How To Lower Cholesterol With Food?

Cholesterol is maintained to balanced levels that must not exceed what your body needs.

The human body produces oils and other substances that circulate in the bloodstream.

An example is insulin, which is secreted from the pancreas in response to the increase in the amount of sugar coming from the food that the person eats.

The cells then absorb this, which gives the individual calories that are used as energy.

Ways To Lower Idle Cholesterol : 

Select intake of fats from non-saturated cooking oil or direct fat sources from animals.  One of the best cooking oil that produces unsaturated fat is olive oil.

Other palm oils like coconut are highly saturated.  Take low-content-sodium cholesterol fats. Instead, eat high fiber vegetables and fruits, and complex carbohydrates.

Examples of this are corn, soybeans and legumes, nuts, wheat, and other staple cereals.

Refrain from eating at fast foods and other restaurants. They present high-fat saturated foods and rich in sodium.  

Also remember, that alcohol and sugar enhance the degree of cholesterol level, so avoid excessive hard drink sprays.

Recent researches reveal that the presence of the Omega-3 fat acid present in Salmon, mackerel, certain tuna species, and other deep sea hunts aids in lowering idle cholesterol.

If Idle Cholesterol is raised to high levels, seek medications as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, Statins, such as lovastatin (Mevacor), and atorvastatin (Liptor), most effective to lower LD, of course with physician’s guidance.

For more details, check this article: WhatYou Should Know About Cholesterol?

Do High-Fat Foods Affect Blood Sugar?

All diets should use fat in moderation as it can lead to an unhealthy body weight and heart disease.  

For a diabetic, controlling fat intake is important for the previous reason in addition to the negative affect it can have on blood sugars.  

Fats can be put into many different categories – healthy, non-healthy, saturated, non-saturated, trans-fat, and more. 

But the bottom line with any of kind of fat is to enjoy in moderation.

When you eat food that is high in fat (for instance a cheeseburger), your short-term blood glucose reading may come back as fine.  

But since fat acts much like protein and it slows down the digestion of carbohydrates you may notice a higher than normal blood sugar many hours later.  

It is hard to plan for such a spike because it is quite delayed compared to other foods that are eaten that raise blood sugar.

The best advice is to choose natural, healthy, unsaturated fats and oils whenever possible. 

You can do this by reading your food labels carefully as the different kinds of fats are listed on most food labels.  

Excessive fat intake will also cause you to gain weight and that is another way blood sugars can spiral out of control.  

Extra body weight that you carry around is taxing on your systems and will affect how your body uses and needs insulin.

Healthy fat choices include:

*          Avocado – oil or the fruit itself

*          Sesame, olive, or canola oil

*          Black or green olives

*          Peanuts and peanut butter (this doubles as a protein choice)

*          Sesame seeds

Additional fat choices that should be used in moderation:

*          Butter or margarine

*          Walnuts

*          Salad dressings

*          Mayonnaise

*          Pumpkin and sunflower seeds

If there are any questions about a type of fat and what a serving size should be, contact your doctor or dietitian for more information.

So, what kind of fat are you eating?

Are You At Risk For High Blood Pressure?

Do you know what the risks are of high blood pressure? How do you know if you are at risk? There are many different causes for high blood pressure. 

In this article you will find out if you are at risk and how you can help prevent and control your high blood pressure.

Your blood pressure is high if it is over 120/80, which is the normal level of blood pressure. There are many everyday lifestyle habits that raise your pressure that you might not be aware of. 

One of those is being overweight. If you are overweight you are at a greater risk of developing high blood pressure.

Try to start a healthy diet or start exercising. Even losing a measly ten pounds can help you drastically and keep your blood pressure normal. 

Physical inactivity is also another lifestyle habit that causes many Americans to develop high blood pressure.

If you are not very physically active, consider starting to be. You can easily adapt exercise to your everyday routine. You just have to plan it out. 

Try to do at least thirty minutes of exercise a day. This will help lower or control your blood pressure.

Many people are not concerned with what they eat, yet they want to be healthy. These two do not go together. If you want to stay healthy, you have to watch what you eat. 

Having unhealthy eating habits can cause high blood pressure as well. Try to eat less salt or sodium and more vegetables and fruits.

Using tobacco products is a great risk for developing high blood pressure. Smoking is a very common habit among the world and many of these people might have high blood pressure and not even know it. There are many ways to help rid the habit of nicotine or use of any tobacco product.

Everyone is stressed at some point during their lives. You might be stressed every day or just once in a while. Whatever the case may be, you can still develop high blood pressure through stress. 

If you find yourself stressed more often than not, consider some relaxation techniques. Meditation is a great way to start. If this doesn't work, consider something different.

Drinking alcohol also causes high blood pressure. Do you drink quite a bit? More than two drinks for a man and more than one for a woman can raise their blood pressure. If you drink more than this, consider cutting back. Once again, if you are addicted to drinking, or smoking, you can find many ways to help you quit.

These are very common lifestyle habits that cause high blood pressure. If you are at risk for high blood pressure or already have it, consider purchasing a home blood pressure monitoring device. This can help ensure that whatever habits you are changing or modifying are working.

Sometimes this change is not enough. You might have to use medication or incorporate medication with your exercise routine, etc. The best way to know this is to visit your doctor. 

Ask any and all questions you might be concerned about. They will happy to assist you in helping you have a healthier and active lifestyle.

Is There A Link Between Diabetes, Heart Attacks And Strokes?

Diabetes is a disease in which the body either lacks insulin or does not produce enough insulin to break ingested glucose into cells.  

As a result, the glucose remain in the blood and damage blood vessels.  A high content of glucose in the blood is called hyperglycemia and is often a precursor to heart attack and stroke.  

People who have diabetes have twice as much of a chance of having a heart attack and stroke as those without this condition.

In addition to diabetes itself being a risk factor for heart attack and stroke, there are other risk factors that people with diabetes should be aware of to reduce their risk factor for heart attack and stroke.  This includes central obesity.  

Studies by the American Heart Association have indicated that while obesity in itself is a risk for a heart attack, carrying excess weight around the waist increases your risk of heart attack.  

This is believed to be due to the fact that abdominal fat increases bad cholesterol more than fat on other areas of the body.

Speaking of cholesterol, those with diabetes should carefully monitor their cholesterol carefully.  

Because the blood vessels are already weakened by the excessive glucose in the blood level, people with diabetes have to be especially careful about their cholesterol levels as their arteries can become blocked easier than those without diabetes.  

Monitoring cholesterol is important for everyone, but imperative for those with diabetes.

Hypertension is also a dangerous condition for those with diabetes and can lead to heart attack or stroke.  

Damaged blood vessels having to work harder to pump blood from your heart throughout your body can cause heart damage, stroke, and even eye problems.

Clearly, those who have diabetes must not only carefully monitor the disease, but he complications that can rise from diabetes.  

While it is important for everyone to check their blood pressure, cholesterol and maintain an ideal weight, it is even more important for someone who has diabetes.

In order to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke for people with diabetes, it is important, first of all, to manage the disease.  

By eating proper foods that are recommended for people who have this condition, exercising and taking your medication, you can maintain a good glucose level in your blood that will reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke.  

By monitoring your cholesterol and blood pressure and seeing your physician on a regular basis, you can stop a potential problem before it begins.

By empowering yourself to learn all you can about managing diabetes and complying with the instructions of your physician, you can live an active and long life with diabetes.  Knowledge and facing the situation is the key.  

Those who refuse to follow advice, who prefer to eat whatever they feel like, not exercise and pretend that the disease does not exist put themselves at the most risk.  

Type II diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions in many countries.  It does not have to be a killer.  

People who follow instructions, learn about the disease and comply with their physician have an excellent chance at reducing their risk of acquiring any of the complications associated with this disease.  

Despite the link between diabetes, heart attack and stroke, those who maintain their health can avoid these conditions.

Strength Training Tips For Osteoporosis Prevention

If you’re just starting a resistance and strength training program, doctors and physical therapists offer the following tips:

* Consult your doctor and follow a program designed by a physical therapist which takes your strengths and needs into account.

* Workout at a gym or health club under the supervision of professionals who can help monitor and adjust your workout program.

* Start slow and build gradually. Strength and resistance training is a slow process.

* Never increase weights in resistance training more than 10% at a time because increasing more than that risks injury.

* Lift and lower weights slowly. Avoid ‘jerking’ them up to avoid injury.

* Perform your resistance workout every third day.

    Avoid exercise that puts a lot of strain on your joints and bones, and stay away from the rowing machine. The bending required puts your spine at risk of compression fractures.

* If any area is particularly tender or stiff immediately after a workout, apply ice to it for 10-15 minutes to reduce inflammation.

Proper exercise, weight control and a healthy diet all contribute to keeping your bones strong and preventing the loss of bone density due to osteoporosis.

Do your bones a favor and give them a good workout a
couple of times a week.

There you go! Use the given suggestions and instructions
on how to start a strength training program on your own.

There’s no need to delay much further. 
There are other articles and resources here and around the web for more information that would be helpful to you.

And don’t forget, the most important thing is to take
action. The other steps mean nothing if you will not move and actually start doing it.

How To Start Your Strength Training Program?

5 Natural Ways For Better Immune System

Immune system is the most important body component that helps in determining one’s state of health.

The effectiveness of immune system varies from person to person. In a case of a weak immune system, the person is more susceptible to infections and other health problems.

What are some ways we can maximize the effectiveness of our immune system to stay as healthy as possible? 

Here are some of them:

1. Eat probiotics

Probiotics are one of the best things to reach mainstream medicine. Probiotics are found in some yogurts as well as in capsule form. They consist of living spores of healthy bacteria or living organisms themselves.

They colonize the gut and displace the “bad bacteria” that can make you sick.

With probiotics, you can have a healthier gut immune system and can avoid

Probiotics are one of the best things to reach mainstream medicine. Probiotics are found in some yogurts as well as in capsule form.

They consist of living spores of healthy bacteria or living organisms themselves.

They colonize the gut and displace the “bad bacteria” that can make you sick.

With probiotics, you can have a healthier gut immune system and can avoid a gastrointestinal upset from bacteria or fungi in the gut.

2. Eat garlic

Garlic is an antimicrobial agent in and of itself. It boosts the immune system in a general way but is inactivated by heat.

For this reason, you should add garlic to foods just before serving the food.

3. Get vitamin D

Many people in the Northern Hemisphere are deficient in vitamin D and this can negatively affect immunity, particularly in the winter months.

You can get vitamin D with exposure to the sun or you can take a vitamin D supplement.

As some people need a lot of vitamin D and others don’t need as much, have your vitamin D level checked periodically until you find a dosage of vitamin D that brings your level into the normal range.

In the summertime, just ten to fifteen minutes of sunlight per day can be a big benefit to your immune system.

4. Eat shitake mushrooms

Studies have shown that really concentrated extracts of these types of medicinal mushrooms have enhanced the immune system of women who have breast cancer.

While eating the mushroom alone hasn’t been studied, it may have a beneficial effect on the immune system of otherwise healthy people.

5. Immune Supporting Herbs

There are tons of immune-supportive herbs out there and probably yet to be developed.

Some important ones are eleuthero, Asian ginseng, astragalus, and American ginseng.

These have been used in Chinese medicine for millennia to prevent infection and keep the body healthy.

They can be found at health food stores everywhere and even at certain pharmacies.

10. Echinacea tincture

Echinacea is good for respiratory infections, especially when taken early in the course of the infection. Make a tincture yourself or get one from a reputable herbalist.

For more tips, check this article: 20Tips To Improve Your Immune System

Why Walking Is Beneficial To Your Health?

For more information, click here:

WhyWalking Is Fantastic For Your Health And Fitness?

How Does Strength Training Help You Lose More Fat?

 For more information, click here: How Resistance Training Gives You A Beautiful Body?

Resistance Training For Sculpting The Body

For more information, click here: How Resistance Training Gives You A Beautiful Body?

Health and Fitness Benefits of Cycling

For more information, check this article:

Why Cycling Is Beneficial To Your Health And In Losing Weight?

Health Benefits of Cycling

For more information, check this article:

Why Cycling Is Beneficial To Your Health And In Losing Weight?

Health and Fitness Benefits of Cycling

For more information, find out here: Why Cycling Is Beneficial To Your Health And In Losing Weight?

Back Exercise Stretches To Relieve Back Pain

  For more information, click here: Which Back Exercise Gives You Better Relief?

Beware of Back Pain

 For more information, click here: Which Back Exercise Gives You Better Relief?

Upper Back Exercises For A Strong Back

 For more information, click here: Which Back Exercise Gives You Better Relief?

Pilates for Back Pain

 For more information, click here: Which Back Exercise Gives You Better Relief?

Home Remedies for the Ordinary Headache

If you are suffering from frequent headaches, there is always some medication available over the counter which can help alleviate the pain that they bring. 

But if you are the type of person not usually keen on taking over the counter drugs, there are also some home remedies that you can try out for your headache.

There is a wealth of ingredients that you can find around your own home that can help you get rid of a nasty headache. 

Home remedies for your headache help you make use of more natural methods of treating your headaches. 

Here are some home remedy examples that you can use to treat that headache.

Ginger

The ordinary ginger can help you get rid of your nasty headache. It inhibits a substance known as thromboxane A2 that prevents the release of chemicals that make your blood vessels expand. With this effect, ginger is useful for treating migraines as well as other types of headaches. 

Eating crystallized ginger or adding some grated ginger in your drink will be enough as a home remedy for your headache. Using fresh or powdered ginger when cooking your food will do just as well.

Essential Oils

Peppermint oil is also a well-known home remedy for headache. Just put a couple of drops of this aromatic oil into a carrier oil or lotion and rub around your temple, neck and forehead. But make sure that you do not get any of the oil too close to your eyes as its vapors can be very overwhelming.

You can also place a drop or two of peppermint oil on your handkerchief and sniff it to help you get rid of your headaches. Peppermint oil has been known to relieve headaches caused by too much tension. 

Rosemary Oil can also be just as effective as a home remedy for headaches. Rosemary oil helps relieve your headaches by helping keep the blood vessels dilated.

Herbal Teas

Herbal teas have also been known to provide headache relief. Peppermint tea and rosemary tea are examples of popular home remedy beverages for your nagging headache. 

Drinking a cup or two of your favorite peppermint tea will do wonders for your headache. 

Preparing a teaspoon of rosemary in a cup of hot water and steeped for about 10 minutes will also do as well. 

Drinking this wonderful concoction three times a day will help you get rid of that headache.

What Are The Options In Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Because there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, the treatment is directed at controlling your symptoms and helping you feel better.

There are some medications that will slow the degree of joint damage you will experience.

There are several types of drugs used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Some are relatively easy to tolerate, while others have serious side effects that you should be aware of.

Doctors usually start with the medications that are easiest to tolerate first.

Here are some good treatments for rheumatoid arthritis.

Steroid medications, such as prednisone or prednisolone, are helpful in that they reduce the pain and inflammation of the joints and can reduce the rate of joint damage. 

Unfortunately, they have side effects, such as osteoporosis, diabetes, and weight gain. 

Steroids are especially good when you have flares of the disease and are not meant to take chronically.

NSAID medication. These include medications like ibuprofen and naproxen (unless you get one prescribed by the doctor). 

They are not without side effects, however, and these include liver damage, kidney damage, and irritation of the stomach, heart problems, and tinnitus.

Anti-Rheumatic drugs. These medications can actually lessen the damage done by the autoantibodies so that the joints aren’t permanently damaged. 

Medications in this class include Plaquenil, Azulfidine, methotrexate, and leflunomide. 

Because they can affect your immune system, they can cause side effect including suppression of your bone marrow, lung infections, and liver problems.

Biologic medications. These represent a new class of medications that act on the immune system so that there are less inflammation and less joint damage. 

They can cause an increase in infections because they affect the immune system. Choices of biologic medications include adalimumab, abatacept, certolizumab, rituximab, and infliximab.

Physical therapy. You may wish to see a physical therapist who can help you learn various exercises that will keep your joints more flexible. 

They may also help you learn how to do things around the house that don’t involve using your hands. 

Devices may be prescribed for you that will help you do things without stressing the joints too much.

Surgery can be done that can repair the damage to your joints. This includes things like joint replacement in which the damaged joints are removed and a prosthetic joint is put in its place. 

Tendons can also be repaired. In the worst case scenario, the surgeon can fuse the joints together so they don’t rub against one another.