Mens Health Australia May 2017

HEALTH

38 MAY 2017

Give To

Receive

Heart Health

PHOTOGRAPHY BY PETER CROWTHER

Start donating blood and it’ll be

your own body that benefits.

Charity begins at home

THE SPIRIT OF GIVING should be all about helping
others, right? Well, not entirely. Psychologists have
long understood the notion that altruism activates
regions of your brain associated with pleasure,
creating a mentally and physically rewarding
“warm glow” effect. But if you want to give your
heart a genuine gift, we have the bow and ribbon
for your needs.
A study in the American Journal of Epidemiology
found that people who gave blood on a yearly basis
were a high-fiving 88 per cent less likely to suffer
a heart attack. Why? Too much iron in your blood
can increase its viscosity, which puts extra strain
on your heart and can lead to life-threatening
clots. Scientists speculate that donating your blood
on a regular basis balances iron levels, ensuring
all that plasma is pumped around your body with
greater ease.
You’ll also pocket a nice kilojoule burn from
your philanthropy. The University of California
found that giving blood torches more than 2700kJ,
the equivalent of a lung-searing HIIT session.
Need any more incentive? Well, according to
Harvard University, we also derive pleasure
through charitable acts in what’s been called “self-
interested giving”. So, inject a little selfishness into
your life and everyone – including yourself – will
be better off for it.

TICKER LIST

AVO UP

The magnesium in every hipster’s

favourite fruit, avocado, has been

found to cut BP. But beware the kJ

load – smash in moderation.

SHAKE IT OFF

Training your grip strength tanks

resting BP, reports Canada’s

McMaster University. Bonus: a firm

handshake still impresses people.

EXHAUST OPTIONS

Road traffic noise at night can rack

u p h e a r t a t t a c k r i s k b y 12 p e r c e n t ,

says PLOS One journal. Move to the

country. Or buy earplugs.

HEART GAINER

Full-body workouts lifting in the 8-12

rep range twice a week will up your

ticker’s health, says the American

Heart Association.

NOT A FAN OF NEEDLES? THESE BLUNT ALTERNATIVES OFFER SHARP BENEFITS

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