help for mental health problems.	Variable

 *Approximate range of BP reduction from JNC 7

Source Link: http://www.bcmj.org/sites/default/files/BCMJ_54_Vol8_lifestyle_mods.pdf

 

*How can hypertension be prevented through dietary and lifestyle approaches?

There are several dietary and lifestyle approaches that will help to decrease the risk of

hypertension.

• The DASH Diet: Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (4)
  • Losing weight and increasing physical activity
  • Eating fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
  • Including fat-free or low-fat dairy products, fish, poultry, beans, nuts, and vegetable oils in your diet
  • Limiting foods that are high in saturated fat, such as fatty meats, full-fat dairy products, and tropical oils such as coconut, palm kernel, and palm oils (these can be healthy options but in moderation)
  • Limiting sugar-sweetened beverages and sweets
  • The biggest challenge: limiting sodium intake to 2,300 mg/day (or 1,500mg/day for a more beneficial effect)

 

Sneaky Salt!

In the American food industry, most packaged products found in the grocery store are loaded

with sneaky salt additives. Salt is used as a preservative and flavoring for many foods, even

desserts and sweets! It is important to be aware of sodium in foods and reading food labels can

help to make better choices.

Salt and sodium are in many foods that may surprise you…

Cereal: Cereals should contain no more than 250 mg of sodium, but most common brands have

far more than that. 1 cup of Grape Nuts, a seemingly healthy cereal, has 580 mg of sodium!

Bagels: Bagels may not taste very salty, but may have up to 500-700 mg of sodium, depending

on size and flavor!

Cakes: 1/12 of a box of Classic Yellow Cake Mix from Duncan Hines has 260 mg of sodium!

Reading the nutrition label can help curb your choices.

Becoming more familiar with sodium amounts in specific foods can help to manage sodium

intake. Also, keep in mind serving sizes! In the example above, there is 340 mg of sodium in one

cup of low sodium vegetable soup.

 

Hypertension: This vs. That

• Salted almonds vs. unsalted almonds: 100 mg sodium in 22 almonds vs. ZERO mg sodium in 22 almonds
• Chicken stir fry vs. grilled Chicken with vegetables: the soy sauce used in stir fry can add 850 mg of sodium to this meal!
• Regular soy sauce vs. low sodium soy sauce vs. coconut aminos: 300 mg sodium per teaspoon vs. 230 mg sodium per teaspoon vs. 160 mg sodium per teaspoon

Although coaches are very limited in their time and often must look for the most convenient

lifestyle choices, it is crucial to make healthy habits a priority, in terms of diet choices and fitting

in a few minutes of exercise each day.

 

Savorfull is here to help make eating as convenient and healthy as possible when you’re on the

court, on the road, or just on-the-go. Try some of these easy Savorfull Swaps that are sure to

keep your sodium levels in check and balanced.

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Check it out: https://savorfull.com/product/field-trip-jerky-original-no-3-beef-2-2oz-9-bagscase/

Bottom Line – Following a heart-healthy lifestyle and the proper nutrition is also beneficial for

your overall health. When you keep your heart healthy, you’ll also feel great — and help yourself

stay that way for years to come.