![](https://naturalhealthresponse.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/NHT_210830_1000x667-1000x300.jpg)
Your Heart Health Questions ANSWERED (Finally!)
The truth about your diet and exercise needs
If you’re an older adult — or if you’re obese — I’m willing to bet your mainstream doctor has already bombarded you with instructions to eat less and exercise more.
And it’s great advice.
Doing so can help protect your heart health by boosting the health of your arteries.
But this kind of advice leaves you with a lot of open-ended questions…
Like, what’s the ideal amount of exercise — or weight loss — to get the maximum benefits?
Researchers asked this question in a recent study, and they didn’t get the answer they expected.
Here are the surprising results…
This study included 160 obese, sedentary adults from 65-79 years old.
They were assigned to one of three groups for 20 weeks:
- Group 1: exercise only, regular diet
- Group 2: exercise plus moderate calorie restriction (cutting about 250 calories per day)
- Group 3: exercise plus intense calorie restriction (cutting about 600 calories per day)
The participants underwent MRIs to determine aortic arch pulse wave velocity (the speed at which blood travels through the aorta) and distensibility (the ability of the aorta to expand and contract).
Higher pulse wave velocity + lower distensibility = stiffer aortas.
And the winners were…
Group 2!
The exercise plus moderate calorie restriction group saw significant improvements in aortic stiffness—with about an 8 percent increase in PWV and a 21 percent increase in distensibility.
Both calorie restriction groups lost more weight, and they had greater changes in BMI, total fat mass, percent body fat, and waist circumference than the exercise-only group.
BUT only the moderate calorie restriction group saw improvements in aortic stiffness.
So, the next time you consider going on some crazy fad diet or drastic weight loss program, keep all of this in mind.
Because, while those types of programs may help you lose weight, they might not be great for your heart health.
Yes, exercise.
Yes, work toward a being a healthy weight.
But you don’t have to go crazy doing it.
As this study showed, cutting about 250 calories out of your diet per day brought about the best benefits for your waistline—and for your heart.
Dr. Richard Gerhauser, M.D. (rgerhauser)
P.S. You’ll want to check your pantry and see if you already have the best snack for your heart. Click here to learn about this secret, heart-happy food.
![Dr. Richard Gerhauser, M.D.](https://naturalhealthresponse.com/wp-content/themes/health-child/images/author-images/Dr.RichardGerhauser,M.D..jpg)
Written By Dr. Richard Gerhauser, M.D.
For years he’s been the trusted doctor for celebrities, world-class athletes, and countless seniors looking to reclaim their health.
And now…for the first time ever… he’s making his medical breakthroughs available to readers all across America.
Dr. Richard Gerhauser, M.D. is one of the most pioneering and innovative minds in medicine today – and he delivers cutting-edge cures each month through his Natural Health Response newsletter.
Natural Health Response readers get full access to Dr. Gerhauser’s protocols for chronic pain… heart disease… diabetes… Alzheimer’s… and even cancer. These are the very same treatments Dr. Gerhauser recommends to his own patients at his practice in Tucson, Arizona.
In addition to being a board-certified medical doctor, Dr. Gerhauser has earned two master’s degrees and has served as a clinical professor at the University of Arizona.
And as a physician at the world-famous Canyon Ranch, Dr. Gerhauser treated celebrities from around the world who paid dearly for the type of next-generation health information he provides Natural Health Response readers each month.
View More Free Articles
Mother Nature's Bone-Building Secret REVEALED
Mainstream medicine has peddled the same old song and dance about osteoporosis for years. Pop some calcium pills… do some jumping jacks… and cross your fingers that your bones don’t crumble like a stale cookie. But what if I told you Mother Nature has been hiding a bone-building secret right under our noses? And we […]
The INCREDIBLE Payoff for Delaying Diabetes
If you don’t know where your blood sugar levels stand, it’s time to get them checked. It’s estimated that one in three adults has prediabetes, yet 80 percent of these folks have NO IDEA they’re in this category. That’s a BIG problem because most people will develop type 2 diabetes within just five years of […]
The Biggest Dementia Risk Factor REVEALED
I’m sure you’re familiar with the Skeleton Dance song… “The foot bone is connected to the leg bone. The leg bone is connected to the knee bone…” It’s easy to think of our bones being linked because we can physically see them. What’s less obvious is that everything else about your health is JUST as […]
It's NEVER Too Late to Kick This Dangerous Habit
You’ve heard it a million times before: “Smoking is bad for you.” If you’re still lighting up, I bet you remember a time when smoking wasn’t just accepted—it was downright fashionable. Remember when you could smoke in restaurants, on airplanes, and even in hospitals? Heck, movie stars even made it look cool and sophisticated. Well, […]
The TRUTH About ED No One's Talking About
It’s a subject most men would rather sweep under the rug… erectile dysfunction (ED). But you’re not alone if you’re having trouble in the bedroom. In fact, ED affects up to 30 million men in the U.S. alone. However, popping a little blue pill isn’t the answer. ED drugs are often just slapping a Band-Aid […]
Don’t Let Muscle Loss RUIN Your Golden Years
For older women, muscle mass can take a nosedive after menopause. This means more than trouble carrying in the groceries. Over time, the decline in muscle mass can lead to mobility problems, balance problems, falls, and ultimately a loss of independence. Staying active is a critical piece of the puzzle. But now, researchers have discovered […]
The Bad Habit Causing Lupus
All autoimmune diseases are on the rise—but lupus is one of the worst. When the condition strikes, your immune system starts to attack healthy tissues. Lupus cases have increased by 60 percent in women and have increased six-fold in men over the past four decades. What’s driving this dramatic increase? Well, we might have found […]
SHOCKING Missing Piece of the Diabetes Puzzle Discovered
I’ve been saying for years that there’s MORE to type 2 diabetes than your weight—or even your diet. Sure, they play their part. But unless you’re adding in THIS missing piece of the puzzle, you could be increasing your risk of type 2 diabetes despite your best efforts to avoid it. And you’ll never guess […]
Ditch the Chips and DEFY Aging
Sometimes, you just want something to crunch on. The craving can send even the most health-conscious among us heading straight to the snack aisle. But before you reach for the potato chips—which can contain all kinds of harmful ingredients—I have a better idea. Try THIS crunchy, healthy snack instead of loading up ingredients that can […]
Is Aspirin DEADLY? (Get the Truth Here)
Old habits die hard… especially when we’ve been led to believe they’re good ones. We were told for years that taking an aspirin a day would lower the risk of heart attack and stroke. But for many, those were empty promises that came with a LOT of risk… and LITTLE reward. That’s why, if you’re […]