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Health & Wellness News From Byron J. Richards
Poor Flexibility is a Sign of Stiff ArteriesFriday, October 16, 2009 - Byron J. Richards, CCNIf you are over 40 and have trouble touching your toes it is a likely sign that your arteries are getting stiff in direct proportion to your lack of flexibility. This is another low tech test, like putting a tape measure around your stomach, which is also predictive of hardening arteries. In the study researchers used something called the sit-and-reach test. The volunteers sat on the floor, back against the wall, legs straight. They slowly reached their arms forward by bending at the waist. Based on how far they could reach, the researchers classified the participants as either poor- or high-flexibility. While these researchers were using scientific tools to measure flexibility, along with many other tests to reflect stiffness of arteries, the take-home message is rather simple. The more flexible you are the more flexible your arteries are likely to be. If you can’t reach your toes you have something to work on. If you can get a whole hand length past your toes you are pretty flexible. (These distances are my opinion.) The researchers were not sure why stretching flexibility was associated with better arterial health but it is likely that when you do stretching exercise you turn on genes that enhance flexibility in general. Stretching helps release substance P from nerve endings, an inflammatory nerve signal that is reflective of wear and tear, internal excess stress feelings, and general muscle stiffness (especially in the shoulders). There are many structural support nutrients that assist connective tissue integrity and flexibility, which work synergistically with exercise. While these researchers based their observations of trunk flexibility, it is likely that all areas of your body need flexibility – especially those that tighten up easily (like shoulders). If your blood pressure is up you should do a lot of stretching as part of your health program. If you lack flexibility, then you should make an effort to include daily stretching in your life. Quercetin Helps Blood Pressure Amount of Snoring Predicts Hardening of Arteries Olive Leaf Extract Lowers Blood Pressure & Cholesterol Bone Loss Linked to Hardening Arteries Sluggish Thyroid Increases Blood Pressure Don’t Forget Vitamin C for Your Arteries Green Tea Flavonoids Protect Arteries Boswellic Acid Reduces Hardening of Arteries Lipoic Acid Reduces Hardening of Arteries, Boosts Weight Loss ### Other Health News
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