I have been using the Acai Berry tablets for two weeks now and have posted that this is a SCAM, I want to make it clear that the Acai Berry is not a Scam its the company marketing these products.
The company is HCGultra,based in America but have an outlet in West Lothian, Scotland called Revitalize Health and Beauty they offer a FREE trial of Acai Berry tablets and a liquid Colon Cleanser and all YOU pay for is package and postage at a very reasonable £2.95, but you have to pay this by credit card as there are no other options for payment.
14 days after this your credit card is charged £74.99 and this will be charged every month until it is cancelled, it states this in their T & C's but is well down and easily missed, and is why so many people, including myself are unaware that they have entered into a monthly contract.
I have now been charged another £44:99
SO, you have been warned, be very careful.
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Friday, 17 February 2012
14 days into the Acai Berry fat loss program
AVOID THIS IS A SCAM...
So, after having lost approx 4.5 pounds in the first week, which will be mostly water that gets expressed at the start of any weight loss/diet plan, it has slowed down this week.
So in the last seven days the regime has remained the same, but I have only lost 2 - 2.5 pounds, but, still a loss, I have to say I am not experiencing any extra energy that some people have experienced by the second week, neither am I sleeping better, which also effect people on this plan, but I do have a Massaging Therapy Bed which I use every night and I have always slept very well since using this.
I wil post an update next week
Drew.
Thursday, 16 February 2012
Green tea could help keep the old young
Drinking green tea could help pensioners stay younger and fitter, according to a study. Japanese researchers say those who drink the hot beverage stay more physically active and are least likely to develop 'functional disability'.
The team tracked the health of almost 14,000 men and women aged 65-plus for three years, recording what they ate and drank and any care they needed. They found those who drank at least five cups a day were 33 per cent less likely to develop a disability than those who consumed less than one cup.
Drinking three to four cups a day reduced the risk by 25 per cent.
The research, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found green tea drinkers generally had healthier diets, lower smoking rates. They were also better educated and had more friends and family to rely on, the Tokyo University study.
It is unclear exactly why green tea has such benefits although the drink does contain high levels of polyphenols, plant chemicals which cut cholesterol and reduce DNA damage. Coffee and tea also contain polyphenols, although much lower levels.
The Japanese study did not prove a direct link between simply green tea and good health - as those who drank the beverage generally had healthier diets. Green tea should be avoided by those taking the blood-thinning drug warfarin as the vitamin K in it can stop the drug from working properly.
The team tracked the health of almost 14,000 men and women aged 65-plus for three years, recording what they ate and drank and any care they needed. They found those who drank at least five cups a day were 33 per cent less likely to develop a disability than those who consumed less than one cup.
Drinking three to four cups a day reduced the risk by 25 per cent.
The research, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found green tea drinkers generally had healthier diets, lower smoking rates. They were also better educated and had more friends and family to rely on, the Tokyo University study.
It is unclear exactly why green tea has such benefits although the drink does contain high levels of polyphenols, plant chemicals which cut cholesterol and reduce DNA damage. Coffee and tea also contain polyphenols, although much lower levels.
The Japanese study did not prove a direct link between simply green tea and good health - as those who drank the beverage generally had healthier diets. Green tea should be avoided by those taking the blood-thinning drug warfarin as the vitamin K in it can stop the drug from working properly.
Monday, 13 February 2012
Hair Loss and how to prevent it
How to prevent hair loss
Baldness or hair loss is one of the most dreaded situations people can find themselves in. This is because this will not only affect their overall physical appearance but can also affect their emotional status as well.
Experts say that that most common form of alopecia is called, pattern baldness or the "androgenetic alopecia. It is said that this type of hair loss condition affects almost one third of the men and women in the world. The sad thing about this is it is permanent, meaning there is no way to go about it but to cope with it.
The pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia can affect both men and women. In men, pattern baldness can lead to thinning hair and receding of hairlines even at an early age. Eventually, this condition may lead them to total or partial baldness. In women, pattern baldness may come at a much later age and does not lead them to total baldness. Usually, the thinning hair manifests at their temples and hairlines.
When it comes to temporary baldness, it can be caused by certain factors such as illnesses, taking in medications for certain conditions, undergoing medical treatments wherein the drug that was used takes too much toll on the hair, hormonal changes which can either be caused by pregnancy or by taking in birth control pills, hairstyles that put too much pressure on the scalp and stops it from growing new strands of hair, and using hair products and treatments that may irritate the scalp and affect healthy hair growth.
Prevention as the key
People who have risks for pattern baldness cannot stop the condition but can slow the rate of hair loss through various treatments. But for those who are undergoing temporary hair loss, prevention can be the key to avoid total baldness in the long run. The following are some of the tips that can help prevent hair loss:
1. Proper diet.
Having a diet that is balanced is one of the major keys to prevent excessive hair loss. Eating foods that are nutritious especially for the hair can be an effective tool to fight against the signs of hair loss. People who are experiencing hair loss because they are under nourished should take time to make a diet plan which can provide sufficient nutrients not only for the hair but for the overall health as well.
2. Developing good hair habits.
Unhealthy hair habits such as improper handling of the hair can lead to excessive hair loss. People—especially those who have sensitive scalp—should ensure that they handle their hair gently especially when it's wet. Proper handling to wet hair is very important because the hair is weaker when wet. If possible, opt for natural air drying methods instead of using electronic ones such as blower.
3. Stick to one hairstyle for a longer period of time.
This will really help you prevent hair loss because you are letting your hair undergo its normal growth cycle. If possible, try to avoid hairstyles that are tight like buns, ponytails, or braids because these put too much pressure on the scalp and hinder it from growing.
4. Don’t twist, rub or pull your hair.
People who experience hair loss are those who twist, rub, or pull their hair often as this can cause it to become brittle. If it has become a habit, try to break it. You can do this by focusing on other things instead of putting too much pressure on your hair and on your scalp.
Knowing the signs and symptoms of hair loss
When a person looses at least a hundred stands of hair per day, it is considered normal. But when he or she loses more than that estimated amount along with glaring symptoms such as thinning of the hair, a hairline that is receding, and bald patches in some areas of the head, then you might be suffering from hair loss.
Studies show that androgenetic alopecia can affect both men and women but the manifestations differ in some ways. Among men, the thinning of the hair starts at the temples as well in the crown. In the long run, it is expected that they will be either completely bald or partially bald. In women, lesser hair loss is expected and though there is also receding hairlines along the forehead and temple, they will not completely go bald as men do.
The pattern baldness in males is known to begin at such an early age even before their teenage years. This condition may be characterized by a receding hairline—especially at the temples—and hair loss at the top of the person's head. Eventually, the person can be completely or partially bald. The symptoms of hereditary pattern baldness in men include thinning or loss of hair stands starting in the front or forehead, at the crown, down to the sides of the person's hairline.
Some women start losing hair at puberty but most of those who have pattern baldness do not. The estimated year is around mid-20s to early-30s. Unlike in men, the androgenetic alopecia in women starts with the thinning the front or forehead down to the crown. What differs the hereditary pattern baldness in both genders is that hair loss in women are only limited and they don’t experience total baldness.
Aside from pattern baldness, another permanent type of hair loss is the "cicatricial alopecia" or the scarring alopecia which is caused by the inflammation in the hair's follicles.
When it comes to temporary hair loss, the most common is called "alopecia areata" wherein the baldness starts from a small and round patch and will grow in size; the "telogen effluvium" which occurs suddenly and characterized by thinning without patches; "traction alopecia" that is caused by changing hairstyles which out too much pressure on the scalp and creates bald spots especially between the rows of the hair, and "trichotillomania" which is caused by a mental problem wherein the person cannot help him or herself from pulling out the strands of hair from the scalp and in other parts of his or her body.
Friday, 10 February 2012
7 Days into the Acai Berry and Colon Cleanser weight loss
AVOID THIS IS A SCAM...
So, I have now completed the first seven days of this weight loss treatment, and as sceptical as I am about this I have actually lost some weight, around four pounds so far, now I appreciate that this will be mostly water, as this is what is lost at the start of any diet.
I have not changed my diet at all over these seven days or done any more exercise than normal.
I have taken one Acai Berry tablet in the morning and 20 drops of the colon cleanser in a little water every night, and that is it.
So let's see what the next seven days bring, come back here for the update.
Drew
Monday, 6 February 2012
If you have Diabetes What foods should you eat?
If you have diabetes you have to be very careful about what you eat. You need to take extra care in managing your blood glucose levels. You can do this by eating healthy, watching your diet, taking medication prescribed by your Doctor and getting proper exercise.
What foods should you eat?
There is a food pyramid for people with diabetes. The Diabetes Food Pyramid divides food into six groups. At the top of the list is fats sweets and alcohol. Since this is the smallest group this tells you to eat very little from this section. The next group is milk, meat, meat substitutes and other proteins. On the pyramid 2 to 3 servings of milk is suggested and 4 to 6oz of meat/protein is mentioned. Then you have your vegetables and fruits. Veggies choose at least 3-5 servings per day and fruits choose at least 2-4 servings a day. The last group which you should eat the most of is breads grains and other starches. You can check with your doctor to get a copy of the diabetes food pyramid to learn more about the correct servings and portion sizes for you.
What is Type 1 Diabetes?
This type of diabetes was previously known as juvenile diabetes and is typically diagnosed in children and young adults. The body does not produce insulin.
What is insulin?
It is a hormone needed to convert starches, sugar (glucose) and other foods into energy. Energy is needed for daily life activities. Type I Diabetes is a chronic condition with no cure, but the outlook for people living with this disease is far better than it was 20 years ago. There has been much advancement in medicine, research and patient education reducing disabling complications and extended the expectancies of life to those without diabetes. In other words people with diabetes 1 can live just as long as people without diabetes with the proper treatment and educating themselves on this disease.
What is Type 2 Diabetes?
With type 2 the body does not produce enough insulin or the cell just simply ignores the insulin. Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes. You need insulin in order for the body to be able to use sugar. The basic fuel for your cells is sugar. Insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. When glucose does not go into the cells but builds up in the blood instead it can cause problems. The problems it can cause are over time high glucose levels could hurt your heart, kidneys, nerves and eyes. What are the most common symptoms for adults with Type II Diabetes? The answer is fatigue, blurred vision, thirst and excessive urination. Do you think you may be diabetic? Check with your doctor. With type II diabetes minor weight loss can greatly improve your blood glucose levels.
So remember if you have diabetes please be under a doctors care. Watch what you eat. Limit your sweets, fats and alcohol. You can still eat good tasting foods and there are many diabetic food recipes on the internet. Get on a doctor approved exercise program and keep track of your glucose levels. Learn all you can about your condition so you can take control of it instead of the disease controlling you.
Sunday, 5 February 2012
Could You Have Diabetes And Not Even Know It?
Almost one third of all people with diabetes don't know they have it. The symptoms seem so harmless, like symptoms of just getting older. This article goes into the different types of diabetes and some of the common symptoms of each to help you understand diabetes a little better.
Type 2 Diabetes
In this article we'll go over the three main types of diabetes. They are Type 1, Type 2, Gestational diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes
This type of diabetes has also been called insulin-dependent and immune-mediated diabetes. It occurs when your body can't produce insulin. The immune system attacks insulin producing cells in the pancreas. This type of diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes increases the risk of other serious complications such as heart disease, nerve damage, blindness, and kidney damage.
Some of the symptoms include increased thirst, increased urination and weight loss even with increased appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue, and absence of menstruation
Type 2 Diabetes is the most common type that fails to be diagnosed. It progress slowly and causes symptoms such as skin infections, poor healing, kidney problems, and vision problems. It is ordinary that neither these complications nor the diabetes is diagnosed after years of mild symptoms.
The problem is usually that people have no severe symptoms and do not seek medical care at all. They just think of the symptoms as simply getting older. For this reason it is important to get regularly tested for diabetes in the most common age group (over 40's). Less commonly a doctor may treat other diseases, without realizing to test for diabetes.
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes occurs during a woman’s pregnancy. Pregnant women who have never had diabetes before but have high blood sugar levels during pregnancy are said to have it. It affects 4 percent of all women during pregnancy.
Symptoms include Increased thirst Increased urination Weight loss in spite of increased appetite Fatigue Nausea and vomiting Frequent infections including those of the bladder, vagina, and skin Blurred vision.
Gestational diabetes can be missed in pregnancy. It usually starts with mild symptoms that often can be attributed to other things. It’s important to get tested during pregnancy because the high blood sugars from gestational diabetes can do harm to the baby and sometimes lead to other complications.
Even if you’re not pregnant, you should make it a priority to get tested. Many women have gestational diabetes and think about their symptoms as being usual during pregnancy. You never know, maybe it is, but it’s always a good idea to get tested.
If you’re having any of the symptoms for diabetes, it’s important to see your doctor. Even if you think it’s absolutely nothing. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Saturday, 4 February 2012
Cancer rates in women 'increase due to obesity more than alcohol'
Being overweight puts women more at risk of contracting cancer than drinking alcohol to excess, according to the most comprehensive cancer study to date - but smoking remains the biggest contributory factor across the board.
A large proportion of cancers are caused by people's lifestyle choices, like smoking.
Smoking is still the biggest cause of cancer, with 23% of cases in men and 15.6% in women being attributed to the habit, Cancer Research UK said.
But second in line among women is being overweight - a finding that lead author Professor Max Parkin admitted was a surprise.
'We didn't expect to find that eating fruit and vegetables would prove to be so important in protecting men against cancer, and among women we didn't expect being overweight to be more of a risk factor than alcohol,' he said.
The study, published in the British Journal of Cancer, revealed that nearly half of all cancer cases are down to lifestyle choices.
Obesity is one of the leading causes of cancer among women (Picture: PA)
Smoking, drinking and eating too much, or eating the wrong things, make up around 40% of the causes of the disease, the authors state.
Second behind tobacco in the list of the causes of cancer in men is not eating enough fresh fruit and vegetables, while your occupation and your overall exposure to the sun and sunbeds also contributes.
'Many people believe cancer is down to fate or "in the genes" and that it is the luck of the draw whether they get it,' Prof Parkin explained.
'Looking at all the evidence, it's clear that around 40% of all cancers are caused by things we mostly have the power to change.'
The study showed that, in women, 6.9% (10,800) of cancer cases were linked to overweight and obesity; 3.7% (5,800) to infections such as HPV (the cause of the majority of cervical cancer cases); 3.6% (5,600) to excessive sun exposure and sunbeds; 3.4% (5,300) to lack of fresh fruit and vegetables; and 3.3% (5,100) to alcohol.
In men, 6.1% (9,600) of cancer cases were said to have been caused by a lack of fruit and vegetables; 4.9% (7,800) to occupation; 4.6% (7,300) to alcohol; 4.1% (6,500) to obesity; and 3.5% (5,500) to excessive sun exposure and sunbeds.
Dr Rachel Thompson of the World Cancer Research Fund said the report added to the 'now overwhelmingly strong evidence that our cancer risk is affected by our lifestyles'.
‘We hope this helps to raise awareness that cancer is not simply a question of fate and that people can make changes today that can reduce their risk,' she added.
Friday, 3 February 2012
Why Is Smoking So Bad For YOU.
According to WHO (world health organisation) report, smoking will eventually kill one in two smokers. Likewise, the Department of Public Health research at Oxford University suggests the terrible facts, namely that half of all smokers will eventually be killed by their habit. Many people smoke because it can look manly and tough for many men. Likewise, for many women, smoking makes them follow the trend of today. Cigarette ads always depict it. Many people also feel that smoking helps me cope with stress.
Cigarette Ingredients.
A cigarette contains many substances that are harmful. Even certain chemical substances are added in a cigarette. Recipe for a cigarette and became difficult to know the secret kitchens of tobacco companies. However, if investigated, what are the main content of a cigarette? Here are some of the content and harmful substances in a cigarette.
Nicotine, Carbon Monoxide and other harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke enters a person’s blood stream and cause many health problems. According to research, more than 700 kinds of chemical additives may be used by tobacco companies. While cigarette smoke contains at least 4,000 substances, including arsenic, acetone, butane, carbon monoxide, and cyanide. Because of the hazardous chemical substances, then the lungs of smokers and people who are nearby will be exposed to at least 43 substances known to cause cancer. In addition, from 4000 these chemicals there are at least 400 toxic chemicals in a cigarette.
Nicotine is one of the main chemical ingredients in a cigarette. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance, which means it will make you have a dependency or addiction is difficult to stop. Smoke containing nicotine is inhaled into the lungs, and the nicotine reaches your brain in just six seconds. Nicotine in large doses will function as a depressant, inhibiting the flow of signals between nerve cells. In larger doses, it is a deadly poison, which affects the heart, blood vessels, and hormones.
Carbon Monoxide, when someone is smoking a cigarette, a number of tars inhaled into the lungs. Tar yield of carbon monoxide makes it harder for red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body. Tar is a mixture of substances that together will stay in the lungs.
Other harmful substances, arsenic, acetone, butane, carbon monoxide, and cyanide are among the harmful substances contained in cigarette smoke. Most of the chemicals inhaled in cigarette smoke stay in the lungs. The more you inhale, it feels better and the greater the damage to the lungs.
Which foods can reduce high cholesterol?
What you eat greatly affects the levels of cholesterol in the blood stream. High levels of cholesterol in the body are happening more often now, than ever before. This is because of the variety of food offered now in the supermarkets and in restaurants, and the rise of fast and convienience foods. A person can still recover from this by eating foods that are not high in saturated fats. It comes down to eating sensibly, and having a varied diet, too much of something can never be good for us, its all about getting the balance right.
So, which foods should we be eating?
The best foods are ones low in fat, such as:
Fresh Fruits
Fresh Vegetables
Fresh Fish - {omega 3}
Lean Meats - { in moderation}
Whole Grains and pulces
Low Fat and Non Fat Dairy Products
Chicken {with skin removed}
Nuts and seeds
The healthiest thing to have either for lunch and dinner is food that comes from the ocean. This can be fish or shellfish that is known to carry Omega 3 fatty acids, these can reduce blood pressure and the risk of developing blood clots, and also very effective in lowering the levels of cholesterol in people.
Fish with the highest levels of Omega 3 fatty acids are:
Mackeral
Herring
Sardines
Trout
Tuna
Salmon
Halibut
The best way to cook these is to grill or bake in the oven and avoid frying as you will be adding bad fats.
It is recommended by Doctors to try and eat two servings of fresh fish per week that are high in Omega 3 fatty acids.
If Fish is not your cup of tea then using suppliments enriched with Omega 3 will go some way to improve your health.
Things like replacing your full fat milk with semi skimmed milk is much healthier for us, also having spreads that are low in fats like ones made with olive oil are healthier for us that butter.
Olive oil contains antioxidants that can lower the bad cholesterol while leaving the good cholesterol, extra virgin olive oil, is even better for you as it has had less processing and contains more of the healthy antioxidants.
So, which foods should we be eating?
The best foods are ones low in fat, such as:
Fresh Fruits
Fresh Vegetables
Fresh Fish - {omega 3}
Lean Meats - { in moderation}
Whole Grains and pulces
Low Fat and Non Fat Dairy Products
Chicken {with skin removed}
Nuts and seeds
The healthiest thing to have either for lunch and dinner is food that comes from the ocean. This can be fish or shellfish that is known to carry Omega 3 fatty acids, these can reduce blood pressure and the risk of developing blood clots, and also very effective in lowering the levels of cholesterol in people.
Fish with the highest levels of Omega 3 fatty acids are:
Mackeral
Herring
Sardines
Trout
Tuna
Salmon
Halibut
The best way to cook these is to grill or bake in the oven and avoid frying as you will be adding bad fats.
It is recommended by Doctors to try and eat two servings of fresh fish per week that are high in Omega 3 fatty acids.
If Fish is not your cup of tea then using suppliments enriched with Omega 3 will go some way to improve your health.
Things like replacing your full fat milk with semi skimmed milk is much healthier for us, also having spreads that are low in fats like ones made with olive oil are healthier for us that butter.
Olive oil contains antioxidants that can lower the bad cholesterol while leaving the good cholesterol, extra virgin olive oil, is even better for you as it has had less processing and contains more of the healthy antioxidants.
Thursday, 2 February 2012
The article below was written on my other blog last week, the tablets have arrived today.
AVOID THIS IS A SCAM
The Acai Tablets and the Colon Cleanser have arrived today in the post so… as of today I will be trying them over the next thirty days and reporting my findings back here.
Loose 1 - 2 stone of stomach fat in 4 weeks
DO NOT TRY THIS, THIS IS A SCAM.....
THEY WILL CHARGE YOUR C CARD AT £75.00 PER MONTH.
I have come across this article on the Internet today, and thought it very interesting IF it works, basically by taking the Acai Berry in tablet form and also a colon cleanser they say you can loose 1 to 2 stone of fat off your stomach, in around a month, you can get a Trial supply of these for FREE, (pay for postage and packaging)
Extract from:
United Kingdom (Women’s Health)
For the past couple of months our readers have been going crazy over two free internet products that are helping women across the world lose the fat around their bodies. It has been featured on many popular TV shows.
You may have heard of the enormously popular Acai berry in the news. It’s a completely organic berry found deep in the Amazon rainforest of South America. Alone the Acai berry offers many benefits primarily due to its high anti-oxidant content. Combine it with a powerful colon cleanser, and you’ve created a fat burning machine
The free trial bottle of Ultra HcG was delivered in a few days from ordering and with surprisingly inexpensive shipping. Ultra HcG is one of the most concentrated and purest acai products on the market. It was our shared opinion that this would give me the most accurate results for my test.
I have ordered both of these products today, and expect to get them in seven days; I will keep you updated on how I get on with them.
You can see the full article here – www.daily-lifestyles.net/diet/uk
DO NOT TRY THIS, THIS IS A SCAM.....
THEY WILL CHARGE YOUR C CARD AT £75.00 PER MONTH.
THEY WILL CHARGE YOUR C CARD AT £75.00 PER MONTH.
I have come across this article on the Internet today, and thought it very interesting IF it works, basically by taking the Acai Berry in tablet form and also a colon cleanser they say you can loose 1 to 2 stone of fat off your stomach, in around a month, you can get a Trial supply of these for FREE, (pay for postage and packaging)
Extract from:
United Kingdom (Women’s Health)
For the past couple of months our readers have been going crazy over two free internet products that are helping women across the world lose the fat around their bodies. It has been featured on many popular TV shows.
You may have heard of the enormously popular Acai berry in the news. It’s a completely organic berry found deep in the Amazon rainforest of South America. Alone the Acai berry offers many benefits primarily due to its high anti-oxidant content. Combine it with a powerful colon cleanser, and you’ve created a fat burning machine
The free trial bottle of Ultra HcG was delivered in a few days from ordering and with surprisingly inexpensive shipping. Ultra HcG is one of the most concentrated and purest acai products on the market. It was our shared opinion that this would give me the most accurate results for my test.
I have ordered both of these products today, and expect to get them in seven days; I will keep you updated on how I get on with them.
You can see the full article here – www.daily-lifestyles.net/diet/uk
DO NOT TRY THIS, THIS IS A SCAM.....
THEY WILL CHARGE YOUR C CARD AT £75.00 PER MONTH.
Be Quick - Morrisons Pharmacy - FREE cholesterol test
You will have to be quick with this as it ends on the 5 Feb 2012.
Morrisons Pharmacy are offering a FREE Cholesterol test at all of their Pharmacy outlets.
All you have to do is purchase any of the ‘Flora Pro-active’ products available in selected Morrisons stores between 16 January to 5 February.
The test involves a a small finger prick test and you should get your results within five mins.
The range of products avaiable are:
Morrisons Pharmacy are offering a FREE Cholesterol test at all of their Pharmacy outlets.
All you have to do is purchase any of the ‘Flora Pro-active’ products available in selected Morrisons stores between 16 January to 5 February.
The test involves a a small finger prick test and you should get your results within five mins.
The range of products avaiable are:
- Light Spread
- Mini drinks origional (7 packs)
- Mini drinks Strawberry (7 packs)
- Olive Spread
- Buttery Spread
- Mini drinks Pomegranate and Raspberry (7 packs)
- Skimmed milk (1 litre)
Cholesterol kills 17 Million people world-wide every year
Its a sobering thought that so many people die from having too much cholesterol in their bodies, so what is cholesterol, and why is it so bad for us, and how can we reduce it for a healthier life?
What Is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in the walls of cells in all parts of the body, from the nervous system to the liver to the heart. The body uses cholesterol to make hormones, bile acids, vitamin D, and other substances.
Why Is It Bad For Us?
If there is to much cholesterol in the blood it can build up on the artery walls and can cause thickening and hardening of the arterys which can cause heart disease like angina and strokes.
How can we reduce our Cholesterol levels?
What Is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in the walls of cells in all parts of the body, from the nervous system to the liver to the heart. The body uses cholesterol to make hormones, bile acids, vitamin D, and other substances.
Why Is It Bad For Us?
If there is to much cholesterol in the blood it can build up on the artery walls and can cause thickening and hardening of the arterys which can cause heart disease like angina and strokes.
How can we reduce our Cholesterol levels?
One thing you should know is the difference between LDL and HDL cholesterol. Simply think of HDL as “healthy” and LDL as “lousy.” HDL can actually help carry cholesterol out of your blood vessels while LDL allows it to deposit inside your artery walls.
The good news is that you can change your cholesterol for the better. Here is how to do just that:
1. Have a nice sandwich on whole wheat bread or a pita with some lean turkey and lots of fresh veggies. Skip the hot dogs, bologna, and salami, and hold the Mayo. All of those are highly processed and filled with fat and cholesterol.
2. Fish, like salmon, is good. Look for wild red salmon varieties, which are very high in Omega-3 fatty acids (good fat.) Also, flax seed is a good source of Omega-3s.
3. Avoid Trans fats! Not only do they raise the lousy LDL cholesterol, they can also lower your HDL levels! Stay away from foods like margarine, shortening, and processed foods containing partially hydrogenated soybean oil.
4. Go ahead, go nuts! Look for walnuts mainly but also try almonds, macadamia nuts, cashews, and pecans. Nuts are high in fat, but it’s the good kind. (Also, use natural peanut butter instead of the normal kind which contains unhealthy Trans fats.)
5. Limit desserts and try to eat only the healthier ones like angel food cake, graham crackers, Jell-O, and fat-free frozen yogurt.
6. Eat foods that are high in fiber. Examples include whole wheat bread, oatmeal, fruits, vegetables, beans, and some cereals. (Look for the boxes that say “may help lower cholesterol.”)
7. Use the grill. If you’re going to have steak or burgers, grill them at home and use lean meat. This practice avoids the grease, is fun, and the meat tastes great.
8. Find a new salad dressing. Most of them are full of Trans fats and cholesterol. Olive oil is good, and maybe add vinegar or lemon juice. Also, skip the bacon bits, croutons, and egg yolks.
9. Go overboard on fruits and vegetables. They contain no cholesterol and they have lots of nutrients like antioxidants.
Here are some examples: green peas, broccoli, cauliflower, apples, oranges, mangos, papaya, pineapple, tomato, garlic, onions, spinach, water chestnuts, bananas, apricots, blueberries, and kiwi.
10. Avoid fast food like french fries and anything else from the deep fryer. Those foods will raise your cholesterol like crazy, so stay away from the burger joints if you can.
11. Bonus tip: Use spices like pepper and oregano to add flavor to your dishes. They are a healthy alternative to other toppings like Mayo.
That was easy, wasn’t it? Just make some of these changes and get plenty of exercise like walking, jogging, swimming, or playing basketball. You will have lower cholesterol in no time!
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