Working To Lower The Chances Of Disease With Power Foods
Did you know that there are over thirty “power foods” that hold the key to preventing disease, slowing the aging process and maximizing your body’s natural efficiency? Of course, there is no miraculous cure-all and scientists are still very much learning how the body works. But why not add some foodstuff to your diet that health experts can agree upon? Whether you want to boost your heart health or reduce cholesterol levels, the answer may be more delicious than you had thought!
For snackers, texture is a big thing. You love the crunch of a potato chip or the way a chocolate chip cookie just sort of melts in your mouth. The good news is that one of the power foods on our list has just the crunch you need to feel satisfied: almonds! Two ounces or 48 of these tasty nuts will give you 50% of your daily magnesium, which ensures heart health, as well as providing vitamin E, fiber and monosaturated fat, which is the good kind. One study last year found that participants who ate 2.5 ounces of almonds per day lowered their cholesterol significantly after just one month! Other studies suggest a link between almonds and reducing the risk of colon cancer.
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, then you may find that watermelon quenches your need for sugary foods. This juicy “summer day” fruit contains beta-cryptoxanthin, which lowers cholesterol. It also has 20% of your daily vitamin A and vitamin C, in addition to providing you with an absorbable form of lycopene, which lowers heart disease and cancer risks. Similarly, blueberries are another amazing fruit that has been known to boost dopamine levels and your mood, as well as providing an anti-oxidant toxin-removal service and improving memory/coordination functions.
Perhaps you find that warm foods and drinks make you feel naturally happier. Maybe you’re a reformed coffee junkie. Instead, why not try a cup of tea? Chai tea is a delicious blend of vanilla, cinnamon and comforting spices. Generally black and green teas are the most doctor-recommended for fighting breast, lung and digestive cancers and heart disease. Additionally, a hot cocoa can provide you with antioxidant flavonoids, which fight heart disease and cancer, will reduce toxins in the blood and improve cholesterol ratios.
“More than anything else you do, the way you eat tells your body how healthy you want to be,” says Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., a physician in Tucson, Ariz., and author of Food As Medicine. Today, it’s easier to eat healthy foods, with public attention shifting towards more diet-conscious meals, restaurants using less cream and fatty butter and websites like sparkspeople.com acting as a personal diet coach. You may have to say goodbye to a few of your favorite victuals, but once you realize what you liked most about that food, be it the texture, salt, sugar or a certain soothing quality, you will be able to find an adequate replacement.
As we start to get older there are significant numbers that begin to weigh heavily upon us. We have to concern ourselves about our blood pressure, weight and our cholesterol level. Things we may have ignored our entire lives now suddenly they have significant importance. But these are some of the thing that should never have been forgotten. A lifetime of mistreatment on the body gives merely unfavorable things when left unchecked.
Your cholesterol level is certainly crucial if you want to remain in good health and your body operating right. High levels can lead to heart attacks as well as stroke, both things you do not want to have to deal with. Being concerned in regards to your cholesterol level is not just for the elderly. It is something both young as well as older people need to worry as well as be aware of if they want to lead a healthy life. In this article we will cover the fundamental principles of cholesterol and hopefully you will understand how important a healthy level is to your body and peace of mind.
What is bad cholesterol?
LDL cholesterol is bad. All cholesterol is carried by lipoproteins but the low-density lipoproteins moves in the blood stream and allows the cholesterol to begin to accumulate. If there is too much LDL then the cholesterol begins building up on the walls of the arteries. It begins to form plaque which makes the arteries hard and not as flexible. When clots form and block the artery a heart attack or stroke can occur.
What types of medicines are given for high cholesterol?
Obviously the first choice of physicians is exercise and a healthy diet low in trans fats. But when that does not work or there is a high level of LDL present then medications must be brought in to help. There are many different types of medicines currently being used to treat high cholesterol. The goal of each type of medicine is to lower the amount of LDL present in the blood stream and to help remove blockage and build up that has occurred. Some of these medicines are statins, bile acid resins, and nicotinic acid and fibric acid derivatives.
How is the obstruction from the arteries removed?
The initial stage is through medicines but if there is a measurable constrictive or occlusion in the artery or blood vessel then a slightly more aggressive operation is required. The actual processes may vary but one popular method is done through the use of a balloon angioplasty. The mechanical device is inserted into the artery and navigated to the blockage where the build up of plaque has occurred. The balloon is then inflated to clear the passage. Nowadays the operation is minimally intrusive and most patients are able to going home that day.
How do I know what my cholesterol is?
Well in order to know what your cholesterol is you should have a blood cholesterol testing performed at least every five years. The most recommended test is a fasting lipoprotein blood profile. This test measures not only your total cholesterol but it also specifies the LDL and the HDL levels. It is a great idea to be knowledgeable about where your numbers are and to ensure that they are in the proper healthy range.
To find out additional information High Cholesterol Foods also Cholesterol Drugs and Lower Cholesterol
