List Of Low Cholesterol Foods

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People who are over 25 years of age should pay more attention to their cholesterol levels. This is because as the body ages, its ability to fight off bad cholesterol decreases. Experts say that in order to avoid having too much bad cholesterol in the body, people should always have a ready list of low cholesterol foods and create a balance diet menu out of it.

The following is a list of low cholesterol foods that can be mix and match to create a low cholesterol diet:

1. LEAN MEATS. Lean red meats or lean chicken/turkey meats and fish should always be included in the list of low cholesterol menu because these are rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients that are excellent for a person’s metabolism as well as in fighting off bad cholesterol.

2. VEGETABLES. This food group is considered as the healthiest among other groups in the food pyramid primarily because they are low in calorie-content. Aside from that, these are also high in dietary fiber and dietary nutrients that aids not only regulated metabolism but also balances cholesterol levels. Vegetables are also perfect low cholesterol foods because these are excellent sources of minerals and vitamins such as vitamins C, E and K, vitamin B-complex, and other micronutrients that reduce vitamin deficiency. Aside from lowering high cholesterol levels, other benefits of eating vegetables also include the reduction of heart diseases and cancer as well as high blood pressure.

3. GRAINS. Because these are in high-energy content and dietary fiber content, grains are effective foods to lower cholesterol level. Whole grains are also known as effective in controlling weight. Aside from whole grains, breads, beans, potatoes, pasta, and cereals can also help lower cholesterol levels.

4. NUTS AND SEEDS. Since these contain large amounts of vitamins and minerals, nuts and seeds are included among the list of low cholesterol foods. These foods also are also high in dietary fiber that is excellent for great metabolism and low in calorie-content that is effective for weight management.

5. FRUITS. Just like vegetables, fruits are also among the top food groups that lower cholesterol because they are very low in calorie content. These also contain large amounts of significant vitamins and nutrients that help prevent of vitamin deficiency as well as other illnesses.

See Also : Vitamin Store

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Antibiotic Alternatives - Strep Throat

Strep throat, according to webMD,  is a bacterial infection in the throat and the tonsils. The throat gets irritated and inflamed, causing a sudden, severe sore throat.

What causes strep throat?

Strep throat is caused by streptococcal (strep) bacteria. There are many different types of strep bacteria. Some cause more serious illness than others.

Although some people are quick to think that any painful sore throat is strep, sore throats are usually caused by a viral infection and not strep bacteria. A sore throat caused by a virus can be just as painful as strep throat. But if you have cold symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, or a runny or stuffy nose, you probably do not have strep throat.

What are the symptoms?

The most common symptoms of strep throat are:

* A sudden, severe sore throat.

* Pain when you swallow.

* Fever over 101F.

* Swollen tonsils and lymph nodes.

* White or yellow spots on the back of a bright red throat.

You may also have a headache and belly pain. Less common symptoms are a red skin rash, vomiting, not feeling hungry, and body aches.

Strep throat can be passed from person to person. When a person who has strep throat breathes, coughs, or sneezes, tiny droplets with the strep bacteria go into the air. These droplets can be breathed in by other people. If you come into contact with strep, it will take 2 to 5 days before you start to have symptoms.

How is strep throat diagnosed?

Your doctor will do a physical exam, ask you about your symptoms and past health, and do a rapid strep test to diagnose strep throat. Sometimes another test, called a throat culture, is also needed.

If the rapid strep test says that you don’t have strep (the test is negative) but your symptoms suggest that you do, your doctor may want to do a throat culture to be sure. This is because rapid strep tests are not always accurate. To do a throat culture, the doctor will swab a sample of cells from the back of your throat. The sample will go into a special cup (culture) where the strep bacteria can grow over time. If strep bacteria grow, the doctor knows that you have strep.

If the rapid strep test is positive and says that you do have strep, there’s no need to do the throat culture.

Know more about the cause of strep throat on this site http://www.ifoundthecure.com

How is it treated?

Strep throat will go away in 3 to 7 days with or without treatment. Doctors usually treat strep throat with antibiotics even though they may not make you well faster. Antibiotics shorten the time you are able to spread the disease to others (are contagious) and lower the risk of spreading the infection to other parts of your body.

There are natural ways to fight the bacterial infection of strep throat!

Gargle with bitter orange essential oil and salt water.

Orange Bitter Essential Oils – 4 oz., (Starwest Botanicals)

Dissolve 1 drop bitter orange essential oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt in 1/2 cup warm water. Gargle twice daily. Do not swallow.

Both, orange bitter essential oil and salt are antibacterial and anti-inflammatory

Echinacea With Goldenseal 100 Caps

Both of these herbs prepare the body to fight a throat infection.

Traditional Medicinals Throat Coat, Organic – 1 box (Pack of 2)

Reduces inflammation that makes it easier for bacteria to infect tissues like those in the throat

Vitamin C W/Rose Hips 1,000 mg 250 Tabs Plum Flower – 3313 – Clear Wind Heat – Sang Ju Yin Wan – 200 Teapills

Please check with your doctor before taking any supplements, and also read the warning labels on each product, especially if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Also read the labels carefully when giving your child any natural supplement, to ensure that it is safe to give a child.

Take all of these and fight streap throat naturally!

If you want to know more aside from these treatments, don’t hesitate to visit this site http://www.ifoundthecure.com

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

Studies Prove

Back at the dawn of time, when you could smoke in the lunch room, I worked in a factory that–I’m not joking–retouched high school yearbook photos.

It was 10:30am in the year 1973 and time for first break. (Our job provided deadly monotony and exposure to chemicals for eight hours minus two fifteen-minute breaks and a half hour for lunch unpaid. Oh, you worked there too? Eight to Four-thirty? Eh, Paisan!)

Anyway, we were enjoying our brief respite and eating plastic-wrapped muffins. There was nothing to look at but yesterday’s Evening Bulletin. In the ‘Women’s Section’ was the latest health scare. Saccharin causes cancer.

For the younger generation, let me clarify that Saccharin was the great white powdery hope for women who wanted to be slim while still eating food. But now it was proved deadly.

Andrea was having none of it. She waved her coffee cup.

“Everything causes cancer!” she cried. This cup causes cancer!” She’s shaking the paper cup with the Greek key pattern around the rim.

Well yeah, Bunky, no one gets out of here alive. And you can’t go nuts about the latest headlines. The news reporters have no more memory than a gerbil. This week’s panic leads.

It helps to take the long view. Reporters, bless their little Journalism Degree hearts, don’t know squat about Science. They would probably like to actually report some news, but real life is 8:00-4:30 with lunch not included.

Well, I could go on. My topic today is a recent medical study that is both disappointing and counter-intuitive..

A decade ago, the federal government launched the three-part study to see whether intensely lowering blood sugar, blood pressure, or fats in the blood would reduce heart attacks and strokes in diabetics. The first piece of the study — about blood sugar — was stopped two years ago, when researchers saw more instead of less risk with that approach. Now, the other two parts of the study are in.

The later news don’t look good.

The drugs used in the study to manage hypertension and cholesterol did not improve health or longevity in the people enrolled in the study.

This is disappointing because Diabetes is punching the time card on the shift that Tuberculosis used to work. He’s got a different M.O. He reaps the fatter and the older instead of the younger and the thinner. But he’s got greedy and is taking out so many that society might have to recognize a non-contagious epidemic.

What can we conclude from early study results that indicate that drug treatment for hypoglycemia, and high cholesterol does not improve health for people with type II diabetes?

We could conclude that having good blood sugar control doesn’t improve your health, but that doesn’t make sense. If your pancreas is doing its job you can eat cotton candy for breakfast and feel just fine. And it’s better to have clear coronary arteries than not, I think we would agree.

I would examine this study and question whether the drugs that were used on the volunteers were effective in promoting health. That’s not the same as promoting optimal lab test results.

Your individual concern is to find what works. A drug that totally sucked for the woman sitting beside you in the waiting room might work miracles for you.

Taking the long and cynical view of this recent study, I first would like to know how much influence the drug companies had in the design of the research. Context is everything. Ask an artist if you don’t believe that.

And the conclusion I draw from this study is not that controlling your blood sugar and cholesterol is useless. Rather, I question whether the drugs tested were the best ones. And whether drug therapy is the best approach. Maybe diet and exercise would work better. But there’s no lobby for that.

And these studies, comprising a few thousand people for a few years can’t answer the most important question–What should I do to stay healthy?

Taking the long view, I would say to use the old wisdom of eating right and exercising. If that doesn’t fix things, ask a doctor you trust to prescribe the drugs that seem like the best choice. Ask your doctor to track the effectiveness and explain the lab test results to you. Some people really need to take prescription drugs, and they are healthier when they do. I really mean that. Be reality-based. If a pharmaceutical helps you then for goodness sake, take the pill.

We unfortunately don’t have a science press to educate the public. We have a cage of gerbils chasing headlines.

Science seems wimpy sometimes. Studies don’t ‘prove’ anything. They support a hypothesis. How dry and dull.

The latest studies may show that drug treatment is not effective, or maybe that other drugs would work better, or we need better drugs, or maybe that diet and exercise is the only effective treatment.

Like Gilda Radner said, ‘It’s always something.’

We can’t panic on cue every time studies ‘prove’ something. It’s good to be skeptical, and take the long view, and ask who’s signing the checks. That’s something that reporters don’t usually dig deep enough to investigate. When they do, it gets buried on the back pages.

I think that taking care of yourself is a good idea. If you have a chronic disease like diabetes you should watch the research for new developments while doing the old-fashioned stuff to take care of yourself. A cure may be a long ways off, meanwhile we have to live in the world we’re in and make the best of it.

[Via http://kmareka.com]

Medical Myths, Dispelled

Myth #1: People who eat less fat, live longer.

Facts: After over 50 years and hundreds of studies, researchers remain unable to prove that a low-fat diet is good for your health. A few years ago, researchers at the Cochrane Collaboration decided to review the medical literature and see what it said. They looked at the results of the 26 best studies and found that low-fat diets didn’t help people live longer. The researchers found that people on low-fat diets were 2% more likely to die than those in the comparison groups.1 More recently, the Journal of the American Medical Association published their results of three huge studies attempting to show the benefits of a low-fat diet on breast cancer, colorectal cancer and coronary heart disease. Again, the studies failed to show significant benefit.2 In light of such findings, the British Medical Journal editorialized:

“Despite decades of effort and many thousands of people…there is still only…inconclusive evidence of the effects of modification of total, saturated, monounsaturated, or polyunsaturated fats on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.”3

My opinion: The low-fat diet has never been proven to be good for your health, and it probably doesn’t provide much benefit for most people. In fact, low-fat diets may be the main cause for skyrocketing obesity and diabetes over the last 30 years. The increase in obesity rates began in the 1970s, about the same time that the original food pyramid was introduced. This starch-based pyramid was designed to help Americans avoid animal fats. Unfortunately, high intake of starch and other carbohydrates increases blood sugar and insulin levels. These increases can, in turn, lead to the production of more body fat. So, a low-fat, high carbohydrate diet could actually make you fatter and less healthy.

Myth #2: Salt is bad for your health.

Facts: Salt has been widely used by many people for thousands of years without any obvious harm. On the other hand, salt is considered harmful because it contains lots of sodium which is supposed to raise blood pressure, leading to heart disease. It is true that cutting salt can lower blood pressure slightly, but we still don’t know if cutting back on salt is actually good for your health. In fact, the British Medical Journal recently reported that overall, “data on the effect of dietary sodium intake on subsequent morbidity and mortality are limited and inconclusive.”4 Many studies even suggest that low-salt diets could be bad for you. In particular, two of the biggest studies found that people with the lowest salt intake had the shortest life spans.5, 6 Yes, the people who ate the least salt, died the soonest, on average. But, how could cutting back on salt be harmful? Well, studies show that restricting salt can cause potentially harmful changes in metabolism, including increases in blood sugar, insulin and adrenalin levels.7, 8

My opinion: It is possible that some people can improve their health by consuming less salt, but is very unlikely that salt restriction is good for most people’s long-term health. Until someone can prove that cutting back on salt actually improves most people’s health, I believe that we’ve got more important things to worry about then getting everybody to restrict their salt intake.

Myth #3: Everyone with high cholesterol should take medicine to lower it.

Facts: Cholesterol is a natural substance in the human body. It is a component of every cell and a building block for many of our hormones. The “statin” drugs that are most commonly used to lower cholesterol work by disrupting normal cholesterol production. It is not surprising to learn then, that they have significant side effects including damage to muscle, the liver, and kidneys.

On the other hand, according to some of the best sources, statin drugs are only proven to help only one specific group of people live longer—men with heart disease. Researchers at the University of British Columbia concluded that “statins have not been shown to provide an overall health benefit in…prevention trials.”9 European researchers came to virtually the same conclusion, noting, “prevention with statins provides only a small and…hardly relevant improvement of cardiovascular morbidity/mortality.”10 And according to the Journal of the American Medical Association, taking medications for high cholesterol does not improve life expectancy for any group of women—even women with heart disease 11

My opinion: Cholesterol-lowering medications have many side effects and should be used with caution. I believe that these medications should be reserved for people who are likely to improve their lifespan by taking them. Basically, that means men who already have heart disease. For all the others with high cholesterol, I believe that addressing the underlying causes of their problem is more important. In most such cases, identifying and treating conditions such as hypothyroidism, insulin resistance and excess body weight is a better approach.

References:

1. Reduced or modified dietary fat for preventing cardiovascular disease.
   
   Hooper L, Summerbell CD, Higgins JPT, Thompson RL, Clements G,
   
   Capps N, Davey Smith G, Riemersma RA, Ebrahim S.
   
   The Cochrane Library 2004, Issue 1. p9.
2. JAMA. 2006 Feb 8; 295 (6): 629-642, 643-654, 655-666.
3. http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/322/7289/757?ck=nck
4. BMJ, doi:10.1136/bmj.39147.604896.55 (published 20 April 2007)
5. Am J Med. 2006 Mar;119(3):275.e7-14.
6. Lancet. 1998 Mar 14;351(9105):781-5.
7. Clin Sci(Lond). 2007 Aug;113(3):141-8.
8. Klin Wochenschr.1991;69 Suppl 2:51-7.
9. http://www.ti.ubc.ca/PDF/48.pdf
10. Int J Pharmacol Ther. 2003 Dec:41(12): 567-77.
11. JAMA. 2004 May 12;291(18):2243-52.

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

Lower Cholesterol - Get a Grip on Fatty Acids

Unless you have been living under a rock, you have probably heard the term fatty acids. But, do you understand what they are and how the right ratio will improve your heart health? I intend to clear up the confusion.

Types of Fatty Acids

There are numerous types of fatty acids. I am focusing on omega 3 and omega 6.

Unsaturated Fats

Omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids are both unsaturated fats. To improve cholesterol levels, you want to replace the saturated fats (i.e. lard, shortening, ice cream, cheese) in your diet with unsaturated fats.

What does “omega” mean?

Most of you are familiar with the saying “alpha to omega“, in other words, beginning to end. The “omega” indicates which carbon has the first double bond on the carbon chain when you start counting from the omega end. For omega 3, the first double bond is on the third carbon from the omega end of the carbon chain. I know you were wanting to review a little biochemistry today!

Essential Fatty Acids

Omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids are also essential fatty acids.

Essential fatty acids are necessary for cardiovascular health, but our body cannot synthesize them and can only be obtained through the foods you eat.

Omega 3 (Linolenic Acid)

To keep things simple, I am going to use the acronyms ALA, EPA, and DHA. These are all types of omega 3 fatty acids. If we consume a food containing the omega 3 fatty acid ALA, our body will convert it to EPA and DHA. Studies have shown a link between EPA, DHA, and heart disease. More studies are needed to understand ALA’s relationship.

Sources:

Oils — Canola oil, Soybean oil, Flaxseed oil (good source of ALA)

Seeds and nuts — flaxseeds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, Brazil nuts, sesame seeds

Vegetables — avocados, some dark leafy green vegetables (kale, spinach, mustard greens, collards)

Fish (good source of EPA and DHA) — salmon, mackerel, sardines, anchovies, albacore tuna, lake trout, herring

Omega 6 (Linoleic Acid)

I am going to throw in more acronym’s — GLA and AA — omega 6 fatty acids. Linoleic acid is converted to GLA and on into AA by the body. Researchers are finding indications of a link between GLA and EPA, in relation to heart health and reduced blood pressure. High intake of sugars, alcohol, trans fats, and various other factors can inhibit the conversion from linoleic acid to GLA.

Sources:

Oils — Sunflower oil, corn oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, cottonseed oil, flaxseed oil

Seeds and nuts — flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, pistachio nuts, sunflower seeds, pine nuts

Meat — chicken, beef

For optimum heart health, the ratio between omega 6 fatty acids and omega 3 should be between 1:1 and 4:1. A practical example of what a 1:1 ratio means, for every 3 ounces of beef you eat, you would need to eat 3 ounces of tuna. (I do not mean in the same meal!) The ratio for the typical American diet is 11:1 to 30:1. This poor ratio is linked with heart disease, among several other health issues.

Bottom Line:

For heart health, increase your intake of foods containing omega-3’s, while cutting back on omega-6 sources. For example, switch from corn oil to canola oil, increase the number of meals you eat that contain fish each week, and grab walnuts instead of pistachios.

Be sure to sign up for the free e-course How to Lower Cholesterol in 8 Simple Steps at http://www.lowercholesterolwithlisa.com

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