Tag: Dr. Barbara Edwards Princeton

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How Exercise Can Benefit Your Heart

Dr. Barbara R Edwards Princeton woman running during sunset

It is no secret that exercise is one of the greatest gifts you can grant your body. Exercise can promote fat loss and muscle growth, increase energy and brain health, decrease chronic disease risk, and help your body function at its full potential. However, the immense benefits exercise has on your heart are often overlooked.

The Benefits of Exercise on Your Heart

Being overweight puts you at a greater risk for heart-related medical issues, therefore losing weight and keeping it off plays a big role in keeping your heart healthy in the long-term. According to Hopkin’s Medicine, high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease. Regular exercise can help to lower your blood pressure and slow the heart rate.

Smoking can also cause many heart-related medical issues. Getting in shape can go hand in hand with your battle to quit smoking because increasing your fitness level can decrease your desire to smoke. Not only can exercise help you quit smoking, but it can play an integral role in managing your stress level. High stress may take a toll on your heart and exercise can help keep you calm, cool and collected through everything life may throw your way.

For optimal heart health, it is recommended that you incorporate a mix of aerobic exercise and strength training into your exercise routine. Do your heart a favor and contact your doctor to find an exercise routine that is right for you!

Dr. Barbara R Edwards, Princeton internist practices at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center and also serves as Medical Director of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Community Health Center.

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Three Unique Ways to Volunteer

group of volunteers putting their hands in to the group

If you have grown tired of the same volunteer activities that you have been doing, it may be time to switch things up and find a new, unique way to volunteer. As great as it is to volunteer at food pantries and animal shelters, it is natural to get bored of doing the same thing repeatedly. If you want to volunteer in a different way, here are three unique volunteer activities you can try.

1. Show Off Your Theatrical Capabilities

If you love to act, you can volunteer for a community theater production. You could also volunteer by singing in a community choir if you want to share your musical talent with the world. Another way to volunteer in the spotlight could be to give tours at a local museum, or you could even work behind the scenes for many of these places.

2. Volunteer from Home

Thanks to technological advancements, you can now volunteer without leaving your home. Some virtual volunteer opportunities include: blogging, translating, or becoming a crisis text line volunteer. These are just a few ways to virtually volunteer and a simple Google search could give you many more options for your local area.

3. Hike for Others

Not only can hiking personally benefit you through exercise, but you can hike to benefit others as well. Common volunteering tasks may include basic maintenance to keep trails in great shape, assisting with building projects, and mentoring young hikers. If you live near hiking trails, reach out to them to learn about the volunteer opportunities they offer.

Dr. Barbara R Edwards, Princeton internist practices at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center and also serves as Medical Director of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Community Health Center.

More on This: Reader’s Digest

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Benefits of Exercising in Cold Weather

woman stretching outside in the cold

The winter months are right around the corner, and although the cold may make us want to stay inside and cuddle up on the couch, it’s important to still fit exercise into our daily routines. Exercising in any weather is important, but did you know that exercising in the cold is especially beneficial to your overall health? Here are some of the benefits that cold-weather exercise can give you.

  1. Vitamin D

Winter means shorter days and less sunlight which can cause a lack of vitamin D. Vitamin D is important for healthy bones and can reduce the risk of diabetes and cancer. Exercising outside in the daylight can give you the small dose of sunlight that your body desperately needs in the wintertime.

  1. Boosts Immune System

Winter is when the flu and cold season is at its peak. Exercising a little bit every day can help boost your immune system and fight off colds and the flu.

  1. Shivering Burns Calories

People expend five times more energy when shivering than when resting. Shivering helps to burn more calories and if you are exercising while shivering, you will burn more calories than if you were exercising in warm weather.

Dr. Barbara Edwards, Princeton internist practices at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center and also serves as Medical Director of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Community Health Center.

Source: AccuWeather

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Why Employers Want to See Volunteerism on Your Resume

two people discussing a resume

Companies receive countless amounts of resumes a year and it’s easy to start to blend everyone together. One way that interviewees can stand out above the rest is through volunteer experience. Although volunteerism may not seem as important to include on a resume as employment or education, here’s some reasons why you may want to consider putting this on your resume.

Shows Desirable Personality Traits

If you are someone who thinks volunteerism is important, then chances are that you have personality traits that are valuable to a company. Personality traits such as compassion, patience, enthusiasm, and devotion show companies that you have the ingredients of a good employee.

Hard and Soft Skills

Like job experience, volunteerism can give you many hard and soft skills. Skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership are all positive attributes in the eyes of an employer and can be acquired through volunteerism.

Globalization/Culture

Volunteering allows you to interact with a wide variety of people from many different backgrounds, especially if you volunteer abroad. Volunteering abroad shows that you are open to new culture and can adapt well to different environments. These are important skills that employers like to see.

If you are interested in volunteering, contact your local humane society, food bank, or retirement home to see if they are accepting volunteers. You can also search online for local or abroad volunteer opportunities.

Dr. Barbara R Edwards, Princeton internist practices at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center and also serves as Medical Director of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Community Health Center.

Source: Her Campus

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5 Healthy Snacks

raw nuts

Snack options are always tough when you’re trying to be healthy. For those on the go, it may seem impossible to avoid reaching for snacks with high sugar and salt which is why it is strongly suggested to prepare snacks at home before venturing out for the day. Here are some healthy, mess-free snack options ideal for your car, desk, or anywhere else:

1. Mixed Raw Nuts

Mixed raw nuts are a great source of fat, fiber, protein, and vitamin E. Cashews, almonds, pistachios, and walnuts are just a few options that require almost no preparation for easy consumption.

2. Boiled Eggs

Eggs aren’t just for the morning, boil them for about 7 minutes and bring them on-the-go. This low-calorie snack has about 5 grams of protein with ‘healthy fats’ known to lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol.

3. Protein Shakes

There are plenty of ingredients you can put into protein shakes and a large assortment of pre-made drinks to choose from if you’re in a hurry. If you choose to make your own, consider adding whey protein powder, liquids like soymilk or almond milk, and an assortment of fruits such as bananas, strawberries, and apples. This snack is popular among those looking to build muscle with lots of vitamins and minerals.

4. Dried Fruit

Instead of worrying about the temperature of regular fruit and where to store it, pre-packed dried fruit with no added sugar is a great alternative. You can go for blueberries, blackberries or cherries (great for antioxidants), just to name a few.

5. Seeds

Seeds are known for having high levels of fiber with the ability to lower blood pressure and blood sugar. Some great seeds to turn to are flax, hemp, chia, and sesame seeds.

Dr. Barbara Edwards, Princeton internist practices at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center and also serves as Medical Director of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Community Health Center.