Heart disease remains the leading cause of death among U.S.
men and women, claiming a life every 33 seconds. Smoking and
eating a high-fat, high-salt diet are risk factors for the
disease, and exercise (or lack of exercise) may also play
a role.
Consider a recent study published by the British Journal
of Sports Medicine. Twenty-four healthy premenopausal women
were evaluated to examine the effects of a supervised 14-week
resistance training program on cholesterol levels and overall
body composition. Subjects were randomly assigned to a non-exercising
control group or to an exercise group that participated in
45-50-minute resistance training sessions, three days a week
on non-consecutive days.
At the end of the 14-week training period, total cholesterol
and LDLC (the "bad" cholesterol) levels were significantly
lower in the training group compared to the control group,
and HDLC levels (the "good" cholesterol) had increased
slightly.
Resistance training can involve free weights and/or weight
machines, and many men (and more and more women) use resistance
training as a supplement or alternative to aerobic exercise.
Your chiropractor can help you choose a resistance training
program best suited to your physical condition, time constraints
and fitness goals.
Reference:
Prabhakaran B, Dowling EA, Branch JD, et al. Effect of 14
weeks of resitance training on lipid profile and body fat
percentage in premenopausal women. British Journal of Sports
Medicine 1999: Vol. 33, pp190-195.
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