Marla Ahlgrimm Announces Key Numbers to Good Health

Marla Ahlgrimm

Respected women’s health expert and pharmacist, Marla Ahlgrimm, explains the importance of health awareness.

MADISON, Wisconsin – January 17, 2013 – Pharmacist Marla Ahlgrimm is a respected expert in women’s health, having worked to help women manage symptoms of PMS and menopause for decades. With large numbers of women affected by heart disease, cancer, and strokes each year, Marla Ahlgrimm believes it’s more important than ever for women to understand what they can do to reduce their risks and prolong their lives. Recently, Marla Ahlgrimm breaks down the 1-2-3’s of good health by numbers:

• 1 is for one percent, the type of milk Marla Ahlgrimm recommends as an excellent low-fat source of calcium and protein. It also stands for the small amount you can reduce your cholesterol to improve heart health, explains Marla Ahlgrimm. Just lowering LDL (“bad”) cholesterol by one percent, Marla Ahlgrimm tells us, will decrease the risk of heart disease by two percent. The one percent benefit also applies to HDL (“good”) cholesterol. When you raise your HDL by one percent, your risk of heart disease drops by three to four percent. Marla Ahlgrimm stresses that adding healthy diet and exercise choices can help a woman reduce her risk of heart disease by as much as 30 percent.
• 5 is for five a day, the number of servings of fruits and vegetables Marla Ahlgrimm recommends each day. Just five servings a day of these nutrient-rich foods is believed to lower risks of heart disease by 30 percent and reduce cancer risk as well, reports Marla Ahlgrimm.
• 12 is for homocysteine level, which Marla Ahlgrimm recommends stay below 12 millimoles per liter. The amino acid, homocysteine, is increasingly linked to heart attack risk. You can keep your homocysteine level down by increasing folic acid as well as vitamins B12 and B6, Marla Ahlgrimm tells us. A woman should receive at least 400 micrograms of folic acid daily, notes Marla Ahlgrimm, which is especially important if she is of childbearing age.
• 30 is for the number of minutes Marla Ahlgrimm advises exercising each day. Marla Ahlgrimm states that 30 minutes is all someone needs to maintain fitness and lower stress levels. Marla Ahlgrimm has found that 30 minutes of exercise each day also reduces heart disease risks and keeps bones strong.
• 140 stands for 140/90, Marla Ahlgrimm says. A blood pressure reading consistently above 140/90 mmHg is considered hypertension, and signals an elevated risk of heart attack and stroke. Blood pressure increases as women age. Diet, exercise, and stress reduction all help to reduce blood pressure.
•  1200 is the number of milligrams of calcium older women should have each day, Marla Ahlgrimm stresses. According to Marla Ahlgrimm, this amount will help keep bones strong and reduce fractures and prevent osteoporosis, especially as women age. It’s also important that women incorporate at least 600IU of Vitamin D which helps with calcium absorption.
• Your Number is the number only you know—the recommended weight for your height and age, explains Marla Ahlgrimm. As Marla Ahlgrimm has learned, extra weight can shorten a woman’s life by as much as 13 years. Marla Ahlgrimm notes that for many women, weight loss becomes harder with each passing year due to decreasing metabolism. While weight loss can be difficult, it can make a big difference in health and well-being. Marla Ahlgrimm encourages women to join a weight loss program with a friend to help increase motivation and ensure long-term perseverance.

Marla Ahlgrimm knows that for many women may not know all their numbers. For that reason, Marla Ahlgrimm advises setting an appointment to discuss them with your physician. Having regular physicals and keeping those numbers in check is key to staying healthy.