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What secret does your heart rate reveal about your health? When it comes to heart rates, a low heartbeat score may help you beat some disease risks. A healthy resting heart rate

(RHR) can be beneficial for your health. Take a look at what we know about the connection between a lower resting heart rate and a higher level of health. Knowing the full picture of the heart-health connection can help you get motivated to live a life with healthy meals, appropriate amounts of activity and all of the other factors that go along with getting into the correct heartbeat zone.

How Often Do You Think About Your Resting Heart Rate?

Resting heart rate refers to the number of times your heart beats per minute while you’re at rest. Most people you might poll on the street aren’t likely to know their own stats for resting heart rate. It’s simply not something we talk about enough! Do you know your resting heart rate? It’s easy to figure out. While there are many apps and devices that can help you to track your heart rate, you can also measure it using the following wrist technique:

  • Place your second and third fingers from one hand on the inside of the wrist of the opposite hand just below the base of your thumb.
  • You should be able to feel the movement of your pulse.
  • Next, count the number of beats that occur in a 60-second span.
  • Repeat a few times for accuracy.

A healthy resting heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. However, many factors can impact heart rate. People who are fit tend to have lower resting heart rates than people who don’t exercise regularly. In addition, factors like health conditions, medications and genetics can all influence your resting heart rate.

Making Sense of Your Resting Heart Rate

Focusing on the range for your resting heart rate can be much more important than obsessing over a specific number. A normal resting heart rate for women and men is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. However, trying to get to the extreme on either end isn’t necessarily something to strive for.

When your heart rate is lower, your heart can pump more blood with each contraction. This leads to a steady heartbeat.

However, bradycardia is a condition where the resting heart rate is considered too slow. Generally, it refers to a resting heart rate under 60 beats per minute. Before feeling alarmed, what is considered too slow is dependent on many factors including age and physical health. Many athletes and physically active adults have RHR under 60 beats per minute. And it’s not uncommon for a person’s heart rate to slow down below 60 BPM during sleep. A sign that a slow RHR is potentially too low is when you’re experiencing dizziness and shortness of breath when resting.

The opposite of a low resting heart rate is a high resting heart rate. When your resting heart rate is consistently above 100 beats per minute, your risk for a cardiovascular event is higher. When your heart rate is high, your heart is working harder to finish every contraction. As a result, your heart could potentially become overstressed.

How Your Resting Heart Rate Impacts Your Health

Resting heart rate is something that researchers studying cardiovascular health have been focused on for years. There are mountains of data pointing to the connection between heart rate and health. In a 2013 study, researchers tracking 3,000 men over a period spanning 16 years discovered that a high resting heart rate was closely linked with the following:

  • Lower levels of physical fitness.
  • Higher blood pressure.
  • Higher body weight.
  • Increased levels of circular blood fat.

The most concerning finding of this study was that a higher resting heart rate increased the risk for premature death. When heart rates reached between 81 and 90 beats per minute, the risk of death doubled. For participants with resting heart rates above 90, the risk for death was tripled.

Getting in the Zone: Are There Ways to Reduce Resting Heart Rate?

A healthy resting heart rate is the result of a complicated amalgam of health-related factors. The good news is that most people can make strides with reducing resting heart rate to reach an optimal zone after struggling with high resting heart rates. If you’re just now discovering that your resting heart rate is slightly higher than what would be considered ideal, it’s essential to know about some outlying factors that can be inflating your heart rate.

Stress and anxiety are two contributors to high resting heart rates that are often overlooked. When we’re feeling stressed and anxious, the adrenal gland releases a “stress hormone” called cortisol as part of the body’s natural “fight or flight” response. While this response is designed to keep us alive by throwing our response into overdrive at the sign of danger, it robs years from your life if you allow stress levels to stay elevated. That’s because cortisol causes both your heart rate and blood pressure to stay elevated. While it may not seem like the most satisfying answer, the reality is that taking steps to become more relaxed is vital for stabilizing your resting heart rate.

It’s also known that keeping cholesterol levels healthy can help with maintaining a low resting heart rate. That’s because cholesterol restricts blood flow through the blood vessels and arteries. As a result, your heart needs to try to operate much faster to keep blood moving. Unfortunately, this can tax your heart to its breaking point. Cholesterol levels are closely linked with diet. In fact, diet is one of the most powerful tools we can use to achieve a lower heart resting heart rate.

Which Foods Can Lower Your Heart Rate?

First, cutting out sodium is a great way to naturally bring down your heart rate without any drastic lifestyle changes. Many people find that switching from processed foods to naturally flavorful foods helps them to reduce salt intake without feeling deprived. It’s also known that foods high in potassium can reduce the impact of sodium on blood pressure. Some potassium-rich foods to add to your heart-healthy diet include:

  • Avocados.
  • Dairy.
  • Bananas.
  • Melons.
  • Leafy green vegetables.
  • Potatoes and sweet potatoes.
  • Tuna.
  • Salmon.
  • Beans.
  • Nuts and seeds.
Try our avocado toast!

Reducing your intake of processed sugars and refined carbohydrates is also vital for achieving a healthy heart rate. It’s also known that eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce heart rate. One meta-analysis published in 2012 found that consumption of omega-3 fatty acids significantly reduced heart rate. Fish is considered to be the best source of natural omega-3 fatty acids. That means that entrées like Broiled Blue Circle Salmon or Tilapia With Grits and Walnuts are perfect for someone looking to stay satisfied without making a heartbeat blunder. For those who aren’t fans of fish, there are still plenty of ways to get in those omega-3 fatty acids naturally through diet. Avocados are very high in omega-3 fatty acids. That makes options like guacamole and avocado toast very attractive.

Don’t Forget Exercise

Nutrition is primarily considered to be the most important factor in a good resting heart rate. However, peppering in some regular exercise while staying on track with meal prep can only make things better. How much exercise do you need to reduce your heart rate? First, knowing the type of exercise that makes the biggest impact is important. According to one study, the average 55-year-old adult only requires one hour per week of high-intensity aerobic training to significantly lower resting heart rate. We also know that keeping up with exercise is the key to keeping the heart stronger. That’s because the heart becomes stronger with more exercise. Using exercise to “train” your heart to get to a place where it pumps more blood with each beat means that your heart doesn’t need to work harder to catch up! This is where you get a lower resting heart rate.

When you don’t know where to start with an exercise plan, there’s one thing to know—simply following the American Heart Association’s recommendation of getting in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week should be enough to keep your heart fit. If you’re pressed for time, consider the American Heart Association’s alternate recommendation of fitting in 75 minutes of vigorous activity every week.

Final Thoughts: Achieving A Good Resting Heart Rate Resting Heart Rate Comes Down To Lifestyle

Are you unhappy with your resting heart rate? Change is possible. Remember that giving your heart a rest through diet is the best way to speed up your vitality! Consider doing meal prep to ensure that you have low-sodium, heart-healthy foods waiting for you at every meal to avoid the trap of grabbing for foods that are quick and easy.

Happy New Year! 

Now that we have enjoyed some eggnog, pecan pie and sipped on a few too many cocktails, it’s time to start thinking about how to nourish ourselves for 2019!

This year we are excited to offer a series of helpful nutrition tips featuring local holistic nutritionist, Anna Frumkin. 

Below are (3) tips that Anna recommends to get yourself back into the game for the new year!

#1: Anna, how do I start working out again?

Now you may be new to working out or maybe you decided to take time off during the holiday season. My biggest tip when it comes to getting back in the workout game is to use the power of your mind.

Now, before you think I am getting to “woo-woo”, hear me out for a moment. Our minds think in pictures, and the simple act of you visualizing how you will feel 15 minutes after a workout can really help get you motivated. An example could be “ I want to go to that yoga class”, visualize how much mental clarity and how refreshed you will feel after that workout.

Just doing this one thing can shift you completely. Another tip my nutrition clients love is to schedule in your workouts just as you would your doctor or dentist appointments. Part of creating a new habit is all about repetition and I want you to think of your workouts as brushing your teeth. Do not let your mind take over- just get that body moving!

Your brain + body will thank you, I promise! 🙂


2. Anna, how do I get in my #nourishing3?

At Nourish with Anna I teach my rockstar clients that in order for you to achieve their specific health + wellness goals, it is imperative that we have accountability, treat every individual uniquely since we all have different needs/ health ailments, as well as balance our blood sugar in order to increase our energy + feel satiated throughout the day.

To do this, we want to follow the #nourishing3™️ . This is a formula I came up with after working with clients. Make sure every plate consist of healthy fats, protein + complex carbohydrates.

Below are some examples to put on your plate (ratios are unique to every body type and to an individual’s specific goal).

1.-Protein ( aids in curbing sugar + simple carb cravings) 56 grams per day for the average sedentary man + 46 grams per day for the average sedentary woman. Examples are: Chicken, fish, beef, lamb

2. -Healthy fats (Keep you feeling satiated) anywhere between 44 grams to 77 grams. Examples are: Avocado, Eggs, Fish, Chia Seeds

3. -Complex Carbohydrates (Complex carbs keep you full longer  + keep blood sugar levels steady) 225 and 325 grams of carbohydrates a day. Examples are: Sweet Potato, Oats, Quinoa, your fav vegetables


3. Anna, how do I stop falling off the wagon?

This is a great question!

What I want you all to practice doing mentally is to STOP thinking of nourishing yourself and moving your body as being on or off any wagon.

Eating delicious nourishing foods and moving your body is a gift you give to yourself. It is ultimate self-care as well as the best health insurance you can give to your body.

Watch your self-talk the next couple of weeks. Instead of saying “ I should go to the gym”, replace it with “ I GET to move my body and feel stronger! Also, instead of saying “ healthy food is boring” start saying “ I LOVE nourishing my body with foods that taste delicious + are great for me! 🙂


Now, I know that starting on a path to wellness can be overwhelming.

This is why I have taken 20% off of all of my nutrition programs just for you! Learn how to eat for your unique body since nutrition is not one size fits all and everyone has different needs.

Whether you are looking to lose weight, heal digestive issues, or have a better relationship with food, I am here for you. Sign up for a complimentary call here to feel + look your best in 2019! 😉



Your Nutritionist,

Anna Frumkin N.C.


Are you struggling to lose weight? If so, you aren’t alone! Trying to figure out what you should be eating and how much can often feel a little overwhelming. And then, it’s even more frustrating when you aren’t seeing results each time you step on the scale.

Instead of getting discouraged, it’s time to take your weight loss to the next level. The best way you can do that is by using a meal delivery service with already prepared meals such as LoCal Foodz. This way, you can eat food that’s healthy, still tastes great, and helps you shed those last few pounds

If you aren’t already convinced this is the way to go, here are five ways a meal delivery service can supercharge your weight loss goals. With these tips in mind, you’ll be dying to get your hands on your first meal!

Feeling overwhelmed with all the information out there? If so, keep on reading!

What if i told you that you could eat cheese, some bacon, avocado, & lot’s of other tasty goodies? Sounds crazy, right?

Keto friendly options

Keto takes a very specific approach to weight loss. It does this by burning dietary fat instead of glucose for energy. When you eat a low carb diet that is rich in fats, your body is able to use this fat as energy.

But what can you eat? What should you eat? How much of it should you eat? The questions go on & on.

While everyone’s body & caloric intake needs are different, you should aim to get roughly ~60-80% of your calories from Fat, 15-30% of your calories from Protein, & 5-10% of your calories from Carbohydrates.