February 3rd is National Wear Red Day. It is a way to raise awareness around heart disease and women. Heart disease kills more women than all of cancers combined.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among men and women in Hawaii and the nation, accounting for approximately 25 percent of Hawaii deaths. With numbers like this clearly heart healthy activities and choosing a healthy diet need to be give the attention it deserves.
Hawaii Heart Healthy Choices
If you live in Hawaii there are resources both in exercise and in food that have easy access and can actually become fun. Those who are vacationing in Hawaii should take advantage of the perfect setting to kick off healthier lifestyle choices.
Getting healthy doesn’t mean take drastic measures for the next week, find the changes too much and then give up. It is a very familiar pattern.
Instead commit to make one change a day for a short period of time. It will find you much more excited about adding to the a fitness and diet regime.
Healthy Hawaii Diet
Hawaii is known for growing:
- Mangos
- Papayas
- Pineapples
There are many choices in fresh fruit grown on the Hawaiian Islands making variety easy. Choose one fruit a day and replace something bad you would have eaten instead. The fact of the matter is it takes just as long to run in a local grocery story or farmers market and grab one of these choices as it does to drive to a fast food restaurant or making a junk food choice at the convenience store.
Same is true of vegetables.
- Pumpkins have incredible health benefits and grow all year round in Hawaii.
- Squash
- Volcano potatoes
- Carrots
- Beets
- Green leafy lettuces
You can find fresh vegetables like these sold at farmers markets and local grocery stores in Hawaii. Choose one fresh vegetable to eat a day.
Grabbing the bag of BBQ chips may be a habit which can easily be replaced with very little effort. Start yourself on the road to a healthy diet one food at a time over several months. It will be a recipe for success.
Fitness in Hawaii
The weather is simply not an excuse on the Hawaiian Islands for lack of exercise. If exercise just hasn’t been your thing, start with 10 minutes a day. Again, you don’t have to attempt a marathon next week, and certainly if you did the chances you’d actually succeed are very small.
Hawaii being surrounded by water offers several alternatives for fun within your health and fitness quest. Walking or running are always and easy alternative since you can practice this one from just about anywhere.
Try:
- Swimming
- Boogie boarding
- Stand up paddling
- Outrigger paddling
- Snorkeling
- Kayaking
The healing waters that surround the Hawaiian Islands are majestic. If you have been caught up in the same routine, busy with errands and just simply getting it done, make a commitment to try one of these activities. Find one that is fun and get your heart healthy and happy in Hawaii.
Jt Clough lives on the Big Island, Hawaii, and practices health, happiness and natural remedies, while working as a Habits Coach for people looking to live healthier and happier lives. She is a dog whisperer for our best friends; and studies natural dog remedies, nutrition and communication. Her latest e-book is How to Swim through Your Fears and Come Out a Champion.
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