Heart-healthy accessories for everyday life

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Some tech to help you be heart smart

February is Heart & Stroke month, our annual reminder of the merits of making healthy lifestyle choices and changes, if necessary. 

In Canada, Heart disease affects about 2.4 million adults annually and is the second leading cause of death. Health experts say adding daily exercise and a healthy diet are heart smart things to do. And, of course, there are devices to help you with some of that.

Mathew Wilson, communications specialist with Best Buy, says the appetite for smart tech related to bolstering health and fitness is a growing category, especially during the pandemic when many no longer had access to resources like the gym

And it is ever evolving with smart devices doing more to help people keep tabs on their progress towards their own personal fitness goals.

“It continues to grow with the introduction of new products, cycling bikes, treadmills, scales,” Wilson said. “These things have been around for a while, they have just become smarter.”

There are fitness trackers like the Fitbit Charge 5 ($159.99). And, yes, a smart jumping rope, the hyrope ($69.99), is a thing. 

“You can actually jump rope and monitor what you are doing and keep track on your phone,” Wilson added. 

Wilson says a key attraction to smart fitness devices is the ability for it to track your progress and put you in a better position to find the motivation to exercise and/or set and reach your health goals. 

“It’s easy to go for a run or walk and not know how long you did,” he said. “Whether it’s to track heart health, support your efforts to eat better or help you stay healthy through fitness … smart technology helps.”

And, of course, most not only help you do what we always could, and perhaps should, but they do more.

“We have a smart scale that, obviously, tells you your weight and also tells you your standing heart rate and body composition,” Wilson said. “It links to your phone where you can view and collect all that health-related data to help you understand where you are in terms of your health and where you want to be.”

Wilson says the fitness category has become a frequently shopped one given the popularity in people setting up home gyms with everything from spin bikes to treadmills, weight machines and free weights. 

He bought some space-saving bit of technology for his home — a pair of Bowflex weights ($499.99) that, with the switch of a dial, can replace a set of 15 by being adjustable in 2.5 pound increments from five pounds up to 52.5 pounds. There is also a related app to track reps and sets. 

There are other products that help with overall fitness, too, including blood pressure monitors (for those who have to keep especially close tabs on their blood pressure but would like the convenience of doing it at home) and the air fryer, (Insignia Air Fryer, $229.99) which is popular with those wanting to make delicious but less greasy meals, Wilson shared.

Change your diet, change your life? Here’s some healthy meal recipe options.

The Heart Healthy Cookbook for Two: 125 Perfectly Portioned Low Sodium, Low Fat Recipes ($21.65) 

Heart Health For Canadians: The Definitive Guide ($26.72) 

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Shopping Essentials is a new category that features highly-researched products, new and exciting launches or behind-the-scenes info — learn more.  All prices are accurate on the day of publication.

NMoharib@postmedia.com

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