Some exercise is undoubtedly better than none, but if people go beyond moderate amount, it can cause problems.
Many people who seem physically fit report collapses in a match, race or during workouts. Bolton Wanderers' Fabrice Muaumba, for example, nearly died of a cardiac arrest while playing. Meanwhile, BBC TV presenter and journalist Andrew Marr has blamed his stroke on overwork and intense rowing machine sessions.
The most recent case of collapse was a 23-year-old man who collapsed and died while running in the Brighton marathon on April 14. He is thought to have had a cardiac arrest.
These incidents should alert us to the dangers of extreme exertion - how much exercise is good for people? The Guardian recently published advice and workout suggestions by the UK's National Health Service as well as US cardiologists and keen runners. To see the experts' recommendations and watch a video interview with Marr four months after his life-threatening stroke, go to http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2013/apr/15/andrew-marr-high-intensity-exercise-dangerous.
Beets to the rescue
Eating plenty of vegetables offers a wide range of health benefits. Did you know that veggies with a high dietary nitrate content can help improve cardiovascular health in particular?
A good source of nitrate is beetroot as nitrate is found naturally in soil, where it's taken in by vegetables through the roots to help them grow.
A group of researchers from Barts Health NHS Trust and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry have been studying the blood pressure lowering effects of beetroots for years. The studies show that beetroot juice shows promising signs of reducing blood pressure. But further studies are needed into whether this nitrate-rich vegetable is good for the heart in the long run.
Moreover, beetroot juice can boost stamina. Beetroots can also serve as an ingredient for making healthy burgers. Scientists believe that beetroots stop the body from absorbing the bad fat found in burgers. Read more about the magic of this little purple vegetable at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22152901.
