Posts Tagged ‘Fried Foods’

Heart Disease Diet Plan-12 Smart Eating Habits for a Strong Heart

Sunday, June 26th, 2011
A diet rich in soy and whey protein, found in ...

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It is unfortunate that in the United States today, more and more people are developing hypertension, having strokes and heart attacks, developing coronary disease, and many other illnesses. Much is due to popular errors regarding diet.

For those with heart problems and are looking for a heart disease diet plan that is easy to follow, these 12 healthy eating habits will not only develop a strong heart, but will also help you avoid many other illnesses.

Tip #1: Have your diet consist largely of fruits and vegetables prepared in a natural way that is tasty.

Tip#2:  To help prevent heart failure and obesity, use more whole grains such as 100% whole wheat break, rye bread, quinoa, oatmeal, etc.  Limit food prepared from refined white four such or bolted cornmeal.

Tip #3: Mix up your diet. Vary your diet in each meal, but don’t eat too many variations in one meal. Work on keeping your meals simple.

Tip #4: Eat sparingly of rich foods, keep your sugar intake to 3 teaspoons or less daily, salt to a half-tea spoon, and oil to 2 tablespoons. Avoid foods such as spices, greases, fried foods, baking powder and soda, and vinegar. If you like fruit juice and other concentrated foods, eat them in very small quantities.

Tip #5: Another good heart disease prevention and diet tip is to eat at the same mealtime daily and at least 5 hours apart. Your digestive functions work much more efficiently when you eat on a regular schedule.

Tip #6: Always eat a big breakfast and make it the biggest meal of your day. If you eat supper, keep it light (e.g. fruit and whole grains), and finish eating 2-3 hours before you retire for the night.

Tip #7: Don’t ever overeat.  In the United States, many of us do overeat and develop obesity and other heart problems. Eat all you need to maintain your health and enjoy your food, but don’t overdo it. Too much food dulls and depresses the mind, causes disease and fatigue, and will shorten your life overall.

Tip #8: Eat your food slowly. When you do this, you will increase your enjoyment and get more nutritional benefits from your food.

Tip #9: Drink plenty of water. However, do not drink with your meals or immediately before or after them.

Tip #10: Fast occasionally by skipping one to four meals. Fasting teaches you self-control and can be a good remedy for those who are too sedentary.

Tip#11: Do not eat between meals. This slows the digestion process and allows the food to ferment.

Tip #12: Try eating two meals a day. This can be good for those who are not only working on increasing their heart’s health, but who also need to eat fewer calories to lose weight. It is also good for those who are not very active.

These 12 heart healthy smart eating tips are simple enough for anyone to follow who is looking for an effective heart disease diet plan. What we eat and drink today will affect us in the future. So, by heeding these instructions, more than likely you can live a longer and healthier life!

 

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Heart Disease Treatments-How To Lower Cholesterol Naturally

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009

There are many natural heart disease treatments for you to consider if you have heart disease or if you are seeking to avoid it. One important issue to consider is lowering your cholesterol in a natural way.

Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels can greatly reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. What makes cholesterol so important? It gives your body the ability to repair cell membranes, creates vitamin D and helps to produce necessary hormones. When cholesterol levels become too high they interfere with these critical body functions and put you at risk for heart complications.

What do the numbers mean? Total cholesterol is the sum of three main factors. Theses are LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol (bad kind), HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol (good kind) and blood triglycerides. Healthy total cholesterol is under 200mg/dL with 180 mg/dL being optimal. LDL cholesterol should be under 100 mg/dL, HDL should be over 40 mg/dL and blood triglyceride levels under 150 mg/dL. When is cholesterol considered too high? When total cholesterol is over 240mg/dL with LDL levels over 160 mg/dL, HDL levels under 40 mg/dL and blood triglycerides 200 mg/dL you are at risk.

There are plenty of ways to help reduce cholesterol levels naturally. Medications are widely available but have been known to cause muscle pains and inflict damage on the liver. Lowering levels naturally is a much safer alternative. Natural remedies can also save you money on your prescriptions.

It is important to note that roughly 20% of cholesterol comes from your diet while nearly 80% comes from your liver. So changes in your diet may need to be taken further by adding nutritional supplements to your daily regimen. Cholesterol levels should be checked at least once every five years for people aged 20 or older. Use the following tips to help maintain healthy levels.

- Cut back on consuming sugar, white flower, rich desserts and fried foods.
- Switch to using healthy oils such as olive or walnut oil.
- Eat baked or poached fish a few nights a week.
- Consume more soluble fiber such as apples, barley, oats, psyllium, kidney beans and pears.
- Eat more nuts such as pecans, hazelnuts, peanuts, pistachios and walnuts.
- Load up on leafy and green vegetables during mealtimes. These include lettuce, broccoli, spinach and green beans.
- Switch to eating whole grain foods instead of starchy white bread and pastas.
- Eat more fruits and berries. These are high in antioxidants and phytonutrients.
- Soy can lower bad cholesterol by three percent.
- Exercise at least 30 minutes on most or all days of the week.

When an altered diet is not enough to maintain healthy cholesterol levels, you may want to consider taking some nutritional supplements. Always follow directions specified on labels and be sure to contact your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Below are some natural supplements that can help you achieve your goals.

- Octacosanol is derived from wheat germ oil. It is proven to reduce total cholesterol levels.

- Omega 3 Fatty Acids come from fish oil and flax seed oil. These not only help lower cholesterol but also reduce inflammation, a common risk factor associated with cardiovascular disease.

- Garlic can lower total levels.

- Niacin is a B vitamin that can help decrease cholesterol when used in larger doses. It lowers bad cholesterol and raises good cholesterol.

- Chromium (GTF) which aids in metabolizing sugars can help lower overall cholesterol.

- Guggul which is made from herbs is a medicine to help rid the body of bad cholesterol.

Always follow your doctors advice before starting any natural supplement regimen.

I hope these tips help!

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To Your Success,
Monique Hawkins
540-858-2885
SKype: Monique371
mentormonique@gmail.com