The Mediterranean Diet

June 8, 2011 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

While we’re often suspicious of diets that are said to work magic, the Mediterranean diet is one we can actually get behind. Not only is it supported by studies of that region’s inhabitants, but the Mediterranean diet was named the second-best diet overall by the U.S. New & World Report , which assembled a team of actual health experts to produce the rankings. So, in support of better — and delicious — eating, here’s our guide to the Mediterranean diet. Besides sporting beautiful beaches , beautiful people and a downright agreeable climate, the Mediterranean boasts a diet that promotes both longevity and a decreased risk of heart disease. What is it about this menu that’s made it a contender for inclusion on Unesco’s world heritage list? Once you learn the secrets of this tasty and exotic diet, not only will you understand why it’s considered a cultural treasure worth preserving, you can also begin to incorporate Mediterranean-style cuisine into your own lifestyle and become more like the Adonis you know you are. what is the mediterranean diet? The Mediterranean countries border the Mediterranean Sea and include Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Italy, Greece, Malta, Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon, and Israel. Since so many countries constitute the Mediterranean , there is no single diet that straddles the entire area; however, most Mediterranean cuisines share some common characteristics, and these shared elements make the Mediterranean diet healthier than a North American or a Northern European diet. eat like adonis At the top of the Mediterranean food pyramid are grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, olive oil, cheeses, yogurt, nuts, and legumes, all of which are consumed on a daily basis. Foods eaten on a weekly basis are fish and seafood, poultry, eggs, and sweets. Mediterranean people consume red meat less often on a monthly basis, and red wine accompanies most suppers, working out to about 1-2 glasses per day. the magic of the diet Fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains The staples of the Mediterranean diet, fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains are rich in antioxidants and vitamins, which help prevent cancer and heart disease, and boost the immune system. Most Mediterranean dishes contain copious amounts of garlic and onions. While they won’t do much for your breath, onions and garlic will help lower your blood pressure and fight infections. Olive oil Another main staple in the Mediterranean diet is olive oil. Mediterranean inhabitants can’t get enough olive oil; it is the main source of fat in the Mediterranean diet — and for good reason. Olive oil is high in monounsaturated fat, which, unlike the saturated fat found in animal products, helps lower blood-clogging LDL cholesterol. Not only does olive oil protect against heart disease by lowering blood pressure, but it coats the stomach to protect against ulcers, and contains several antioxidants to help fight cancer. Seafood & fish Since the Mediterranean countries are so conveniently close to the Mediterranean Sea, fresh seafood and fish dishes are eaten several times a week. The Mediterranean people may have thick skin, but they’ve got thin blood: Seafood contains omega-3 fatty acids, which lower the risk of heart disease by preventing blood clot formation in the arteries. Read on for more Mediterranean diet tips…

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U.S. Deficit Running At Risky 8.9% Of GDP

October 8, 2010 · Posted in high blood pressure and cholesterol · Comment 
Linda Young – AHN News Writer

Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – Preliminary figures show the United States ran its second-highest deficit since 1945, nearly $1.3 trillion, for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, according to the Congressional Budget Office. That amount was $125 billion below last year’s record high deficit because of a combination of increased tax revenues and decreased spending in some areas.

The deficit was 8.9 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product. Economists recommend that nations keep their deficits down to no more than 3 percent of GDP. And deficits higher than that can affect the credit ratings of its bonds.

For example, European Union member nations are advised to keep their GDPs at or below 3 percent. Member nations Greece and Spain have had to introduce austerity measures this year because theirs ran higher. Greece’s deficit ran at 13.8 percent of GDP earlier this year, which caused its bond rating to fall to a B, or junk bond rating.

Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan on Thursday called the U.S. deficit scary. He called for reduced government spending to help bring the deficit down, saying that was a better approach than trying to reduce the deficit by increasing taxes to bring in more revenue.

Greenspan said the government must cut entitlements to reduce the deficit and warned that failing to bring the deficit down was decreasing the government’s ability to borrow to fund its spending and also causing U.S. companies to hold back on making investments because of uncertainty over future tax policy.

The U.S. government pushed its 2010 deficit figures lower than its 2009 figures through decreased spending on temporary measures such as the Troubled Asset Relief Program, payments on federal deposit insurance and payments to mortgage companies Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. While the increased federal tax revenue came from investments by the Federal Reserve in the housing market, receipts from the Federal Reserve to the Treasury and income taxes on corporate revenue that increased by 39 percent as businesses wrung more profits out of their businesses by not hiring workers.

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The Startling Truth About Cholesterol

September 3, 2010 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

* Cholesterol is produced by almost every cell in the body.

* Cholesterol in cell membranes makes cells waterproof so there can be different chemistry on the inside and the outside of the cell.

* Define “good” and “bad” cholesterol.

LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is known as “bad” cholesterol because it can build up in the walls of your arteries and form a thick, hard plaque that clogs your arteries and blocks the flow of blood to your heart and brain. HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is called “good” cholesterol because it helps eliminate bad cholesterol from the body.

* Where does cholesterol come from in the body?

Your body produces cholesterol naturally. Your liver makes cholesterol, as do other individual cells throughout your body. Once cholesterol is produced, it can make its way into your bloodstream.

* What does this process mean to you?

Take the cholesterol your body makes and add it to the cholesterol you get from food. Now you can see how easily cholesterol can build up in your bloodstream and how your overall cholesterol level can increase.

* Cholesterol is nature’s repair substance, used to repair wounds, including tears and irritations in the arteries. Many important hormones are made of cholesterol, including hormones that regulate mineral metabolism and blood sugar, hormones that help us deal with stress, and all the sex hormones, such as testosterone, estrogen and progesterone.

* Cholesterol is vital to the function of the brain and nervous system. Cholesterol protects us against depression; it plays a role in the utilization of serotonin, the body’s “feel good” chemical. The bile salts, needed for the digestion of fats, are made from cholesterol.

* Cholesterol is the precursor of vitamin D, which is formed by the action of ultra-violet (UV-B) light on cholesterol in the skin.

* Cholesterol is a powerful antioxidant that protects us against free radicals and therefore against cancer. Cholesterol, especially LDL-cholesterol (the so-called bad cholesterol), helps fight infection.

Hyperlipidemia is a key factor associated with an increased risk of the development of cardiovascular disease. Also referred to as high cholesterol, dyslipidemia, and lipid disorder, hyperlipidemia is a

condition by which unhealthy levels of cholesterol circulate in the blood.

The human body obtains cholesterol in two ways:

up to 80% of the cholesterol is produced endogenously in the liver; the remainder is obtained from the diet in the form of animal products such as meats, fish, eggs, and dairy.

While there is not a readily accepted level of cholesterol in the human body that is considered ‘safe’, most clinical guidelines list Total Cholesterol levels under 200 mg/dl as desirable.

Eating healthy food is the first step toward health.

The next step is seeing to it that the body has optimal ability to digest and metabolize that food.

Fortunately, healthy food is much easier to digest and assimilate, especially when properly prepared so that the enzyme systems are intact. At Capture Your Health, we can identify supplements you might need to assist digestion, assimilation and absorption of food. You may benefit from beginning with a program to detox the body.

Myths & Truths about Cholesterol

Myth: People with high cholesterol are more prone to heart attacks.

Truth: Young and middle-aged men with cholesterol levels over 350 are slightly more at risk for heart attacks. Those who have cholesterol levels just below 350 are at no greater risk than those whose cholesterol is very low. For elderly men and women of all ages, high cholesterol is associated with a longer lifespan.

Myth: Cholesterol & saturated fat clog arteries.

Truth: There is very little cholesterol or saturated fat in the arterial plaque or clogs. Most of the material is a calcium deposit akin to lime and most of the fatty acids are

unsaturated.

Myth: Eating saturated fat and cholesterol-rich foods will cause cholesterol levels to rise and make people more susceptible to heart disease.

Truth: Many studies show no relationship between diet and cholesterol levels; there is no evidence that saturated fat and cholesterol-rich food contribute to heart disease. As Americans have cut back on saturated fat and cholesterol-rich foods, rates of heart disease have gone up.

Myth: Cholesterol-lowering drugs have saved many lives.

Truth: In the two most recent trials, involving over 10,000 subjects, cholesterol-lowering did not result in any improvement in outcome.

Myth: Countries that have a high consumption of animal fat and cholesterol have higher rates of heart disease.

Truth: There are many exceptions to this observation, such as France and Spain.

Furthermore, an association (called a “risk factor”) is not the same as a cause. In wealthy countries where people eat a lot of animal foods, many other factors exist that can contribute to heart disease.

Please contact your health care provider should you have any questions concerning cholesterol, and please know your numbers.

Author: Bud Tarreto
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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