Keep Your Heart Healthy with Resistance Training

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.

Prabhakaran B, Dowling EA, Branch JD, et al. Effect of 14 weeks of
resistance training on lipid profile and body fat percentage in
premenopausal women. British Journal of Sports Medicine 1999: Vol.
33, pp190-195.