CINCINNATI--()--Americans often think a healthy lifestyle only requires hours at the gym and plates filled with fruits and vegetables, but there are other simple, yet vital, steps along the path to establishing better future health. With the staggering reality that Americans have been shown to spend nearly $2 billion on healthcare each year1, it’s increasingly critical for them to make more proactive changes earlier in life.
“While my patients ask me about topics from sexual health to nutrition, I find that many of them are particularly interested in developing better heart health as they near later stages in life and realize that cardiovascular disease is a common issue that hits home with many Americans”
Lisa Masterson, M.D., of Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and UCLA, obstetrics/gynecology specialist and co-host of the Emmy-winning daytime talk show, “The Doctors,” wants to steer her patients in the right, healthy direction.
“As the women’s health expert on 'The Doctors,' I often get questions from women who feel comfortable talking to me about all areas of health issues for advice. I stress that it’s important to start from square one with small, simple changes to improve their overall health and get on the right track,” said Masterson.
Metamucil has teamed up with Dr. Masterson to create a variety of tips to help Americans get a well-rounded jump start to improving their health and wellness for a healthier future.
Lisa Masterson’s Healthy Lifestyle Tips:
- Towering heels are a great fashion statement for the ladies, but during your long commute it's best to trade them in for a pair of lightweight sneakers to give your feet, ankles and knees better support down the road.
- Heart disease is the 3rd leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 35 and 442 – don’t let yourself become a statistic; start now and be preventative. Try including psyllium fiber, found in Metamucil, to your daily routine. As part of a diet low in saturated fats and cholesterol, Metamucil is proven to help lower cholesterol by forming a thick gel that traps and helps remove some cholesterol, bile acids and waste.
- People are on the go all day and night and often rely on multiple cups of coffee as fuel. Try swapping out your cup of joe for green tea at least 50% of the time. The refreshing drink provides powerful antioxidants, and is said to help with maintaining good health3.
- Make sure to schedule and attend your annual gynecologist appointment. Women of all ages and stages of female health need to be examined regularly to ensure a clean bill of physical, sexual and even reproductive health.
- Spend just 30 minutes every evening doing exercises to strengthen your core to prevent back issues, as well as deep stretching as a great way to improve flexibility, keep your muscles warm and release overall stress.
- Many people sit at a computer all day at work – to avoid eye strain and serious sight issues down the road, look away from your computer screen every 20 minutes and focus on a distant object for 20 seconds.
“While my patients ask me about topics from sexual health to nutrition, I find that many of them are particularly interested in developing better heart health as they near later stages in life and realize that cardiovascular disease is a common issue that hits home with many Americans,” said Masterson.
According to the American Heart Association, more than 81 million people in the United States have one or more types of cardiovascular disease 4, which means that one of the most important things people can do is to promote better heart health now by lowering their cholesterol. Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in many parts of the body. Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), or the “bad” cholesterol, builds up in the arteries and results in heart disease. High Density Lipoprotein (HDL), or the “good” cholesterol, protects against heart attack by carrying cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver where it’s passed from the body5. Healthy levels of cholesterol can be maintained with simple steps and lifestyle modifications, such as getting the recommended 20 to 35 grams6 of fiber daily. It’s important to understand that not all fibers are created equal. Viscous soluble fiber like psyllium fiber, the natural dietary fiber found in Metamucil, is proven to help lower total and LDL cholesterol because it forms a thick gel that traps and helps remove some cholesterol, bile acids and waste.
About Metamucil
Created and marketed for the first time in 1933 by G.D. Searle & Co., Metamucil powder was purchased by Procter & Gamble in 1985. Made with 100% natural psyllium fiber, Metamucil flavors (Orange, Pink Lemonade and Berry Burst!) fit any lifestyle when you are looking to increase your fiber intake. Metamucil is the number one doctor and pharmacist7 recommended fiber brand. For more information, visit http://www.metamucil.com.
About P&G
Four billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Gain®, Pringles®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, Braun® and Fusion®.
The P&G community includes approximately 127,000 employees working in about 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.
References:
1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). Health, United States, 2010 [Data file]. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus10.pdf
2 http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/pdf/Death_by_Age_2007-a.pdf
3 http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/health-benefits-of-green-tea
4American Heart Association. (2010). Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics 2010 Update: A Report from the American Heart Association [Data file]. Retrieved from http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/reprint/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.192667
6 http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/why-you-need-more-fiber
7 Pharmacy Times Survey 2011 (laxative bulk fiber category)
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