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, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Metabolic medicines were the class of drugs with the highest level of spending in 2008. …
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Compound used to control cholesterol may also kill breast cancer
A new University of Missouri study has found that a compound used to control cholesterol may also kill breast cancer …
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Better Ways to Lose Weight And Stay Healthy
We all have read that health is wealth. Staying healthy is one of the most important factors if we wish to keep diseases at bay. One of the important prerequisites of staying healthy is that we keep our weight under control. Keeping weight under control or reducing it requires that the calorie intake is lesser while there is sufficient physical activity. If there is enough physical activity, it will burn extra calories that your body does not require to produce energy. If there is a lack of physical activity, access calories will become fat that gets accumulated and makes you overweight.
There are some tips that you can follow to lose your weight and stay healthy. To lose your weight, the first and foremost thing that you need to do is to set realistic goals. You may consult body mass index, BMI, to find ideal weight for your body structure. Once you know the ideal weight, set target that is achievable. A healthy way to lose your weight is to reduce it gradually. It may take longer but this way you will stay healthy and achieve your target. Setting unrealistic goals and not being able to achieve them depresses a person and at times becomes a source of many ailments.
Next, you need to change your lifestyle. Changing lifestyle implies reducing the number of calories that you take on daily basis. You can do so by reducing the quantity of food or including food items that have lesser calories in your daily diet. It also implies inclusion of physical activity to burn extra calories so that you can stay healthy while you are on a weight reduction spree.
Another thing that you can adopt to lose your weight is changing your eating habits. You must limit the quantity of food that are high in calories such as French fries, cakes, cookies, sweets, fats, oils, and spreads. Instead, you must include foods that are naturally high in fiber content. Foods rich in calories will not only increase your weight, they are also potential sources of many diseases such as blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, and so on. On the other hand, foods rich in natural fiber will keep your weight under control and also help you stay healthy.
How to control cholesterol level
Make your food choices wisely. If you like non-vegetarian food, become a fish vegetarian instead of being Lacto-vegetarian. Have zero cholesterol food like fresh fruits, vegetables and fiber in addition to fresh water fish. Have this as a snack every time you crave to eat something.
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Control Your Cholestrol
You think it cannot happen to you but maybe you just do not want to entertain this idea. However, the truth remains that heart attack can happen to everyone. Thus, you need to be aware of the warning signs of heart attack. This knowledge is essential to understanding your true health. In fact, knowing the warnings featured here can be your life saver.
Before we get started it is important to point out that around one percent of the population worldwide has inherited a gene that causes their liver to produce cholesterol non-stop. If you fall into this category the suggestions listed in this article may not be enough to stem the flood of cholesterol pouring into your bloodstream and you should consult your doctor about possible options.One could describe what effects does heart disease have on the body as a loss of oxygen resulting in the body to function at substantially less than 100 percent. Generally speaking, if heart disease is allowed to progress with age the body is on a declining scale of efficiency but yet being asked to do the same amount of work as before.
More than 50 percent of people with a combination of high blood pressure and high levels of a substance called creatinine in the blood will die within eight years.What is cholesterol? It is a soft, waxy substance that is found in the blood stream. It is often touted as being universally bad, but it is not. It is needed by the body for basic molecular functions and is actually produced by the liver. In fact, the liver can often produce too much of it when someone is going through massive weight loss.Well as it turns out cholesterol is only a part of the story. When your physician speaks about Cholesterol he is really talking about a lot more than just cholesterol. Cholesterol is a lipid or fat that is always bound up with protein. Cholesterol is an amalgam of both fat and protein with varying amounts of triglycerides thrown into the mix. As you have already heard before there is good cholesterol and there is so-called bad cholesterol.
There are many factors that contribute to this problem, but the most common cause is eating too much fat, particularly saturated fat. A high intake of saturated fats (butter, bacon), can raise the levels of LDL. Other factors such as heredity, age, lack of exercise, excessive weight, problems with the thyroid gland, diabetes or kidney problems may also have a negative effect.If you have a cholesterol level test and discover that your levels are not where they should be, this is where your doctor will be able to help you with getting your numbers back within a healthy range. You can lower your cholesterol and get it back into a healthy range, by beginning to eat correctly and exercising.In order to minimize your bad cholesterol count, and ultimately your heart attack risks, you should completely avoid foods that contain saturated fats. You can easily do this by reading the nutritional labels when buying foods at the grocery store. You can also create your own diet for high cholesterol by reducing the use of alrd and regular oil for cooking. If you do have to use oil, stick to vegetable oils.
MicroRNA that may allow for better control cholesterol levels in blood identified
Scientists have identified an important microRNA that may allow us to better control cholesterol levels in blood. Their study found that the microRNA miR-33, may be key to controlling HDL, or “good” cholesterol levels.
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Take Control of Your Cholesterol
We’ve all heard of someone having “high cholesterol,” and your doctor may have even told you that yours is high. Most of us would agree that it’s a bad thing, but few really know what cholesterol is or how to combat unhealthy levels.
Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that your body actually needs a small amount of in order to function normally. However, if you have too much of it in your bloodstream, the extra amounts may be deposited in your coronary arteries where it can lead to the narrowing and blockages that cause the signs and symptoms of heart disease.
In some cases, certain prescription medication can cause elevated cholesterol levels, but for the most part, inherited risk factors, a sedentary lifestyle and an unhealthy diet are the main causes:
• Weight: Excess weight may modestly increase your LDL (bad) cholesterol level. If you are overweight and have a high LDL cholesterol level, losing weight may help you lower it. Weight loss especially helps to lower triglycerides and raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels.
• Physical activity/exercise: Regular physical activity may lower triglycerides and raise HDL cholesterol levels.
• Mental Stress: Several studies have shown that stress raises blood cholesterol levels over the long term. One way that stress may do this is by affecting your habits. For example, when some people are under stress, they console themselves by eating fatty foods. The saturated fat and cholesterol in these foods contribute to higher levels of blood cholesterol.
Not sure whether you are at risk? If your doctor doesn’t automatically test you, request a lipid panel or profile (i.e. cholesterol test) during your annual physical. Here are the general guidelines for interpreting the results:
Total Cholesterol
Below 200 mg/dL Desirable
200 – 239 mg/dL Borderline high
240 mg/dL High
LDL Cholesterol
Below 70 mg/dL Optimal for people at very high risk of heart disease
Below 100 mg/dL Optimal for people at risk of heart disease
100 – 129 mg/dL Near optimal
130 – 159 mg/dL Borderline high
160 – 189 mg/dL High
190 mg/dL and above Very high
HDL Cholesterol
Below 40 mg/dL Poor
40 – 59 mg/dL Better
60 mg/dL and above Best
Triglycerides
Below 150 mg/dL Desirable
150 – 199 mg/dL Borderline high
200 – 499 mg/dL High
500 or above Very high
In order to promote healthy cholesterol levels, follow these four steps:
1. Lose excess pounds
Excess weight contributes to high cholesterol. Losing even 5 to 10 pounds of excess weight can help lower total cholesterol levels. Start by taking an honest look at your eating habits and daily routine. Consider your challenges to weight loss — and ways to overcome them.
2. Eat heart-healthy foods
What you eat has a direct impact on your cholesterol level. In fact, researchers say a diet rich in fiber and other cholesterol-lowering foods may help lower cholesterol as much as medication for some people.
• Choose healthier fats. Saturated fat and trans fat raise your total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Get no more than 10 percent of your daily calories from saturated fat, and try to avoid trans fat completely. Monounsaturated fat – found in olive, peanut and canola oils – is a healthier option. Almonds and walnuts are other sources of healthy fat.
• Limit your cholesterol intake. Aim for no more than 300 milligrams (mg) of cholesterol a day — or less than 200 mg if you have heart disease. The most concentrated sources of cholesterol include organ meats, egg yolks and whole milk products. Use lean cuts of meat, egg substitutes and skim milk instead.
• Select whole grains. Various nutrients found in whole grains promote heart health. Choose whole-grain breads, whole-wheat pasta, whole-wheat flour and brown rice. Oatmeal and oat bran are other good choices.
• Stock up on fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are rich in dietary fiber, which can help lower cholesterol. Snack on seasonal fruits. Experiment with veggie-based casseroles, soups and stir-fries.
• Eat heart-healthy fish. Some types of fish — such as cod, tuna and halibut — have less total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol than do meat and poultry. Salmon, mackerel and herring are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help promote heart health.
• Drink alcohol only in moderation. In some studies, moderate use of alcohol has been linked with higher levels of HDL cholesterol — but the benefits aren’t strong enough to recommend alcohol for anyone who doesn’t drink already. If you choose to drink, do so in moderation. This means no more than one drink a day for women, and one to two drinks a day for men.
3. Exercise regularly
Regular exercise can help improve your cholesterol levels. With your doctor’s permission, work up to 30 to 60 minutes of exercise a day. Take a brisk daily walk. Ride your bike. Swim laps. To maintain your motivation, keep it fun. Find an exercise buddy, join an exercise group or hire a personal trainer.
4. Don’t smoke
If you smoke, stop. Quitting can improve your HDL cholesterol level. And the benefits don’t end there. Just 20 minutes after quitting, your blood pressure decreases. Within 24 hours, your risk of a heart attack decreases. Within one year, your risk of heart disease is half that of a smoker’s. Within 15 years, your risk of heart disease is similar to that of someone who’s never smoked.
Amber O’Neal is a fitness & nutrition expert and owner of Cafe Physique. Her business specializes in nutrition & wellness coaching, personal training, and yoga/pilates training. Cafe Physique is headquartered in Atlanta and offers coaching services nationally via phone and email. Visit www.CafePhysique.com for more information.
Home Remedies to Control Cholesterol
Cholesterol is one of the body’s fats. Cholesterol levels in the blood rise slightly with age, and women generally have a higher HDL-cholesterol level than men. Cholesterol is also found in the blood circulation of humans. Cholesterol is naturally present in cell walls or membranes everywhere in the body, including the brain, nerves, muscles, skin, liver, intestines, and heart. Having too much cholesterol in the blood is not a disease in itself, but can lead to the hardening and narrowing of the arteries in the major vascular systems. When the cholesterol level is measured in a blood sample, the levels of all forms of cholesterol can be calculated. The cholesterol in a person’s blood originates from two major sources; dietary intake and liver production.
Dietary cholesterol comes mainly from meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products. High cholesterol is the best known of all the many threats to a healthy heart. High cholesterol can cause the formation and accumulation of plaque deposits in the arteries. A person’s lifestyle, including inactivity, obesity and eating a high-fat diet, can contribute to high levels of total cholesterol.
People who smoke and also have high cholesterol are at even greater risk for heart disease. Food cholesterol comes exclusively from animal products: meat, eggs, milk products, butter, etc. Most people wrongly believe that the cholesterol contained in food is responsible for their high cholesterol levels. Lipid disorders are more common in men than women. Excess cholesterol in the bloodstream can be harmful and lead to a condition in which fat and cholesterol are deposited in the walls of the arteries. It is currently recommended that your total cholesterol level be less than 200mg/dl. A healthy diet, regular exercise and other lifestyle changes can go a long way toward reducing high cholesterol. Sometimes medication is needed, too. Statins block a substance the liver needs to make cholesterol. This depletes cholesterol in the liver cells, which causes the liver cells to remove cholesterol from the blood.
Prevention of High Cholesterol
· Eating a diet low in saturated fats and cholesterol may help prevent high cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
· Quitting smoking and exercising may raise levels of “good” HDL cholesterol.
· Maintaining a healthy weight – or losing weight, if necessary – can help prevent lipid abnormalities.
· Eliminate the use of caffeine, alcohol and tobacco.
Home Remedies for High Cholesterol
· Garlic is a wonder drug for heart. Clinical trials have shown that fresh garlic and garlic supplements may lower cholesterol levels, prevent blood clots, and destroy plaque.
· Arjuna is a coronary vasodilator. It protects the heart, strengthens circulation, and helps to maintain the tone and health of the heart muscle.
· Ginger reduces cholesterol and thins the blood improving circulation.
· Shudh Shilajit was found to lower serum cholesterol, liver cholesterol, serum triglycerides and serum phospholipids in test subjects feed high cholesterol diet.
· Sunflower seeds are extremely beneficial, as they contain linoleic acid that helps in reducing the cholesterol deposits on the walls of arteries. You just need to modify your cooking style a bit and substitute sunflower seeds for solid fats such as butter and cream.
· Incorporate loads of fiber in your meals, as fiber helps a great deal in lowering the cholesterol pressure in blood.
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