Healthy eating helps a healthy heart and weight

(Inside Aotea, December 2011)

Use the longer and warmer days to get outside and get some exercise -- at the beach, your local park or even in your own backyard. Regular exercise is good for your heart and a healthy diet can help keep your weight down.

Here are some key benefits of exercise and good diet:

Healthy heart food
  • Increased energy and better mobility
  • Lower cholesterol levels
  • Reduction in blood pressure
  • Reduced aches and pains and improved breathing
  • More oxygen to the heart
  • Reduction in risk of angina, heart disease and stroke
  • Improved blood sugar levels
  • Prevention of non-insulin dependent (Type 2) diabetes.

Experts say that the risk of developing non-insulin-dependent diabetes increases as a person puts on more weight.

Diabetes New Zealand promotes a concept called the 'healthy plate' as key to healthy eating and controlling weight. A healthy plate is a controlled size and half-filled with vegetables.

Find out more about the healthy plate at http://www.diabetes.org.nz. Go to Food and nutrition > Ideal plate.