Target Heart Rate Zone

Knowing Your Target Heart Rate Zone is the Key to Anti Inflammatory Exercise

A key principle of the Gene Smart Anti Inflammatory Diet & Exercise Program is to Exercise to Reduce Whole Body Inflammation. With an emphasis on reducing whole body inflammation and promoting healthy active aging, the Gene Smart Program focuses more on the level of intensity at which you work out and less on the amount of time you exercise. And the way to measure the level of intensity is to achieve an activity level that gets your heart pumping within its target heart rate target zone. The chart below will help you identify your target heart rate based on the target heart rate zones for your age.

Get Started: Know Your Target Heart Rate Zone and Your Target Heart Rate

Exercise at least 5 days a week, for at least 30 minutes. Start by trying to achieve 50-75 % of the maximum target heart rate for your age; you may need to do intervals at first to get enough quality exercise. When starting an exercise program, aim for the lower end of your target heart rate zone (50 percent) during the first few weeks. Then, gradually build up to the higher end of your heart rate zone (75 percent).

As You Get In Shape, Adjust your Target Heart Rate Based on Your Heart Rate Zones

As you get in shape, increase your working target heart rate to 70-85% of maximum, with three days of aerobic exercise (walking, running, elliptical) and two days of circuit training: aerobic exercise to warm up and cool down, combined with a resistant, weight-training program designed to work 8-10 muscle groups.

A heart rate monitor will help you know when you are achieving your heart target rate based on your target heart rate zone in the following chart.