High Blood Pressure

Blood pressure

Blood pressure (strictly speaking: vascular pressure) refers to the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels, and constitutes one of the principal vital signs. The pressure of the circulating blood decreases as blood moves through arteries, arterioles, capillaries, and veins; the term blood pressure generally refers to arterial pressure, i.e., the pressure in the larger arteries, arteries being the blood vessels which take blood away from the heart. Arterial pressure is most commonly measured via a sphygmomanometer, which uses the height of a column of mercury to reflect the circulating pressure (see Non-invasive measurement). Although many modern vascular pressure devices no longer use mercury, vascular pressure values are still universally reported in millimetres of mercury (mmHg).The systolic arterial pressure is defined as the peak pressure in the arteries, which occurs near the beginning of the cardiac cycle; the diastolic arterial pressure is the lowest pressure (at the resting phase of the cardiac cycle). The average pressure throughout the cardiac cycle is reported as mean arterial pressure; the pulse pressure reflects the difference between the maximum and minimum pressures measured.Typical values for a resting, healthy adult human are approximately 120 mmHg (16 kPa) systolic and 80 mmHg (11 kPa) diastolic (written as 120/80 mmHg, and spoken as “one twenty over eighty”) with large individual variations. These measures of arterial pressure are not static, but undergo natural variations from one heartbeat to another and throughout the day (in a circadian rhythm); they also change in response to stress, nutritional factors, drugs, or disease. Hypertension refers to arterial pressure being abnormally high, as opposed to hypotension, when it is abnormally low. Along with body temperature, blood pressure measurements are the most commonly measured physiological parameters.For more information visit: http://www.hypercet.com/?aid=207200

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CASSAVA: GOOD SOURCE FOR STARCH

Cassava is under the family of Dioscoreaceae. It grows to 8 feet. It has rough skin difficult to peel. It can only be done easily by heating to soften the skin. Has a different color of dark brown or light pink.

Cassava is a perennial woody shrub. It has an edible root. It is mostly grown in tropical areas. Its other name is yuca or manioc. It can be grown even in an infertile land. It can withstand a dry season. Inadequate processing of cassava causes chronic toxicity. Various processing method used by grating, sun-drying and fermenting to reduce cyanide toxicity. Generally, it is used as food. Can be consumed freshly boiled. The leaves used as green vegetables full of vitamin B and A. Roots can be harvested after 6 months. It can be grown by using stem cuttings.

Properties: cyanogenic glucosides, oxalate crystal (skin), dehydroepiandrosterone, saponin, diosgenin, dioscin, alkaloid, tannin

It provides daily requirements of dietary energy. High in vitamin C, dietary fiber, vitamin B6, potassium, manganese. Low in saturated fat. It has the ability to protect against osteoporosis and heart disease due to its potassium-sodium content.

It gives better protection against obesity and diabetes. Due to chemical content of dehydroepiandrosterone, it acts as an aid to hormonal deficiency (progesterone, estrogen). Its plant extracts can treat painful menstruation, hot flashes and headache due to menopause.

Can reduce the absorption of cholesterol from the gut. It lowers total cholesterol level in the blood. It is an effective remedy in colic and other gastro-intestinal problem. It has anti-spasmodic chemical for relieving spasm. It soothes diverticulitis. Good in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis because of its antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties. For women, it eases dysmenorrhea, ovarian and uterine pain. It supply nutrients for glandular function. It has the capacity to give good nutrition that will benefit the respiratory, nervous and urinary system. Considered as nutritional support for fibroid and breast cancer.

Good for fluid retention, control of weight gain. It has benefit on controlling stress. It has anti-inflammatory benefits. It normalizes the production of the adrenal cortex hormones. It eases indigestion by dilating the vessels.  Useful in the treatment of muscle cramps and muscular pain.

It has benefits in the treatment of digestive disorders and gallbladder problem. It has diuretic capacity for urinary tract infection. It can protect cardiovascular disease due to its vitamin B6 content. It breakdown homocysteine, a threat to the blood vessel walls. It was associated in the incidence of stroke and heart attack. Vitamin B6 can prevent these things to happen. Good source of potassium that reduces blood pressure to safety level.

Used as folk remedy for the treatment of impotence due to vitamin E content. It increases the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Has anti-oxidant properties believed to reduce the risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular diseases in postmenopausal women. It has anti-fungal, anti-viral content. It serves as a carminative that prevent gas. Decrease perspiration, good expectorant for cough. Good in liver protection, or any pelvic cramp and uterus contraction.

Uses: As food ( baked, boiled, fried). Made into granules, paste, flour, binding agent, materials in the production of paper and textiles. Served as monosodium glutaminate, a flavoring agent. It can be made into pounded yam and vegetable soups because of its starch. Manufactured into yam chips and paste.

Side Effects:

-Stomach discomfort or rashes to those having allergic reaction (food allergy).

-It lowers blood sugar or with diabetes.

-Not advisable for pregnant women or breastfeeding mothers due to toxicity content.

-Not recommended for those person with the bout of strokes and blood clot.

-Not to be taken by women under birth control pills medication.

-Causes uterine contraction.

-Tincture of wild yam contain alcohol that will lead to vomiting if taken with the medication called metronidazole.

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Some important news about high fats in your Supermarket

Fat Shockers: Surprisingly High-Fat Foods

 

This is an interesting article I recently read online. If you like the prepared meals because they save you time, well guess what. The time you save in preparing these quick meals is costing you your Health!

Check out this list of fatty foods lurking in your grocery store. By Elaine Magee, MPH, RD

WebMD Expert Column

Thirty-eight grams of fat and 14 grams of saturated per serving —  now, that’s a high-fat food! I’ve been reading food labels and writing about health for at least two decades, but even I am sometimes shocked to discover how much fat, saturated fat, or trans fat a food actually contains.

One of the first things I look for when eyeing the nutrition information label on a food is how many grams of fat the item has. Right under that, I find the grams of saturated fat and, for some products, trans fat. I also check out the serving size. That’s important because some companies — often the ones selling especially high-fat foods — list a serving size as half of a muffin, half a chicken pot pie, or half a candy bar. So if you’re eating the whole muffin, pot pie, or candy bar, you’ll need to double the numbers.

Case in point: Claim Jumper’s Chicken Pot Pie. The serving size on the box is 1/2 of a pot pie. So if you eat the entire pie, you’re getting 74 grams of fat (not 37) and 18 grams of saturated fat (not 9). Even the numbers for half the pot pie are quite shocking, as far as I’m concerned.

Why should you be concerned about high-fat foods? It’s true that there are health benefits to consuming “smart fats” like monounsaturated fat and omega-3s. And certain higher-fat foods, like nuts, avocado, salmon, and olive oil, do contribute to health. But the total amount of fat is important because it can be a red flag for foods high in potentially health-damaging fats — saturated fat and trans fat. Also, compared to carbohydrate and protein, each gram of fat has twice as many calories.

Of course, you need to be aware of saturated fat and trans fat in foods. Saturated fats are known to raise cholesterol levels, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. They may also increase the risk of certain cancers. Trans fats hit you with a double whammy; in addition to raising levels of LDL “bad” cholesterol, they also decrease your HDL “good” cholesterol. Many researchers also suspect that trans fats increase the risk not only for heart disease, but also for type 2 diabetes, colon cancer, and breast cancer.

How Much Is Too Much?

So just how much saturated and trans fat is OK to eat? Here’s what the experts say:

• Saturated fat: Experts with the National Cholesterol Education Program recommend that less than 7% of total calories come from saturated fat. That’s 16 grams per day for a person eating 2,000 calories. Some of these products listed below get you most of the way there with one serving.
• Trans fat: Experts advise consuming as few trans fats as possible. The American Heart Association advises Americans to limit trans fats to less than 1% of total daily calories. If you need 2,000 calories a day, this computes to less than 2 daily grams of trans fats. Some of the products listed below get you past this daily recommendation with one serving.
• For more info and some of the worst food items you can read the entire article here:http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/fat-schockers-surprisingly-high-fat-foods?ecd=wnl_din_022210

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When stents are needed

When plaque builds up inside artery walls, the body’s natural response to injury can become its worst enemy. I attended a lecture this week to hear Dr. James Park, an interventional cardiologist with Cardiology and Interventional Vascular Associates in Dallas, explain how plaque build up in arteries can lead to a heart attack and the need for stents.

Perils of plaque:

Like me, many people attending the lecture assumed the only threat from plaque build-up was the gradual narrowing of arteries until, one day, the blockage was simply too great. Dr. Park explained that pieces of plaque inside artery walls breaks away, the body’s natural response to injury kicks in. Blood begins to clot over the site where plaque broke loose in an attempt to repair the injured area. The clot either further narrows the artery or completely blocks the flow of blood through the artery and causes a heart attack.

Dr. Park presented visuals to demonstrate procedures used to locate and repair blocked arteries:

• Angiogram: a procedure that inserts dye into arteries so an image can be taken to determine where the blockage has occurred.
• Angioplasty: a procedure that inserts a balloon into the area where to clot has formed to expand the artery so the clot can be broken into smaller pieces and removed by suction.
• Stent: A support inserted into the artery so it will remain open to allow blood to flow through.

The procedures in action:

Video produced by Nucleus Medical Art from The Baltimore Sun’s Web site demonstrates these procedures.

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Whole Wheat Pumpkin Pancakes

These are easy, delicious, and have great texture!

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Pancakes

Whisk together:

1 1/2 c. soy or almond milk (or other non-dairy milk)

1/2 c. canned pumpkin

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/8 tsp. ground cloves

1/8 tsp. ground ginger

1 tbsp. canola oil

Stir in:

1 1/4 c. whole wheat flour

3 Tbsp. maple syrup or agave

1 Tbsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

Heat griddle or frying pan, spray with cooking spray.  Make pancakes!!!

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Cholesterol and Heart Disease- A phony issue....

“The Soft Science of Dietary Fats,” by Gary Taubes, in the March 30, 2001 issue of Science,1 exposes the shenanigans of the 1970s McGovern Senate Committee staff and the follow-on by various government agencies that gave us the anti-fat, anti-cholesterol dietary goals and guidelines. This exposé adds to the material in “The Oiling of America”2 by Enig and Fallon and The Cholesterol Myths3 by Ravnskov. Taken together, these works provide substantial food for thought.

Blood cholesterol levels between 200 and 240 mg/dl are normal. These levels have always been normal. In older women, serum cholesterol levels greatly above these numbers are also quite normal, and in fact they have been shown to be associated with longevity. Since 1984, however, in the United States and other parts of the western world, these normal numbers have been treated as if they were an indication of a disease in progress or a potential for disease in the future.

As a result of some of this misinformation, which was purposefully planted by the leadership of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) in 1984, many hundreds of thousands of people are treated with expensive medications to prevent the development of a non-existent illness. If the medications were only expensive and not life threatening, their use could no doubt be shrugged off as a harmless snake oil pharmaceutical scam; but, in fact, these are thoroughly dangerous medications for both physical and emotional reasons—for physical reasons because their use can lead to serious untreatable diseases such as liver cancer, and for emotional reasons because their use perpetuates the myth that cholesterol is dangerous and evil.

In his book The Cholesterol Myths, Dr. Uffe Ravnskov tells us what happens to an older woman who has normal high serum cholesterol levels. When her blood is tested in a forced cholesterol checkup, the cholesterol myth is used to justify treatment of her nonexistent disease state and she loses her vibrant state of good health.

The official advice to lower serum cholesterol levels has brought about numerous supplements with the attached claim that consuming them will lower cholesterol. This further supports the myth of cholesterol as an undesirable component of body and diet. In fact, the body uses cholesterol to repair and to protect. When improvement to the health of the body brought about by good changes in lifestyle or diet results in a lowering of serum cholesterol, it can be counted as an example of the body no longer needing the extra circulating cholesterol. The repair has been accomplished.

A month after the exposé in Science, the NHLBI responded by lowering its recommended “at risk” cholesterol level and increasing the number of people it wants to put on cholesterol lowering drugs. But there may be hope that the truth will win. Independent thoughtful researchers have continued to point out that there is a real need for correcting the wrong advice given to the public regarding the consumption of dietary fats. New research continues to show that the saturated fats are not a problem, that the trans fatty acids found in partially hydrogenated vegetable fats and oils really are a problem, and that the lack of appropriate balance in the diet of the polyunsaturated omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids is also a problem. Even the mono-unsaturates have been taken to task by some of the recent research. And lowfat diets are being shown to be counterproductive.

The lesson to be learned from all of this is that the old-fashioned, more saturated fats form the healthy basis of a good quality diet. And a good quality diet can help to produce a state of vibrant good health. Meanwhile, there is no need to worry about your cholesterol levels. This is a phony issue.

References

1. Gary Taubes, “The Soft Science of Dietary Fat,”Science, March 30, 2001.
2. Mary Enig, PhD and Sally Fallon, “The Oiling of America.”
3. Uffe Ravnskov, MD, PhD, The Cholesterol Myths: Exposing the Fallacy that Cholesterol and Saturated Fat Cause Heart Disease, NewTrends Publishing, Washington, DC, 2000. More info online at:www.ravnskov.nu/cholesterol.htm.

This article appeared in Wise Traditions in Food, Farming and the Healing Arts, the quarterly magazine of the Weston A. Price Foundation, Summer 2001.

About the Author

Mary G. Enig, PhD is an expert of international renown in the field of lipid biochemistry. She has headed a number of studies on the content and effects oftrans fatty acids in America and Israel, and has successfully challenged government assertions that dietary animal fat causes cancer and heart disease. Recent scientific and media attention on the possible adverse health effects of trans fatty acids has brought increased attention to her work. She is a licensed nutritionist, certified by the Certification Board for Nutrition Specialists, a qualified expert witness, nutrition consultant to individuals, industry and state and federal governments, contributing editor to a number of scientific publications, Fellow of the American College of Nutrition and President of the Maryland Nutritionists Association. She is the author of over 60 technical papers and presentations, as well as a popular lecturer. Dr. Enig is currently working on the exploratory development of an adjunct therapy for AIDS using complete medium chain saturated fatty acids from whole foods. She is Vice-President of the Weston A Price Foundation and Scientific Editor of Wise Traditions as well as the author ofKnow Your Fats: The Complete Primer for Understanding the Nutrition of Fats, Oils, and Cholesterol, Bethesda Press, May 2000. She is the mother of three healthy children brought up on whole foods including butter, cream, eggs and meat.

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Traditional Diets Prevent You from Cancer, Processed Foods Not.

Once a rare disease, cancer is now widespread, affecting as much as one-third of the population. The rise in cancer in the West and other indrustial countries in East has paralleled the rise in factory farming and the use of processed foods containing vegetable oils and additives. Orthodox methods for treating cancer (radiation and chemotherapy) do not prolong life. The best approach to cancer is prevention. Traditional diets, containing animal and plant foods farmed by nontoxic methods, are rich in factors that protect against cancer. Many of these protective factors are in the animal fats.

In this concern, I see the facts that some people carrying out vegetarian diets have died due to cancer, such as a case of Linda McCartney, Paul McCartney’s wife. Vegetarianism does not protect against cancer. In fact, vegetarians are particularly prone to cancers of the nervous system and reproductive organs.

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Nutrients in Whole Foods that Protect Against Cancer

Vitamin A: Strengthens the immune system. Essential for mineral metabolism and endocrine function. Helps detoxify. True vitamin A is found only in animal foods such as cod liver oil; fish and shellfish; and liver, butter and egg yolks from pasture-fed animals. Traditional diets contained ten times more vitamin A than the typical modern American diet.

Vitamin C: An important antioxidant that prevents damage by free radicals. Found in many fruits and vegetables but also in certain organ meats valued by primitive peoples.

Vitamin B6: Deficiencies are associated with cancer. Contributes to the function of over 100 enzymes. Most available from animal foods. Vitamin B12: Deficiencies are associated with cancer. Found only in animal foods. Vitamin B17: Protects against cancer. Found in a variety of organically grown grains, legumes, nuts and berries.

Vitamin D: Required for mineral absorption. Strongly protective against breast and colon cancer. Found only in animal foods such as cod liver oil, lard, shellfish and butterfat, organ meats and egg yolks from grass-fed animals. Traditional diets contained ten times more vitamin D than the typical modern American diet. Vitamin E: Works as an antioxidant at the cellular level. Found in unprocessed oils as well as in animal fats like butter and egg yolks.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA): Strongly protective against breast cancer. Found in the butterfat and meat fat of grass-fed ruminant animals.

Cholesterol: A potent antioxidant that protects against free radicals in cell membranes. Found only in animal foods.

Minerals: The body needs generous amounts of a wide variety of minerals to protect itself against cancer. Minerals like zinc, magnesium and selenium are vital components of enzymes that help the body fight carcinogens. Minerals are more easily absorbed from animal foods.

Lactic Acid and Friendly Bacteria: Contribute to the health of the digestive tract. Found in old fashioned lacto-fermented foods.

Saturated Fats: Strengthen the immune system. Needed for proper use of the essential fatty acids. The lungs cannot function without saturated fats. Found mostly in animal foods.

Long-Chain Fatty Acids: Arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) help fight cancer on the cellular level. They are found mostly in animal foods such as butter, organ meats, cod liver oil and seafood. Co-enzyme Q10: Highly protective against cancer. Found only in animal foods.

Compounds in Processed Foods that Can Cause Cancer

Trans Fatty Acids: Imitation fats in shortenings, margarines and most commercial baked goods and snack foods. Strongly associated with cancer of the lungs and reproductive organs.

Rancid fats: Industrial processing creates rancidity (free radicals) in commercial vegetable oils.

Omega-6 fatty acids: Although needed in small amounts, an excess can contribute to cancer. Dangerously high levels of omega-6 fatty acids are due to the overuse of vegetable oils in modern diets.

MSG: Associated with brain cancer. Found in almost all processed foods, even when “MSG” does not appear on the label. Flavorings, spice mixes and hydrolyzed protein contain MSG.

Aspartame: Imitation sweetener in diet foods and beverages. Associated with brain cancer.

Pesticides: Associated with many types of cancer. Found in most commercial vegetable oils, fruit juices, vegetables and fruits.

Hormones: Found in animals raised in confinement on soy and grains. Plant-based hormones are plentiful in soy foods.

Artificial Flavorings and Colors: Associated with various types of cancers, especially when consumed in large amounts in a diet of junk food.

Refined Carbohydrates: Sugar, high fructose corn syrup and white flour are devoid of nutrients. The body uses up nutrients from other foods to process refined carbohydrates. Tumor growth is associated with sugar consumption.

More deep explanations concerning foods to preventing cancer could be found in great articles in 1001HealthSecret.com as follow:

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• Cancer Inhibitors in Food
• The Right Vitamin A to Prevent Cancer
• Vitamin C and Cancer

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The Next Great Advance of Medicine - Gastric Bypass for Kids!

Gastric bypass, a procedure by which the stomach is stapled into the size of an egg, is becoming more and more popular for children.  An alternate procedure using a band is also available.  Regardless of the procedure used, this is a terrible idea.  No one could possibly know the consequences this surgery will have on the developing digestive tracts of young adults.

There is no doubt that there is an obesity problem in this country and that children are becoming heavier and heavier.  Adult diseases and related problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are all on the rise in children.  In fact, 1 in 5 teens now has high cholesterol.  According to The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) comparing 1976-1980 and 200-2003, the prevalence of obesity has increased: for children aged 2–5 years, prevalence increased from 5.0% to 12.4%; for those aged 6–11 years, prevalence increased from 6.5% to 17.0%; and for those aged 12–19 years, prevalence increased from 5.0% to 17.6%.

The numbers are real and the problems are real, but we did not get here overnight and it certainly wasn’t a deficiency in gastric bypass surgeries that led our youth to be overweight.  The problem is the availability of cheap, nutrient empty food and the choices these children are being taught to make.  Combine this with the ever increasing inactivity in this country and it is a recipe for disaster.  Research has highlighted that kids younger than 8 spend an average of 2.5 hours watching TV or playing video games, and kids 8 and above spend 4.5 hours slumped before a TV or wriggling a joystick of some kind! Children who watch more than 4 hours a day are more likely to be overweight compared with those who watch 2 hours or less.  Also consider that some studies show that kids get 10% of their calories from fast food alone!  This doesn’t take into account the terrible snacks and meals they are being fed by their parents.  This also poses a problem for the health care system down the road as well.  Studies show that 80% of overweight children go on to be overweight adults.

Gastric bypass, however, is not the answer.  For one, getting a bypass done keeps you from absorbing enough food.  While this lowers the caloric intake of the individual, it also means you cannot absorb enough vitamins and nutrients.  Over time, this may lead to deficiencies of crucial nutrients and eventually lead to problems as serious as cancer.  It may not develop immediately, but does anyone know how the body reacts to sub par levels of a variety of antioxidants over, say 40 years?  I think not.  Secondly, this has not been proven to be any more effective then appropriate dietary advice.  These children need to be taught how to eat, not given a quick fix because they will have a lifetime ahead of them to eat incorrectly if this is the case.

The fix for fat in this country is a massive educational program.  It needs to be on the scale of the anti-smoking campaign or the D.A.R.E campaign to eliminate drugs.  It cannot be taught by physicians and dieticians who continue to teach the low fat method of dieting.  Research and physiology says that is the least effective way to lose weight and, most importantly, get healthy.  They have been preaching low fat, low fat and more low fat for 60 years!  And we are fatter than ever!  They still recommend your largest servings be of grains.  This is so wrong for human physiology it’s unbelievable.

What kids need to do is totally eliminate processed foods from their diet.  This means chips, pasta, soda, candy and breads to name a few.  Sure they can have it once in a while, but they should be a treat not a staple.  What they should be eating is protein, vegetables and fruits and healthy fats.  This would solve the obesity problem in this country OVER NIGHT!  It must be taught this way, however.  Deviations from this would result in failure and put us right back in the position we’re in.

Radical, dangerous and unnecessary surgery for children is a bad idea.  It becomes even worse when it is for a problem that can be fixed conservatively.  I am going to leave you with this thought.  Gastric bypass may make you thin, but it does not make you healthy.  The only way to do that is diet and exercise.

[Via http://thevreelandclinic.wordpress.com]

LIVE WITH CHOLESTEROL, NOT ME!

 

I was devastated when I went along to my Doctors last year suffering from headaches, after chatting with her and going through the usual rigmarole, she arranged for me to have some blood tests done, “we will see what the result find she said, but for now, take two Ibuprofen tablets and two paracetomol, this will help until we find out if there is anything causing them?

Well, guess what, like everyone does I didn’t ring for the result! I went on Holiday instead, that’s more like it huh, yeah, holidaying in Lanzarote is more important.

Three weeks after returning from my wonderful holiday I decided I should ring and find out the results of my blood test, Just in case! “Oh yes Mrs Best the Doctor wants to see you can you come along 9:30am Monday morning”, “Yes, I can do that”, I said.

I am now sitting in the waiting room apprehensive and wondering what they have found in my blood! What could it be, I’m never ill, why now? I feel great, I feel normal, can’t be much?

“Come in”, the Doc called, I sat down while she fiddled on the computer. “Mmm, you have High Cholesterol” she told me, High Cholesterol, what does that mean?

“It means you have and increased chance of having a heart attack, or stroke”.

She then took my blood pressure and did some figures and came to the conclusion that I had a 13% chance of having a heart attack or stroke in the next ten years!

Me, little me, there’s nothing of me how can I have high cholesterol? how did I get it? How long have I had it? I can’t have it I eat healthy, I hardly eat meat, I don’t eat many cream cakes, well, rarely, I enjoy a beer or drop of wine but not excessively! I exercise, my god! I can’t have high cholesterol, I was devastated, I had never until now, had any health issues, and now here I was facing up to maybe popping pills for the rest of my life.

 We then went through my weekly diet, my alcohol intake and exercise.

 The doc then decided after adding my blood pressure to the volume of HDL and LDL, (Low Density Cholesterol, and High Density Cholesterol) and being a non smoker and considering my blood pressure was absolutely spot on, she was not going to prescribe statin tablets, as she thought I could try to bring it down on my own! Well, at least that’s a start for me to get on the right road again, I felt like I’d been given a second chance, at what though, living longer of course, Oh yeah, of course.

She gave me a piece of A4 paper with foods listed in three columns stating, once a week, twice a week and rarely, she said she would see me in a year’s time. I thanked her and left the surgery.

I was depressed, angry, frustrated and bewildered, how was I supposed to manage this cholesterol on my own, I didn’t know anything about it I had heard of it but never really knew the ins and outs of it. This sort of thing happened to others not to me, me, I’m still having problems coming to terms with the fact that I have high cholesterol.

Has anyone else been told they have high cholesterol? Are you or were you as bewildered and in the dark as I was? How I would like to hear from you!

When I got home I sat down with a cup of tea hubby made me and thought hard about my predicament, then I decided I needed to find out more about this medical setback.

A few days later I went into boots for some other items I needed and while I was waiting in the queue I noticed a book on cholesterol, I picked up and bought it, I came home and read it through from start to finish, by this time I was beginning to have a better idea of what cholesterol was.

The one sheet of paper the Doctor gave me had various foods I should not eat and listed foods I should eat, like polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, why these? What was the difference, how would I know, I just cook it and eat it I don’t look at the labels what’s in it why would I? Do you?

So, after buying this little book I was a bit wiser, not a lot but a bit. And to my shock and horror!!! I read in this book that if you eat a healthy diet and exercise fairly regularly you may have an inherited gene of cholesterol known as Familial Hypercholesterolemia, known as FH. Meaning its past down from your parents to the siblings a gift from mum or dad that I never knew about, bless them, which means however much you exercise or eat healthy you will suffer with cholesterol and may have to take drugs to regulate it, and one way of telling if you have Familial Cholesterol is by looking at the eye, it causes a white ring around the outside right on the edge of your coloured part of the eye be it blue, brown or green, if you have this then you need to get a check up believe me I have it so I know. If you want to fight it or avoid it like I have follow my blogs.

[Via http://linnybe.wordpress.com]

Whole Wheat Cinnamon Berry Pancakes

Great texture, great taste, super easy and great for you!!!!

Whole Wheat Cinnamon Berry Pancakes

2 tbsp ground flaxseed

1/4 cup water

Whisk these together well;  they’ll serve as the binding.

To that, whisk in:

1 1/3 cup of non dairy milk (I like soy or vanilla almond)

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp salt (I use kosher for all my cooking)

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp ground cinnamon (or more…)

2 tbsp agave (found in natural foods section) or real maple syrup

1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour (King Arthur flours are excellent)

Fold in:

1/2 – 3/4 cup berries – I pull my frozen wild blueberries right out of the freezer and throw them in.

Heat your pan or griddle, spray lightly with canola cooking spray.  And cook them the way you’d cook any pancakes! Serve with real maple syrup.

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Consider The Ant...

“Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

Provideth her meat in the summer, [and] gathereth her food in the harvest.

How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.”

Proverbs 6:6-11

There be four [things which are] little upon the earth, but they [are] exceeding wise:

The ants [are] a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;

The conies [are but] a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;

The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;

The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.

Proverbs 30:24-28

In the battle over real food, there are some great truths to be considered, as we look to find principles we can count on. The wisdom of God’s word the Bible, is always trustworthy.

Artificial Food is Slow Poison

When we eat artificial food, food that is processed improperly or just a can of chemicals masquerading as food, we do not fall down and drop dead instantly. It would be better if we did drop dead immediately, then we wouldn’t;t continue eating artificial food.

When we ingest these food, often we don’t even feel sick, and we think that it is having no effect on us at all. We are lulled to sleep as the Sluggard.

Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.”

We reason, hey, I eat at McDonald’s and I feel OK, or I eat cereal every day, and don’t notice ill effects immediately. This is a insidious snare that comes on all who are tricked by the artificial food pied piper of pudendum! Then one day we awake and have Cancer, or a Heart Attack!

Artificial Food is Profitable

There is always a remarkable profit margin built into processed food, that empowers its successful reception in the stomachs of unwitting eaters. Their enormous profit margin allows for the product to be-

1. Packaged Beautifully
2. Marketed Effectively
3. Developed so it Tastes Good (Chemically Enhanced)
4. Has the Support of Government, Medical, and Media Outlets

Artificial Food is a Bully!

This mechanism and coordinated efforts from these various agencies keep people misinformed about the true dangers of processed foods, at the same time bullying real food so that the general understanding among Americans is fear and dought about the safety of real food, and no real concern about the alien food products they consume every day.

Artificial Food has Constructed an Artificial Hierarchy

Human beings by nature are all nutritionists! Dr. Weston Price discovered isolated people groups around the world that had excellent human health due to their wise choices about food. Many of these healthy people could not read nor write, but they were excellent nutritionists! In fact, Dr. Price, considered by many to be the greatest nutrition researcher of all time, was actually taught by the great wisdom developed by these often unlearned folk!

One of the problems in understanding artificial foods and real foods is that men by nature worship education. We are often fooled by Doctors and Government officials who are very learned and have high sounding titles and positions, so that many people conclude, well he must know what he’s talking about, after all, he’s a Doctor

Artificial Worship

Over the 20th century with many advances in technology, people began more and more to trust the so-called scientist, and conclude that ancient understanding was all wrong. Coupled with a concerted effort by those in academia to control that which could be known about food, they have effectively set up a religion, the religion of Fake Food!

We Are In Control of Your Television

Just as the church in the middle ages became very corrupt, and set up a hierarchy that stated that only the priests and bishops were allowed to interpret the bible, and peasants and average folks were not worthy to even read it, they even kept it in a dead language (Latin) so that even when they heard the Bible, they wouldn’t understand it!

Eventually there was great revolt against this tyranny, Martin Luther in Germany was the inspirational leader of what is now known as the Protestant Reformation. They had no established authority to lead them, because the authority had become corrupt! Nevertheless with great courage and God’s help, they successfully established a new religion that allowed truth to have free course!

Nothing New Under The Sun

Likewise in modern America men have created an artificial hierarchy to control the thoughts of the people who, according to them, are too stupid to make decisions for themselves! This can be seen in the medical systems, including Registered Dieticians as well as Doctors of all sorts, and organizations like the AMA and the FDA. These artificially exalted men are the only ones to interpret truth, and if any speaks differently, they are either unqualified, uninformed or stupid. They also move as the Spanish inquisition to purge any unbeliever from their church. The church of industrial food.

You Have No Scientific Evidence!

Part of the system of science falsely so-called is the term clinical trial. A term for a study that is almost always sponsored by someone who is looking for a specific result, and can only be paid for by those who have a highly profitable Fake Food. In fact, real food can for all practiical purposes never have a clinical study, because it never generates the large sums of money needed to pay for it, because real food has such a low profit margin.

Furthermore, when a study suggests some truth, it is quickly attacked as irrelevant for one reason or another. This system is effectively keeping America eating in the Dark Ages! Check out this recent study by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Consider the Ant…

Just as ants have no ruler, but work together diligently to accomplish great feats of work, so the real food movement grows and its healthier, more zealous activists keep on working and teaching in the face of insurmountable odds! Without corporate sponsorship, government grants or help from any established medical organization.

Wisdom from the Bible

God laughs as the foolishness of man, and is glorified by using the small things of this world, to overturn the great! We who are part of this movement know that it is a good and right thing to do, and if we keep the course, we may soon see the liberation of real food, and the restoration of our nation’s health.

If you have a desire to get active in the fight, please go to www.westonaprice.com and become a member, begin to learn the truth about real food, and have courage, the ant wins in the end!

Please consider becoming a nutritionist, and learning how to be an effective messenger of eat food at www.LiberationWellness.com/certification

[Via http://liberationwellnessblog.com]

Another Drug Pales In Comparison To Dietary Changes

A recent study, entitled “10-Year Follow-up of Diabetes Incidence and Weight Loss in the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study,” has concluded that changing dietary habits is much more effective for reducing the incidence of diabetes than taking Metformin.  The main use for metformin is in the treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2, especially in overweight people.  Metformin improves high blood sugar primarily through its suppression of glucose production in the liver.

Here is the major finding of the study: (Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group

Lancet. 2009;374:1677-1686) “Diabetes incidence was reduced by 58% with intensive lifestyle change and by 31% with metformin compared with placebo.”

This clearly shows that changing lifestyle and dietary habits is much more effective for reducing the incidence of diabetes than taking a pharmaceutical. I cannot possibly understand why anyone would prefer to take a drug to reduce the risk of diabetes, when changing diet is a much more superior way to improve health.  To illustrate, I will compare the side effects of dietary changes with the side effects of Metformin.

Side Effects of Diet Change:

• Increased energy
• Better sleep
• Better mood
• Increased vitality
• Better productivity
• Weight loss
• Improving cholesterol numbers
• Reduction of cardiac risk

Side Effects of Metformin:

• Diarrhea — occurring in up to 53.2 percent of people
• Nausea or vomiting — in up to 25.5 percent
• Gas — in up to 12.1 percent
• Weakness — in up to 9.2 percent
• Indigestion — in up to 7.1 percent
• Abdominal discomfort (or stomach discomfort) — in up to 6.4 percent
• Headache — in up to 5.7 percent

The comparison is relatively clear.  Dietary changes are documented to have very little “side effect,” if any.  The changes usually only benefit the participant.  Pharmaceuticals are notorious for side effects as evidenced by the published rates I have quoted above.

This study is great news.  It confirms that the way to be healthy is through diet and nutrition, not synthetic drugs. If you are concerned about your risk for diabetes, talk to a health practitioner that will work with your diet and not just write you a quick prescription.  Pharmaceutical giants would have you believe their drugs are the only way, but it simply is not the truth.  Changing lifestyle habits is the only true way to get healthy.

[Via http://thevreelandclinic.wordpress.com]

Top 4 Health Benefits of Green Tea

Green tea has received an increasing amount of fanfare over the past few years and its popularity doesn’t seem likely to waver anytime soon.

So why is this particular type of tea regarded so greatly above the other varieties? There may be many reasons but the most likely is the almost magical effects this drink can have over our health.

Out of the many health benefits, I believe the top 4 are:

1) Green Tea is an Effective way to Lose Weight

Green tea is swimming with anti-oxidants one to note is epigallocatachen gallate (EGCG). EGCG help to accelerate energy expenditure, which means green tea simulates thermogenesis or fat metabolism. In a study of green tea dieting, the participants showed a 4% increase in metabolic rates.

2) Green Tea is a Cancer Fighter

The anti-oxidant levels in green tea are many times better than vitamin C and vitamin E at protecting our immune systems. Green tea reduces the amount of free radicals in our bodies which helps prevent and protect against cancer. The EGCG anti-oxidants have also been shown to slow down stop the growth of cancer cells.

3) Green Tea Protects Against Stokes & Heart Attacks

Green tea promotes blood circulation and has been found to have great benefits to our circulatory systems. The EGCG anti-oxidants, found in green tea, effectively stop blood clots from forming. Blood clots, or thrombosis, lead to strokes and heart attacks.

4) Green Tea Lowers Cholesterol

Another major health benefit of green tea is its ability to lower both total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. After 3 months in a study, participants that had moderate to high levels of cholesterol showed an average drop of 16% in their cholesterol levels.

Some other notable health benefits include:

• Protecting skin from ultraviolet light radiation
• Regulates body temperature and blood sugar
• Helps stabilize diabetes
• Aids in digestion
• Improves mental processes

For more information check out these articles:

• Health benefits of drinking green tea
• The Complete Guide to Green Tea

[Via http://thebestcupoftea.wordpress.com]