Best Heart Foods
In today’s Western society it’s much easier, and not to mention quicker, to spend a few bucks at the McDonald ‘s across the street than it is to make a satisfying dinner. In a world of Big Macs, KFC and Häagen-Dazs ice cream, who really wants to eat their spinach and celery sticks? As a result, however, our fat-filled diets have brought about an epidemic of heart disease , which has become North America’s No. 1 killer. Fortunately, over the years scientists and nutritionists have studied the foods that are good for the heart, and some of these might come as a surprise. So, here’s a list of the best heart foods that you should include in your diet, and maybe it will help you avoid a trip to the doctor’s. Oats Oats belong to a larger category of foods referred to as whole grains. Whole grains contain the entire kernel as opposed to refined grains that have been processed to remove the bran and the germ. While this process allows certain grains to last longer on store shelves, it also removes much of the good stuff like B vitamins , vitamin E , fiber, and antioxidants. Oats, in particular, as found in your morning oatmeal, contain a soluble fiber known as beta-glucan that decreases the total cholesterol in your blood as well as your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. This is important because it is the LDL or “bad” cholesterol that’s responsible for heart attacks. Some studies that required people’s diets to be supplemented with oat bran showed a decrease in total cholesterol by as much as 18% while others have found a drop in LDL cholesterol by as much as 9%. In addition, whole grains have a low glycemic index, which is a measure of how high a food raises your blood sugar level. Foods with a low glycemic index have a clear health advantage, particularly in helping to prevent diabetes (a major risk factor for coronary heart disease). Next time you reach for that cereal bar for breakfast, maybe you should reconsider and make a bowl of oatmeal. Red wine Want to have your cake and eat it too? Then drink red wine. In moderation (4 to 8 ounces/day), red wine is cardio-protective. This effect comes from antioxidants found in red wine, particularly resveratrol. This compound found in grape extracts has several beneficial effects on the heart, including reducing LDL as well as total blood cholesterol. Moreover, resveratrol, as well as other polyphenols found in red wine, have been shown to reduce blood clots by inhibiting a component found in blood known as platelets. Similar to the action of aspirin, which is one of the mainstay therapies in heart attack prevention, red wine helps to prevent platelets from clumping together, which is a key event in coronary artery blockage. Our guide to the best heart foods continues…
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‘Bad’ cholesterol is actually ‘good’
A new study has found that low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or so-called “bad cholesterol” is not as bad as it has been made out to be in recent years.
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‘Bad’ cholesterol not as bad as people think, study shows
The so-called “bad cholesterol” – low-density lipoprotein commonly called LDL – may not be so bad after all, shows a Texas A&M University study that casts new light on the cholesterol debate, particularly among adults who exercise.
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Study: Black tea can lower cholesterol in less than a month
Drinking black tea lowered low-density lipoprotein, or LDL “bad” cholesterol, in just three weeks, according to a study sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service.According to the… Becky Oberg April 01, 2011
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Food makers to be asked to disclose trans fat content
The Consumer Affairs Agency said Friday it plans to ask manufacturers of margarine and other foodstuffs to voluntarily disclose by year’s end the amount of trans fat, if any, in their products to reduce the risk of cardiac disease. The agency revealed the plan in draft guidelines for the voluntary disclosure of levels of trans fatty acids in food products. Trans fatty acids are believed to increase low density lipoprotein cholesterol, known as “bad cholesterol,” and thus the dangers of cardiovascular disease. (Japan Times)
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Guide To Good And Bad Cholesterol
Cholesterol have both good and bad, and hence this is why it is so very vital to learn what cholesterol is, and how it affects your health, as well as what you can do to lower it if the needed. There are basically two different types of cholesterol, the LDL and the HDL.
LDL is the bad form of cholesterol, when too much of it found in a person’s blood, it can slowly build up on the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain, and together with other substances it is able to shape plaque in the body, which is a thick, hard deposit that can block these arteries; a circumstance which is known as atherosclerosis.
Then there is HDL is the good form of cholesterol, and this is due to a high level of it seems to protect against heart attacks. A low level of HDL levels in a person’s body will in fact increase the risk of having a heart attack on a human body.
There is also another factor which must be raised in this discussion, and that is in regards to triglyceride, a form of fat that comes from food and it also made in your body. The reason that it is involved in this particular subject matter is because people with high triglycerides often found to have high total cholesterol, high LDL cholesterol and a low HDL cholesterol level.
Good Cholesterol (High Density Lipoprotein)
The cholesterol test you normally take actually measures lipoproteins. These lipoproteins are sorted by their density: the measure of fat versus protein in the combination. High density means that there is more protein ratio compared to fat. High density lipoproteins (HDL) are good cholesterol. They do the necessary work assigned to cholesterol, they help to un-clog your arteries and help flush excess fat from your body.
Bad Cholesterol (Low Density Lipoprotein)
Low density lipoproteins (LDL), very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and triglycerides (a type of fat carried by LDL and VLDL) are the main component of the bad cholesterol. If you have high number of these that they can clog your arteries thus, causing a heart attack or other heart related diseases. The normal level of bad cholesterol is 200mg/dL or less.
Bad and good cholesterol levels vary from person to person. Factors that affect cholesterol levels like being overweight, a diet with too much saturated fat and cholesterol, not enough exercise, heredity and certain medical conditions or medicines. Cholesterol tends to increase with age as well.
How you can Control and Lower Bad Cholesterol
If you have normal levels of good and bad cholesterol all you should to do is ensure that you stay that way and you can do that by taking the following steps: eating healthy and exercising. Eating healthy such as having food items that are low in saturated and trans fat as well as cholesterol.
Also, get in the habit of reading your food labels as they provide all the above mentioned data by law and hence it is easy for you to choose which food items are good and which are damaging for your health.
Some food items that contain high levels of cholesterol are: egg yolks, poultry, meat, shellfish, butter and cheese.
If you already have high levels of the bad cholesterol then the best thing to do is consult your doctor to prescribe you a drug that will help you lower it gradually. There are many cholesterol drugs that are available over the counter and many natural remedies as well. However, it is strongly suggested that you should not self medicate as some of the cholesterol drugs may have serious side effects, which only your doctor can point out as he is familiar with your medical history and conditions.
In general, you can always increase good cholesterol and decrease bad cholesterol by watching your food intake, exercising regularly and losing weight. You’ll also need your doctor’s help with the other factors. Don’t worry about having too little cholesterol. That’s un-likely to happen. Concentrate on building enough good cholesterol, less bad cholesterol and the rest will take care of itself.
Take a minute and learn about your good and bad cholesterol levels, watch closely your food intake and that of your family making them aware as well of the importance of staying below the limits of the bad cholesterol. Just a few minutes of self-education can save your life or one of your family member’s.
Author: Cindy Heller
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Discovery Of Gene For High Cholesterol In Animal Blood Offers Hope For Reducing Risk In Humans
Scientists at the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research (SFBR) in San Antonio have found a gene that causes high levels of bad cholesterol to accumulate in the blood as a result of a high-cholesterol diet. Researchers studied a strain of laboratory opossums developed at SFBR that has normal blood levels of “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol when fed a standard low-cholesterol diet, but extremely elevated levels of LDL cholesterol when fed a high-cholesterol diet…
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Kinds of Cholesterol – HDL
Not all cholesterol is created equal. Does this seem like a strange statement? While it may seem
strange, it is true. Not all types of cholesterol are the same. Your body creates some cholesterol;
you add some to your body by the foods you eat. Also, medical experts consider some cholesterol
bad while they think that you also have good cholesterol. What, good cholesterol? With all the
negative publicity we hear each day about cholesterol, how can you believe that any form of this
substance is good?
To understand how expert can call one cholesterol good, you must first understand the role of
cholesterol in the body. Since the body naturally produces this substance, it makes sense the body
needs this substance to survive. Cholesterol’s main role in the body is to preserve and build cell
wall membranes. Cholesterol also aids in digesting fat soluble vitamins and is important in
producing hormones.
So, as you see, cholesterol is a substance the body needs for it to be healthy. Cholesterol becomes
bad when there is a surplus of it in our systems either because our body produces too much of the
substance or when we take in too much cholesterol though the foods we eat. This excess
cholesterol can build up in the blood vessels, clogging arteries and causing heart disease and
heart attack.
This is the point where doctors begin to distinguish between good and bad cholesterol. Medical
researchers refer to good cholesterol as high density lipoprotein or HDL cholesterol, while they
term bad cholesterol as low-density lipoprotein or LDL cholesterol. You can also call HDL
cholesterol good cholesterol, because the medical practitioners believe that your bodily processes
work to transport this cholesterol out of the body. This is good because it does not stick around to
plug up your arteries. Meanwhile, it is LDL cholesterol that builds up in the arteries and causes
heart disease.
Therefore, if you want to avoid heart disease, your goal should be to raise your good cholesterol
levels and lower the bad cholesterol levels. What, then, is the ideal good cholesterol level?
Doctors want your good cholesterol to be above 50 mg/DL. Any reading between 35 and 50
mg/DL they consider acceptable while they look at those below 35 mg/DL to be too low.
Now, what can you do if you find your good cholesterol level is too low? What are the best ways
to raise it? Here are a few things to try. First, lose some weight. If you are overweight, this
change can drastically help improve cholesterol levels. Join a weight loss program to help you
reduce your weight. Exercise can also help to raise your HDL level. If you smoke, quitting can
also help to raise levels of good cholesterol.
As you can see, all cholesterol is indeed not created equal. By increasing your good cholesterol,
you can cut your risk of heart disease and stroke. Several lifestyle changes, such as losing weight
and giving up smoking, can help improve your levels of this good cholesterol.
Author: Julia Carmichael
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Buy Lipitor to Reduce the Blood Cholesterol Level
Widely known as Atorvastatin, Lipitor is very popular drug globally. Patients suffering from cholesterol problem can buy Lipitor as the medication to lowering the patients blood cholesterol levels. However, the medication can also inhibit the amount of triglycerides, cholesterol and Apolipoprotein-B. It is a type of protein that plays a major role in the production of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). In fact, Lipitor can also block the production of LDL.
According to medical experts, the medication not only helps in reducing the blood cholesterol level, but it is able to increase the production of good cholesterol. In short, it is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor prescribed to lower the cholesterol level in combination with a low-cholesterol and low-fat diet. Your doctor can prescribe the medication for you to eliminate the bad products that cause artery-hardening cholesterol. Thus, patients of high cholesterol and potential to strokes and heart attack can buy Lipitor. It is also vital to keep in mind that Lipitor is not a cure for high cholesterol, but may help to control it.
The medication comes in the tablet form and patients can buy lipitor in the dosage of 5mg, 10mg, 20mg and 40mg at attractive prices, if they place their order online. There are a number of online pharmacies offering you the medication at discounted prices. You can select a store and place your order to buy Lipitor online. Online stores also provide you detailed information and instruction of using the medication in a proper way. Talking about the use of the medication, then it is for oral administration only that should be taken as per doctor’s prescription. It is prescribed as one pill a day with or without food. Lipitor should be taken regularly at the same time. In case you miss the dose, then don’t take the double dose.
Before placing your order to buy Lipitor online, you are supposed to know about the side effects and other precautions. In fact, the medication provides beneficial results, but the possibility of side effects cannot be ignored. Mild to moderate side effects such as headache, upset stomach, stuffy nose, blurred eyes, diarrhea, nausea, dizziness and symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash, itching, swelling, or trouble breathing may occur. However, these side effects last for a very short time and disappear automatically. In case, any of the side effects lasts for some more time, you are advised to stop using the medication and consult your doctor as soon as possible.
High Cholesterol – 6 Useful Natural Remedies And Herbal Treatment
Usually cholesterol is produced in the liver and it is one of the essential ingredients of our body. 20-30% of the cholesterol is obtained from the food we eat. The measurement of cholesterol is taken in milligrams per 100 millimeters of blood. The normal range of the cholesterol varies between 150-200 mg per 100 ml. It is also known as lipoproteins as in blood cholesterol occurs in combination with certain lipids or fats.
Cholesterol or lipoproteins are classified into two types –
1. Low density lipoprotein (LDL)
2. High density lipoprotein (HDL)
Low density lipoprotein is related with cholesterol deposits in blood vessels and it is also considered to be harmful. It may result into the problems like stroke, heart disease etc. whereas the high density lipoprotein helps to remove the cholesterol from the circulation and also reduces the risk of heart disease.
Some of the major symptoms of high blood cholesterol are excess fatigue and feel of uneasiness, pain and heaviness in the chest area, breathlessness and general fatigue.
Some of the major causes of high blood cholesterol –
1. Obesity
2. Genetic factors
3. Stress and over workload
4. Diseases like kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes mellitus and also due to hypothyroidism.
5. Intake of high fat diet can be a major cause of high BP.
It can be treated by natural home remedies. Some of the natural remedies to treat high cholesterol are given below –
1. Make a mixture by adding one tea spoon of lime juice and one teaspoon of honey in one cup of hot water. Drink this mixture daily in the morning if you want to lower your cholesterol naturally.
2. High serum cholesterol can also be controlled by intake of fenugreek seeds regularly. It is an effective natural remedy for the treatment of high cholesterol.
3. Take a glass of water and add 1 teaspoon of methi powder in it. Drink this solution for one month in an empty stomach. It is an effective natural remedy for the treatment of high cholesterol.
4. Increase the intake of foods rich in vitamin E like sunflower seeds, soyabean oils, butter, safflower and also the sprouted seeds and grains.
5. Take a glass of water and add two tablespoons of dry seeds of coriander and allow it to boil properly. Allow it to cool and strain the decoction. Take this decoction two times a day for lowering of the cholesterol. It is also an effective natural remedy for the treatment of high cholesterol.
6. Intake of onion juice is also very effective for the treatment of high cholesterol. It reduces the cholesterol, clean the blood and also regulate the heart.
About Author Read useful Home Remedies for High Blood Pressure. Also find effective Home Remedies for High Cholesterol. Read information on Terminalia Arjuna Benefits.
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