Sunday, November 30, 2008

Working To Lower The Chances Of Disease With Power Foods

Nothing is worse than hitting 40 and realizing you're the ideal candidate for heart disease, which is the #1 killer for Americans. Sure, you liked your eggs benedict for breakfast and your steak for dinner, but who doesn't? Now you have to count cholesterol levels, beware of trans fat levels and eat more vitamin-enriched foods to ensure heart health. It may seem like a hassle at first, but you may find that some of the alternatives are actually quite delicious!

For snackers, texture is a big thing. You love the crunch of a potato chip or the way a chocolate chip cookie just sort of melts in your mouth. The good news is that one of the power foods on our list has just the crunch you need to feel satisfied: almonds! Two ounces or 48 of these tasty nuts will give you 50% of your daily magnesium, which ensures heart health, as well as providing vitamin E, fiber and monosaturated fat, which is the good kind. One study last year found that participants who ate 2.5 ounces of almonds per day lowered their cholesterol significantly after just one month! Other studies suggest a link between almonds and reducing the risk of colon cancer.

If you've got a sweet tooth, then you may find that watermelon quenches your need for sugary foods. This juicy "summer day" fruit contains beta-cryptoxanthin, which lowers cholesterol. It also has 20% of your daily vitamin A and vitamin C, in addition to providing you with an absorbable form of lycopene, which lowers heart disease and cancer risks. Similarly, blueberries are another amazing fruit that has been known to boost dopamine levels and your mood, as well as providing an anti-oxidant toxin-removal service and improving memory/coordination functions.

Perhaps you find that warm foods and drinks make you feel naturally happier. Maybe you're a reformed coffee junkie. Instead, why not try a cup of tea? Chai tea is a delicious blend of vanilla, cinnamon and comforting spices. Generally black and green teas are the most doctor-recommended for fighting breast, lung and digestive cancers and heart disease. Additionally, a hot cocoa can provide you with antioxidant flavonoids, which fight heart disease and cancer, will reduce toxins in the blood and improve cholesterol ratios.

"More than anything else you do, the way you eat tells your body how healthy you want to be," says Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., a physician in Tucson, Ariz., and author of Food As Medicine. Today, it's easier to eat healthy foods, with public attention shifting towards more diet-conscious meals, restaurants using less cream and fatty butter and websites like sparkspeople.com acting as a personal diet coach. You may have to say goodbye to a few of your favorite victuals, but once you realize what you liked most about that food, be it the texture, salt, sugar or a certain soothing quality, you will be able to find an adequate replacement.

 

As we become older there are crucial numbers that start to weigh to a great extent upon us. We have to worry about our weight, levels of cholesterol, as well as our blood pressure. Things we may have ignored our entire lives now suddenly they have significant importance. But these are some of the thing that should not have been pushed aside. A lifetime of abuse on the body yields simply unfavorable things when left unrestrained.

 

Your cholesterol level is absolutely critical if you want to remain in good health and your body operating the right way. High levels has the ability to lead lead to heart attacks as well as stroke, both of these things you do not want to have to contend with. Being mindful about your cholesterol level is not just for the aging. It is something both young as well as old need to be concerned with as well as be cognisant of if they hope to to conduct a healthy life. In this article we will cover the fundamentals of cholesterol and hopefully you will understand just how significant a healthy level is to your body as well as peace of mind.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a lipid that is found in the bloodstream of humans and all animals. It can be there from two different sources. The first source is your body itself. The body naturally produces cholesterol. The second source of cholesterol is the food that we eat. It may surprise you to know that not all cholesterol is bad for you. There is good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. But you have to know the difference if you want to protect your health and your heart.

What types of medicines are given for high cholesterol?

Obviously the first choice of physicians is exercise and a healthy diet low in trans fats. But when that does not work or there is a high level of LDL present then medications must be brought in to help. There are many different types of medicines currently being used to treat high cholesterol. The goal of each type of medicine is to lower the amount of LDL present in the blood stream and to help remove blockage and build up that has occurred. Some of these medicines are statins, bile acid resins, and nicotinic acid and fibric acid derivatives.

In what way is the obstruction from the arteries withdrawn?

The first stage is through medicines however if there is a acute constricting or occlusion in the artery or blood vessel then a somewhat more intrusive procedure is required. The actual processes might change however one common method is done through the use of a balloon angioplasty. The mechanical device is inserted into the artery and then naviagted to the blockage where the plaque build up has occurred. The balloon is then inflated to clear the passage. Nowadays the routine is minimally intrusive and most patients are capable of going home that day.

Does a diet rich in fish really help lower my cholesterol?

You may be surprised but a diet rich in fish, particularly salmon, can help you lower your overall LDL cholesterol while helping raise the HDL cholesterol. It is the omega-3 fatty acids that have been shown to help the body. But do not stop at just salmon. There are other great foods that can help you reduce your LDL's and raise your HDL's such as: avocados, garlic, black beans, uncooked soy and even Shitake mushrooms.

For added useful information click here High Cholesterol Zocor also High Cholesterol Levels and High Cholesterol Diet

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