If you've discovered you have high cholesterol, you'll likely want to get started on lowering your cholesterol right away. Fortunately, high cholesterol is a medical condition that you have a lot of control over.
Unlike cancer and many other diseases, high cholesterol is entirely within your ability to change. Here are a few tips to help you lower your cholesterol levels.
==> The Pros and Cons of Medication
The most effective manner to reduce cholesterol is to take medications. Medications are more effective than both exercise and dietary changes on lowering cholesterol.
However, what's interesting about medications for lowering cholesterol is that they don't actually lower mortality or complication rates.
In other words, even though medication can help you reduce your cholesterol, the effects of an unhealthy lifestyle still show up in other ways.
In light of that, the best way to lower cholesterol while actually improving your health is to do it naturally, with the aid of medication if the high cholesterol counts get to threatening levels.
==> Eat Fish
Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown time and time again to be an extremely effective tool for lowering cholesterol levels.
You can eat whole fish, or you can even eat canned fish or omega-3 fish oil supplements. Fish in all its different forms lower both triglycerides and LDL cholesterol levels.
Try to add fish into your normal weekly diet.
==> Replace Your Fats
Try to reduce high cholesterol fats with low cholesterol, healthy plant fats.
Instead of putting margarine or butter on your bread, try using a couple slices of avocado instead. The texture is similar, but it's more natural and much healthier.
Instead of using peanut oil, try cooking with olive oil. Again, natural plant oils are much healthier and have lower cholesterols.
Fats in and of themselves aren't bad for you. It's only the processed and high cholesterol fats that harm you.
==> Go Easy on the Meat
Avoid eating meat too often. Instead, try to eat vegetables and fruits more often, as well as whole grains.
When you do eat meat, try to go for leaner cuts. Avoid fatty steaks and bulky pieces of meats. Make sure you avoid the skin and the areas of fat right beneath the skin.
Try to eat chicken or fish rather than red meats.
==> Eat at Home More Often
The trouble with eating out is that you can't see how much sugar, oils, butter and other kinds of fats and chemicals they're putting in your food.
Often times if you looked in the kitchen while they were cooking your dish, you'd be shocked at how many high cholesterol ingredients they're putting in there.
Try to avoid eating out whenever possible. Eat at home and use fats and sweeteners sparingly.
Lowering your cholesterol is entirely within your control. Talk to your doctor about a target level and use these tips to help you get started.
Natural Support For Your Cholesterol
Monday, January 09, 2012
Sunday, January 08, 2012
Newest Superfoods
Every now and then, established "superfoods" have to move over a bit for the next set of nutritional powerhouses. The most recent stars of the health world are coming to light: maqui berry, acerola, baobab fruit, and cloves.
What are these foods, and what makes them so healthy? Here are some reasons why these foods have made their way onto the superfoods list.
Maqui Berry
These blueberry-like fruits are taking some of the spotlight from goji and acai berries. They are grown in Patagonia, an area on the southern tip of South America.
As an antioxidant, maqui berries rank very high on tests used to measure the antioxidant potency of various berries and other foods. (This test is called thee ORAC, or oxygen radical absorbance capacity.) Maqui's ORAC score is more than ten times higher than that of blueberries, and it may even help with weight control.
Acerola
You may have seen these round red fruits marketed as Barbados cherries or Amazon cherries. They are grown in Central and South America; their flesh is yellowish and their vitamin C content is 40 times higher than oranges. They also rank high on the antioxidant scale. You may have a hard time finding these fresh in supermarkets, though; they are more likely to be found in powders, capsules, and extracts.
Baobab Fruit
Only recently approved for export, baobab fruit grows in Africa. It has a fascinating texture - powdery without undergoing drying or processing. It contains a great deal of vitamin C and calcium, which is good news for those who don't eat dairy.
Its seeds are edible roasted, and are high in protein. You probably won't find a baobab fruit in your grocery store, however; but you may see it as a flavoring in yogurt. Hopefully, this will change after the export approval.
Cloves
This is a superfood that's been around a long time, but without the superfood status. How many of us know this little spice as the studding on a baked ham, or ground up in pumpkin pie? It turns out that cloves may have a lot more to offer. Spanish researchers have discovered potent antioxidant activity in cloves, and these antioxidants might be able to replace synthetic ones currently used as food preservatives.
While no food is a magic bullet, foods that have earned superfoods status are worth looking into, and may well be worth including in your diet.
Amplify Your Nutrition
What are these foods, and what makes them so healthy? Here are some reasons why these foods have made their way onto the superfoods list.
Maqui Berry
These blueberry-like fruits are taking some of the spotlight from goji and acai berries. They are grown in Patagonia, an area on the southern tip of South America.
As an antioxidant, maqui berries rank very high on tests used to measure the antioxidant potency of various berries and other foods. (This test is called thee ORAC, or oxygen radical absorbance capacity.) Maqui's ORAC score is more than ten times higher than that of blueberries, and it may even help with weight control.
Acerola
You may have seen these round red fruits marketed as Barbados cherries or Amazon cherries. They are grown in Central and South America; their flesh is yellowish and their vitamin C content is 40 times higher than oranges. They also rank high on the antioxidant scale. You may have a hard time finding these fresh in supermarkets, though; they are more likely to be found in powders, capsules, and extracts.
Baobab Fruit
Only recently approved for export, baobab fruit grows in Africa. It has a fascinating texture - powdery without undergoing drying or processing. It contains a great deal of vitamin C and calcium, which is good news for those who don't eat dairy.
Its seeds are edible roasted, and are high in protein. You probably won't find a baobab fruit in your grocery store, however; but you may see it as a flavoring in yogurt. Hopefully, this will change after the export approval.
Cloves
This is a superfood that's been around a long time, but without the superfood status. How many of us know this little spice as the studding on a baked ham, or ground up in pumpkin pie? It turns out that cloves may have a lot more to offer. Spanish researchers have discovered potent antioxidant activity in cloves, and these antioxidants might be able to replace synthetic ones currently used as food preservatives.
While no food is a magic bullet, foods that have earned superfoods status are worth looking into, and may well be worth including in your diet.
Amplify Your Nutrition
Monday, August 29, 2011
Monday, August 10, 2009
Benefits of an Herbal Colon Cleansing Supplement
Benefits of a Herbal Colon Cleansing Supplement
The body is like a highly functional machine. A machine as we well know must go through a period of complete readjustment, cleaning, realigning, refurbishing et.c so also should our body. In our daily activities, we forget to check our bodies. We forget to take care of our bowels and as result, we sometimes become less effective than we are supposed to be.
Let me explain. Let’s say you’ve got this very important meting that you need to be at and just about the time you sat down, you had this terrible urge to go. What do you do? Leave the delegation and go spend thirty minutes in the loo while keeping them waiting?
Imagine what harm that can do to your business. So you see that not cleaning out your bowels can adversely affect the results you pursue.To effectively carry out an evacuation of your bowels, it is best to take something that will not affect or interfere with your daily activities.
This is where using herbal supplements come in. Other forms require you to use interfering methods that you would not like. For example if you were to do a hydrotherapy, you would end up spending about ninety minutes in the clinic or at home.
For more information visit: http://readaboutitnow.net/digestit.html
The body is like a highly functional machine. A machine as we well know must go through a period of complete readjustment, cleaning, realigning, refurbishing et.c so also should our body. In our daily activities, we forget to check our bodies. We forget to take care of our bowels and as result, we sometimes become less effective than we are supposed to be.
Let me explain. Let’s say you’ve got this very important meting that you need to be at and just about the time you sat down, you had this terrible urge to go. What do you do? Leave the delegation and go spend thirty minutes in the loo while keeping them waiting?
Imagine what harm that can do to your business. So you see that not cleaning out your bowels can adversely affect the results you pursue.To effectively carry out an evacuation of your bowels, it is best to take something that will not affect or interfere with your daily activities.
This is where using herbal supplements come in. Other forms require you to use interfering methods that you would not like. For example if you were to do a hydrotherapy, you would end up spending about ninety minutes in the clinic or at home.
For more information visit: http://readaboutitnow.net/digestit.html
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Amazing Peanut Butter Diet
If you are one of those millions of overweight Americans, you may have heard of the Amazing Peanut Butter Diet, but are you sure about where this diet came from? Are you skeptical about its ability to really help people lose weight? Isn’t peanut butter high in fat? Is it really healthy to focus on one particular type of “miracle food” when dieting? These are the types of questions that should be addressed when contemplating any diet, but especially the Amazing Peanut Butter Diet.
It is certainly true that Americans love peanut butter, whether it is the fancy kinds you get from little gourmet shops that tout their “all-natural” goodness or the mass-produced kinds that we all grew up with. So let’s address some of the above questions about the Amazing Peanut Butter Diet.
First of all, the Amazing Peanut Butter Diet was introduced to America via “Prevention” magazine. It was so popular, the publishers of the magazine created a whole book about it, which you can order from Amazon or pick up off the shelf at your local bookstore. “Prevention” has a good reputation, and as a result, the Amazing Peanut Butter Diet has a good reputation, as well.
So, the first question is answered and now we need to address the second. Can the Amazing Peanut Butter Diet really help people lose weight? Well, believe it or not, there are some studies that show that the Amazing Peanut butter Diet did actually help people lose weight.
A control-group study was done in Boston; half the overweight participants were given a low-fat diet. The other half were given about 35% of their total calories as monounsaturated fats – the kind found in peanut butter, olive oil, and the like. Everything else remained the same – i.e., both groups ate the same number of calories.
For women, the number of calories was 1200 per day. So, what happened? Both groups lost about the same amount of weight, but the upside (for peanut butter lovers and peanut farmers) is that the folks who got to eat the creamy goodness stuck to their diet better than the other half of participants did. Although this seems like quite good news at first glance, it is probably important to realize that 1200 calories is hardly any calories. Just about any woman who only eats 1200 calories per day is going to lose weight.
I guess if you absolutely love peanut butter, this would be a great plan for you, as you get to eat a limited amount of it every day. If, however, you can take it or leave it, maybe the Amazing Peanut Butter Diet is not right for you.
Okay, so the Amazing Peanut Butter Diet has some sound backing, and folks did have good results with it in a study, but now it is time to address the third issue: fat content. If you thought peanut butter was high in fat, you are right. However, some experts claim that the type of fat found in peanut butter is actually good for you. Peanut butter has monounsaturated fat. So do avocadoes.
Could this diet just as easily be called the Amazing Avocado Diet for people who prefer the green fruit to the smashed nuts? With 1200 calories and anything with monounsaturated fats, would the results be the same? More people probably prefer peanut butter, so it is my guess that is the reason for choosing peanut butter over avocadoes was purely for marketing.
It is certainly true that Americans love peanut butter, whether it is the fancy kinds you get from little gourmet shops that tout their “all-natural” goodness or the mass-produced kinds that we all grew up with. So let’s address some of the above questions about the Amazing Peanut Butter Diet.
First of all, the Amazing Peanut Butter Diet was introduced to America via “Prevention” magazine. It was so popular, the publishers of the magazine created a whole book about it, which you can order from Amazon or pick up off the shelf at your local bookstore. “Prevention” has a good reputation, and as a result, the Amazing Peanut Butter Diet has a good reputation, as well.
So, the first question is answered and now we need to address the second. Can the Amazing Peanut Butter Diet really help people lose weight? Well, believe it or not, there are some studies that show that the Amazing Peanut butter Diet did actually help people lose weight.
A control-group study was done in Boston; half the overweight participants were given a low-fat diet. The other half were given about 35% of their total calories as monounsaturated fats – the kind found in peanut butter, olive oil, and the like. Everything else remained the same – i.e., both groups ate the same number of calories.
For women, the number of calories was 1200 per day. So, what happened? Both groups lost about the same amount of weight, but the upside (for peanut butter lovers and peanut farmers) is that the folks who got to eat the creamy goodness stuck to their diet better than the other half of participants did. Although this seems like quite good news at first glance, it is probably important to realize that 1200 calories is hardly any calories. Just about any woman who only eats 1200 calories per day is going to lose weight.
I guess if you absolutely love peanut butter, this would be a great plan for you, as you get to eat a limited amount of it every day. If, however, you can take it or leave it, maybe the Amazing Peanut Butter Diet is not right for you.
Okay, so the Amazing Peanut Butter Diet has some sound backing, and folks did have good results with it in a study, but now it is time to address the third issue: fat content. If you thought peanut butter was high in fat, you are right. However, some experts claim that the type of fat found in peanut butter is actually good for you. Peanut butter has monounsaturated fat. So do avocadoes.
Could this diet just as easily be called the Amazing Avocado Diet for people who prefer the green fruit to the smashed nuts? With 1200 calories and anything with monounsaturated fats, would the results be the same? More people probably prefer peanut butter, so it is my guess that is the reason for choosing peanut butter over avocadoes was purely for marketing.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Suffering From Joint Pain?
Suffering From Joint Pain?
Joint pain can be caused by any number of things. It can be the result of an injury or overuse of the joint. If your joint pain is caused by arthritis, you will need to begin your search for an effective way to treat it. But, in order to do that, you need to know the symptoms of arthritis. All forms of arthritis share the common symptoms of severe pain, loss of range of motion, and a diminished quality of life. What you will find is that this painful, life altering condition can be found in any individual at any time of their lives. But, there are joint pain treatments that can be effective.
The first thing to do when you have joint pain is to go to a doctor. Symptoms of arthritis include severe pain in the joints and other factors as mentioned above. If your pain is accompanied with fever, the advice of a doctor is urgent because this specific type of arthritis can be deadly. Arthritis can be brought on by any number of things including overuse of the joint, sports, injury, and degeneration of the joints through time. In any case, it is important to relay to your doctor when it was first noticed, any related injuries you may have had, and what types of activities you perform on a regular basis. Your doctor will determine if the pain is arthritis through x-rays and blood tests. Once the doctor knows which type you have, treatments can begin.
For instance, the joint pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis is a function of the immune system destroying the cartilage in the joints affected. Cartilage is what keeps the bones from grinding against each other. As your immune system eats away at your joint cartilage, pain is brought on by the formation of nerve endings in the affected area. Eventually, the pain is so sever that mobility in those joints is virtually impossible.
But, again, there are treatments that can help or reverse the damage and pain. Your doctor can lead your treatment and some things you might expect could include surgery, pain medication, physical therapy, and even loss of use of the joint. But, there are other forms of medication as well. In fact, one of the most beneficial medications is a simple natural food supplement that is not even medicine at all. It is a natural treatment that is called collagen type II. When taken, this product can stop the pain by stopping the immune system’s battle against your joints. It can then help to repair damage. In some cases, patients saw results within days, in others it took up to a few months. There are no known side effects of this treatment.
No matter what your joint pain is caused from or how you will treat it, the most important thing to remember is that you can find treatment. You can find it in a number of ways, which gives everyone a solution to try. Joint pain can effectively change and ruin your life if you let it. Or, you can fight back and regain your body’s well being.
For more information http://readaboutitnow.net/joint-advance.html
Joint pain can be caused by any number of things. It can be the result of an injury or overuse of the joint. If your joint pain is caused by arthritis, you will need to begin your search for an effective way to treat it. But, in order to do that, you need to know the symptoms of arthritis. All forms of arthritis share the common symptoms of severe pain, loss of range of motion, and a diminished quality of life. What you will find is that this painful, life altering condition can be found in any individual at any time of their lives. But, there are joint pain treatments that can be effective.
The first thing to do when you have joint pain is to go to a doctor. Symptoms of arthritis include severe pain in the joints and other factors as mentioned above. If your pain is accompanied with fever, the advice of a doctor is urgent because this specific type of arthritis can be deadly. Arthritis can be brought on by any number of things including overuse of the joint, sports, injury, and degeneration of the joints through time. In any case, it is important to relay to your doctor when it was first noticed, any related injuries you may have had, and what types of activities you perform on a regular basis. Your doctor will determine if the pain is arthritis through x-rays and blood tests. Once the doctor knows which type you have, treatments can begin.
For instance, the joint pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis is a function of the immune system destroying the cartilage in the joints affected. Cartilage is what keeps the bones from grinding against each other. As your immune system eats away at your joint cartilage, pain is brought on by the formation of nerve endings in the affected area. Eventually, the pain is so sever that mobility in those joints is virtually impossible.
But, again, there are treatments that can help or reverse the damage and pain. Your doctor can lead your treatment and some things you might expect could include surgery, pain medication, physical therapy, and even loss of use of the joint. But, there are other forms of medication as well. In fact, one of the most beneficial medications is a simple natural food supplement that is not even medicine at all. It is a natural treatment that is called collagen type II. When taken, this product can stop the pain by stopping the immune system’s battle against your joints. It can then help to repair damage. In some cases, patients saw results within days, in others it took up to a few months. There are no known side effects of this treatment.
No matter what your joint pain is caused from or how you will treat it, the most important thing to remember is that you can find treatment. You can find it in a number of ways, which gives everyone a solution to try. Joint pain can effectively change and ruin your life if you let it. Or, you can fight back and regain your body’s well being.
For more information http://readaboutitnow.net/joint-advance.html
Friday, May 23, 2008
Natural Remedies For Ear Infections
Infections of the ear most often occur after swimming, specifically when polluted water enters the ear canal. Also scratching inside the ear to alleviate itching or trying to remove ear wax are other ways in which you can develop an ear infection. If the onset of the symptoms begins with itching followed by pain, these are signs the ear may be infected. Here are some natural remedies for ear infections which may help.
Apply a heating pad over the ear or a clean cotton pad. Keep the ear clean and dry, and remove any pus with a cotton ball. When taking a shower, wear a shower cap to prevent any water from entering the ear. Remove any water from the ear with a blow dryer.
Other natural remedies include:
1. Add a few drops of garlic juice into the ear.
2. Add a few drops of tea tree oil to a ¼ cup of warm olive oil.
3. Add a few drops of warm olive oil into the infected ear.
4. Add a drop of hydrogen peroxide in the ear.
5. Heat up some baby oil and place a few drops in the ear.
6. For wax buildup which results in an infection, place a few drops of mineral oil into the infected ear and remove the loosened wax with a suction bulb.
While these are tried and true natural remedies for ear infections, you can prevent them from occurring by using a remedy that has worked for generations – take a teaspoon of cod liver oil every day. According to research, this old but familiar remedy has been proven effective.
Experts suggest taking a teaspoon of the new lemon-flavored cod liver oil followed by a multi-vitamin tablet with selenium. They assert this may also prevent ear infections in children.
Of course, if the ear infection persists after you’ve applied these natural remedies, it would be advisable to see a doctor. However, the general consensus among those who have used these natural remedies for ear infections agree that any one of the above methods do indeed work.
Apply a heating pad over the ear or a clean cotton pad. Keep the ear clean and dry, and remove any pus with a cotton ball. When taking a shower, wear a shower cap to prevent any water from entering the ear. Remove any water from the ear with a blow dryer.
Other natural remedies include:
1. Add a few drops of garlic juice into the ear.
2. Add a few drops of tea tree oil to a ¼ cup of warm olive oil.
3. Add a few drops of warm olive oil into the infected ear.
4. Add a drop of hydrogen peroxide in the ear.
5. Heat up some baby oil and place a few drops in the ear.
6. For wax buildup which results in an infection, place a few drops of mineral oil into the infected ear and remove the loosened wax with a suction bulb.
While these are tried and true natural remedies for ear infections, you can prevent them from occurring by using a remedy that has worked for generations – take a teaspoon of cod liver oil every day. According to research, this old but familiar remedy has been proven effective.
Experts suggest taking a teaspoon of the new lemon-flavored cod liver oil followed by a multi-vitamin tablet with selenium. They assert this may also prevent ear infections in children.
Of course, if the ear infection persists after you’ve applied these natural remedies, it would be advisable to see a doctor. However, the general consensus among those who have used these natural remedies for ear infections agree that any one of the above methods do indeed work.
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