The Way To Cook To Lower Cholesterol

Are you worried about your cholesterol levels or do you have a family history of high cholesterol? If so then you should already be paying close attention to your diet and lifestyle. One of the most simple ways that you can keep your cholesterol in check is by changing the way you cook your food. It is not hard to eat a low cholesterol diet, and modifying the way you cook your food can help keep your heart and body healthy and happy.

To start with you should strictly limit the foods you eat which are high in saturated fat in your kitchen (and house), and use alternatives instead. You'll find when cooking that techniques such as grilling, baking and broiling (and microwaving), will help you control the levels of saturated fat in the food you eat. You can use a light stir-fry or perhaps a sauté, as long as you monitor the amount of oil you use, or use the more expensive virgin olive oil, which can be beneficial in small quantities.

Another way you can reduce the amount of cholesterol in your diet is through the way you prepare your meat and poultry. You can easily lower the amount of saturated fat in the meat you eat by trimming or cutting off any fat you can see on the meat, or by buying better quality cuts of meat. Try to avoid frying food, instead roast, bake or broil the meat as mentioned earlier. If you decide to roast or bake the meat, you can use a rack to allow the fat to drain away, so you don't eat it with the meat. Alternatively purchase a George Foreman Lean Mean Grilling Machine, which will allow you to drain the excess fat away with ease.

To keep your meat moist and tasty, use wine, vinegar, lemon juice or a low-fat oil as a marinade. If you like to cook soups or stews, which can be very healthy, tasty and filling when cooked properly, prepare them the day before and put in the fridge overnight. This will allow any fat in the stew or soup to rise to the top and harden, so you can remove it before re-heating and eating.

One of the key components of a diet low in cholesterol is to ensure that you eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, and a wide variety of them. Try and find fresh fruits that you enjoy, so you can eat them as healthy snacks, of prepare and freeze to eat later. A lot of people ruin the benefit of the vegetables they eat, by covering them in excess salt (sodium chloride), which can raise your blood pressure. Instead use herbs and spices to flavour your veg. You can purchase ready made mixed herbal seasoning's from your local grocery shop. For example an Italian herb mix seasoning might contain herbs such as oregano, basil, rosemary and more. Others such as chives and parsley also give your food interesting flavours.

When cooking your veg, try and only use a minimal amount of vegetable oil or spray, or even better use olive oil. Make sure you avoid butter or margarine, as both are sources of high saturated fats and sodium. Which is a doubly bad combination for your health, especially for people worried about cholesterol levels.

These article has identified just a sample of cooking ideas and tips for your diet to help you lower your cholesterol. It might take a little time for you to get used to cooking using different methods, but the benefits for you health and your palette will quickly out weight the little extra time it may take.

By : William H King
Source : ArticleCity
Picutre: Delicious Adventure

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Diabetes Information - Symptoms, Types, Causes and Treatment

Sugar is part of a whole slew of meals. The carbohydrates that we eat are later on converted into sugar or glucose while it undergoes the processes inside our body. These sugars are what we use for energy. However, there are really foods that are pure sugar or contain a lot it, which can cause the sugar level in our blood. When this sugar level increase, we may suffer diabetes and other ailments.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease resulting from the increase of blood sugar level above its normal values. The sugars in the blood are supposed to be transported to the cells of the body. But if a person has diabetes, the sugar build up in the blood. The build up of sugar is caused one of the following reasons: either the pancreas is not producing enough hormones called insulin that helps the glucose get into the cells or the body can not make use of the insulin as it is supposed to be.

Diabetes is a disease that exists not only on its own but could trigger a lot of complications and other diseases to surface. These diabetes complications include heart disease, blindness, kidney failure and amputations. It has become one of the major causes of death all over the world..

Symptoms of Diabetes

Like any other sickness, diabetes surface symptoms that should be monitored. These are physically manifested symptoms that could easily diagnosed so if anyone is suffering from the following, seeing a physician is recommended. Diabetes have the following signs: extreme hunger and thirst, excessive drying of the skin, unexplained weight loss, frequent urination, slow healing sores, tingling or numbness of hands or feet, sudden vision blurredness.

When the diabetes is insulin-dependent, other symptoms include nausea, vomiting or stomach pains.

Types of Diabetes

There are three kinds of diabetes that could be developed to specific age range or condition of people. Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or the type 1 diabetes is commonly developed among children while non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or the type 2 diabetes is developed among adults. There is also the kind of diabetes that only pregnant women can acquire. The gestational diabetes, though, is not permanent because it disappears as soon as the pregnancy is over; however, if it is not treated it can cause a threat to both the mother and the baby.

Type 2 diabetes is affected by old age, obesity, family history of the ailment, history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, lack of physical activities and race or ethnicity.

Causes of Diabetes

Though researchers have found out what are the things that causes the acquisition of diabetes, the determination of the exact causes of the disease is yet to be discovered. They say that the causes of type 1 and type 2 diabetes are different. Type 1 seemed to be developed from environmental triggers like unidentified virus that attacks the pancreas and causes it to malfunction in producing insulin.

Type 2 diabetes on the other hand is closely associated with being obese and regular physical activities can help prevent the development of which.

Therapies and Treatment for Diabetes

When a person has developed type 1 diabetes, his or her blood glucose levels should be closely monitored through regular glucose tests. Since most food intake contains sugar or substances that will later on be converted to sugar, it is necessary that the food to be eaten is also monitored or measured. Healthy diet, exercise and insulin injections are the basic treatments for type 1 diabetes. However, the insulin should be balanced with metabolism of the body in terms of physical activities and food intake.

Treatment for type 2 diabetes is almost the same with that of type 1. Blood glucose should also be closely monitored; however, some people are required to take some oral medications to avoid blood sugar to increase beyond normal parameters. Since this type of diabetes is not insulin-dependent, insulin injections are not required.

by: Dr John Anne
Source: Amazines
Picture from: Diabetes Test

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8 Steps To A Healthy Heart

According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular diseases claimed the lives of 945,836 people in the United States in 2000. This means that a staggering 39.4 percent of all deaths during this year were attributable to heart disease. It is also the leading cause of death for both men and women.

Cardiovascular diseases are typically the result of atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of plaque in the arteries. This buildup develops gradually over time, as soft fatty streaks form along the inner walls of arteries. As the buildup continues, these streaks begin to harden into plaque, which constricts the blood flow through the arteries. This can lead to a heart attack, the formation of blood clots, or stroke.

There are several risk factors that may contribute to whether or not you will develop some form of cardiovascular disease during your lifetime. Some of these risk factors are beyond your control, such as your gender and your genes, for instance. Men typically run a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease than women, as do people who have other family members who have the disease. There are other risk factors, however, that can be controlled or eliminated by following a healthy lifestyle.

Here are eight steps that you can take to have a healthy heart and lower your chances of developing cardiovascular disease:

1. Know Your Risk Factors
It is important to be aware of any risk factors that you may possess. For example, if you have a parent or other close family member with cardiovascular disease, you are at a higher risk. The odds of developing cardiovascular disease also tend to increase as we age. People who are diabetic have an elevated risk of developing cardiovascular disease because chronic high blood sugar is associated with the narrowing of the arteries. People with diabetes also tend to have lower levels of "good" HDL cholesterol and increased levels of triglycerides (blood fats).

2. Make Healthy Food Choices
Your diet can have a major impact on your chances of developing cardiovascular disease. Limit your intake of greasy, fried, or fatty foods and red meats. Fill your diet instead with fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats such as poultry and seafood, and fiber-rich foods such as Quaker oatmeal and whole-grain breads.

3. If You're Overweight, Get To A Healthy Weight And Maintain It
If you are currently overweight, your odds of developing cardiovascular disease are higher. A loss of just ten to twenty pounds can help lower your likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease. Work with your physician or dietitian to find a healthy eating plan that will work for you.

4. Establish And Follow A Regular Exercise Program
You should engage in some form of physical activity for at least thirty minutes, several times a week. Consult with your family physician to see what forms of activity are appropriate for your age and current physical condition. You can also find ways to incorporate activity into your daily routine by doing things like gardening and house cleaning at a fast pace.

5. Have Your Cholesterol Numbers And Blood Pressure Checked Regularly
Have your family physician check your cholesterol numbers and blood pressure at least once a year. If either of these sets of numbers is high, your chances of developing cardiovascular disease greatly increase. Your physician can help you modify your lifestyle by improving your diet and adding exercise in order to bring your numbers under control. In some cases, your physician may also prescribe medication to help return your cholesterol or blood pressure numbers to normal levels.

6. If You Smoke, You Should Quit
Smoking is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular diseases. According to the American Medical Association, people can cut their risk of developing cardiovascular disease in half within one year of quitting smoking.

7. Get A Handle On Your Stress
Stress may help contribute to heart disease. Stress can also cause your blood pressure to rise and may lead to unhealthy behaviors such as smoking or binging on unhealthy foods. Try practicing meditation or yoga as a way to combat stress. Take a few minutes out of each day and do something you enjoy, such as listening to music or reading, for example.

8. Don't Ignore Possible warning Symptoms
That burning sensation in your chest may simply be the result of heartburn, but it could also be a warning sign of the presence of cardiovascular disease. Other symptoms may include a sense of tightness emanating from the breastbone and into the neck, jaw and arm or a shortness of breath. If you have any of these symptoms, don't casually dismiss them. Let your physician determine what is causing them and follow his advice.

Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. While some of the causes are beyond your control, many of them are not. If you follow a healthy diet and lead an active lifestyle, you may be able to reduce your risk of heart disease. Work with your family physician to develop a lifestyle plan that is right for you.

Source: The Quaker Oats Company

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AmeriPlan: Such Great Insurance Plans at such Low Prices !!!

How AmeriPlan® can provide such great insurance plans at such low prices? It's because that the company has a great working relationship with thousands of doctors, specialists, pharmacists, chiropractors, dentists, and more health care providers to get the lowest possible prices for their members.

AmeriPlan® is an alternative to insurance. Offers discount medical, dental, vision, prescription, and chiropractic discount benefits. Also a work from home company.

If you can imagine no deductiles, no claim forms, no waiting periods, no age limits, and no service limits, then AmeriPlan® is the answer. Dont think too long and sign up for low monthly fee plan today.

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What Makes Garlic Good for You

Garlic has long been touted as a health booster, but it’s never been clear why the herb might be good for you. Now new research is beginning to unlock the secrets of the odoriferous bulb.

In a study published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers show that eating garlic appears to boost our natural supply of hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is actually poisonous at high concentrations — it’s the same noxious byproduct of oil refining that smells like rotten eggs. But the body makes its own supply of the stuff, which acts as an antioxidant and transmits cellular signals that relax blood vessels and increase blood flow.

In the latest study, performed at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, researchers extracted juice from supermarket garlic and added small amounts to human red blood cells. The cells immediately began emitting hydrogen sulfide, the scientists found.

The power to boost hydrogen sulfide production may help explain why a garlic-rich diet appears to protect against various cancers, including breast, prostate and colon cancer, say the study authors. Higher hydrogen sulfide might also protect the heart, according to other experts. Although garlic has not consistently been shown to lower cholesterol levels, researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine earlier this year found that injecting hydrogen sulfide into mice almost completely prevented the damage to heart muscle caused by a heart attack.

“People have known garlic was important and has health benefits for centuries,'’ said Dr. David W. Kraus, associate professor of environmental science and biology at the University of Alabama. “Even the Greeks would feed garlic to their athletes before they competed in the Olympic games.'’

Now, the downside. The concentration of garlic extract used in the latest study was equivalent to an adult eating about two medium-sized cloves per day. In such countries as Italy, Korea and China, where a garlic-rich diet seems to be protective against disease, per capita consumption is as high as eight to 12 cloves per day.

While that may sound like a lot of garlic, Dr. Kraus noted that increasing your consumption to five or more cloves a day isn’t hard if you use it every time you cook. Dr. Kraus also makes a habit of snacking on garlicky dishes like hummus with vegetables.

Many home chefs mistakenly cook garlic immediately after crushing or chopping it, added Dr. Kraus. To maximize the health benefits, you should crush the garlic at room temperature and allow it to sit for about 15 minutes. That triggers an enzyme reaction that boosts the healthy compounds in garlic.

Garlic can cause indigestion, but for many, the bigger concern is that it can make your breath and sweat smell like…garlic. While individual reactions to garlic vary, eating fennel seeds like those served at Indian restaurants helps to neutralize the smell. Garlic-powder pills claim to solve the problem, but the data on these supplements has been mixed. It’s still not clear if the beneficial compounds found in garlic remain potent once it’s been processed into a pill.

by: Chris Ramirez
Source: The New York Times

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Flu Scare - Are We Aware

It is always said that awareness can keep you away from danger. And when the scare is as threatening as bird flu, most people would not dare to take any chances. As the bird flu virus strike different parts of the world, the latest entrant been India, poultry industry is naturally the worst casualty. Though recent studies have confirmed that the flu virus is not food-borne and the poultry meat cooked at 70 degrees eliminates all possibility of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu virus, yet people are reluctant to take chances. Such is the extent of the scare that hundreds of people with cold and cough were turning up at medical camps in bird flu-hit areas for a check-up as precautionary measures.

Bird Flu, medically termed avian influenza is a contagious disease of animals caused by viruses that are highly species-specific and normally infect only birds but on rare occasions crossed the species barrier to infect humans as well. It spreads very rapidly through poultry flocks, causes disease affecting multiple internal organs, and has a mortality that can approach 100%, often within 48 hours. Symptoms of bird flu are very specific:

* In birds: Birds that sit still for unusually long spell, have dirty feathers, swollen necks and red spots on their feet.

* In meat: Pink spots in the usually white chicken meat and runny yolk in eggs.

The bird flu virus spread-theory across the world has nailed the migratory birds as the possible suspect. Sick migratory birds shed the flu virus with their saliva, faeces and nasal secretions which in turn infect domestic birds when in contact with secretions or contaminated surfaces. Influenza viruses are highly unstable and have the ability to mutate rapidly, potentially jumping from one animal species to another. Direct contact with infected poultry, or surfaces and objects contaminated by their faeces, is presently considered the main route of human infection. The disease caused by H5N1 follows an unusually aggressive clinical course where primary viral pneumonia and multi-organ failure are common, with rapid deterioration and high fatality.

Though there has been no breakthrough in developing a vaccine for bird flu, yet the FDA has approved Tamiflu (generic Oseltamivir phosphate), an oral anti-viral drug for the treatment of uncomplicated influenza in adults whose flu symptoms have lasted more than two days. It belongs to a group of medicines called neuraminidase inhibitors. Their main task is to attack the flu virus and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the body. Tamiflu has since been used to treat type A and B influenzas but it has also been found effective against the avian flu virus H5N1 strain. Further Tamiflu information is available from health practitioners, print media and online information sites. So do not panic, bird flu is no scare if you are aware of all eventualities.

by: Jenifer D'souza
Source: Health Guidance

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Pure Bottled Water and Your Body

The benefits of good health cannot be overemphasized for those who wish to lead a happy lifestyle. While good health does not guarantee happiness it is certainly a key building block for a future of well being, contentment and serenity.

Pure Bottled Water is a good starting point at building a healthy lifestyle.

What are the basics of good health?
Like most events in nature, development and maintenance of good health and a healthy lifestyle are simple in concept but take some work and dedication to achieve.

* Healthy diet
* Exercise
* Minimize stress on a daily basis


Almost all of the common diseases that threaten us today can be avoided to a great degree by eating right, adopting a program of regular exercise, and stress reduction through techniques like meditation.

The Role Of Pure Water as part of a Healthy Diet.

Daily consumption of pure water is essential to a proper diet. Basically, the human body can survive for extended periods without food but can only last for a few days without water. Water is the essential element of your body: water cools the body and is essential for the proper functioning of all the major body processes.

Is Our Drinking Water Pure?

In the whole world only 3% of all the water is drinkable and of that 3%, pollution is taking its toll. Much of the potentially drinkable water is now so polluted that it is undrinkable. Municipalities in the western word attempt to supply drinking water but only do so with contaminants and bacteria that is covered up by significant amounts of chlorine.

Scholars Have Noticed

There have many studies of contaminated water and its effects on the human body. Many scholars recommend the use of purified distilled water as a healthy substitute for contaminated water. Many experts have published opinions on the subject (see: Water Purification: http://mizar5.com/distill/BestPurification.html)

Other experts such as Dr. Andrew Weil (http://www.aquaprix.com/archive/drw_cda.html) explore the benefits of distilled water and explode many of the myths surrounding this form of purified water.

The basic question many scholars as is “Why do people harm their health with adulterated drinking water when pure water is available?”

How Much Pure Water Do You Need?

To stay hydrated, you need to drink at least half your body weight in ounces of pure water (spread out over the day). Therefore, if you weigh 150 pounds, you need at least 75 ounces of pure water a day. Remember, you cannot drink too much pure water-the more the better.

How Do You Know If You Are Hydrated?

Your urine should be almost clear once every 24 hours. Remember: Thirst is not a good guide-by the time you experience thirst, you are already 2-3% dehydrated, which means your energy is depleted by 20-30%.

What Counts Towards Your Pure Water Intake?

The following sources of pure water can count towards your daily quota

Distilled/Oxygenated water is the best choice. Distilled water is purified and It is rated purest and cleanest by National Science Foundation, containing the least parts-per-million contaminants. Some water suppliers add oxygen in a process that enhances the pure water taste.

Spring water is water bottled from a natural spring source. The majority of bottled water is spring water. Be careful of your sources because spring water is subject to the same natural and man made contamination as other unpurified water such as well and tap water.

Tap or Well Water

It is best to avoid tap and well water, because most North American water supplies contain a myriad of toxins including: anti-biotics, hormones, chlorine, heavy metals, and pesticides. Test all well water for contaminants because the water table that supports well water is often polluted. A high quality filtration or distillation system is recommended for all tap/well water.

There are Many Forms and Qualities of Bottled Water

Although bottled water is perceived as a healthier, safer choice over tap water in consumer surveys, that is not necessarily always true. Most tap water is bad for your body but many bottled waters are not purified and therefore not much better than tap water.

Twenty-five percent of all bottled water is actually repackaged tap water The more a consumer knows about the realities of bottled and tap water, the better they can be about selecting water based on purity and taste.

Is Bottled Best?

In a recent Gallop survey, most consumers indicated they drink bottled water based on their perception it is safer and purer than tap water. Taste was the second leading reason, while bottled water's convenience was also a factor.

Bottled water is considered a food, and thus regulated by Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Tap water is regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Both varieties are subject to testing for contaminants, and some bottled and most tap water contains contaminates such as bacteria, arsenic, lead or pesticides. Independent tests by groups such as the National Resources Defense Council have found: Distilled/oxygenated water however, does not contain contaminants.

Other Facts:

-- Sixty to 70 percent of all bottled water in the United States is packaged and sold within the same state, which exempts it from FDA regulation. One in five states does not regulate that bottled water.

-- While most cities meet the standards for tap water, some tap water in 19 U.S. cities tested was found to contain arsenic, lead, and pesticides.

-- In 1,000 bottles of 103 different brands of bottled water, 22 percent contained synthetic chemicals, bacteria and arsenic.

Most healthy adults can tolerate trace amounts of contaminates if exposed, but some people are more vulnerable and should be more aware of their water source. These people include cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, patients who are HIV+ positive or recovering from a transplant or major surgery, and pregnant women, children, and elderly adults.

Bottled water that is purified by a distillation/oxygenation process eliminates even the most minute traces of contaminants. It is best however to buy purified water from a supplier that is approved under FDA regulations.

Why take a chance on your health because of the water you drink?


by: Jon M. Stout

Source: Articlecity.com

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