Power Foods To Help Prevent Disease
As we get older, we naturally become much more focused on our health. Perhaps we feel our clock is ticking and see the toll that premature aging takes on those around us. Maybe it’s just that we’re not consumed with worrying about who’s talking about us, what our test scores will be, how we’re going to make ends meet or if our career is rewarding enough. Either way, recent research indicates that there are certain “power foods” we can add to our diets that will steer our health goals in the right direction.
For snackers, texture is a big thing. You love the crunch of a potato chip or the way a chocolate chip cookie just sort of melts in your mouth. The good news is that one of the power foods on our list has just the crunch you need to feel satisfied: almonds! Two ounces or 48 of these tasty nuts will give you 50% of your daily magnesium, which ensures heart health, as well as providing vitamin E, fiber and monosaturated fat, which is the good kind. One study last year found that participants who ate 2.5 ounces of almonds per day lowered their cholesterol significantly after just one month! Other studies suggest a link between almonds and reducing the risk of colon cancer.
Some people like complementary health foods. These are things that they won’t so much taste, but can sprinkle or grind up onto other food to add an extra boost. Flax seeds are an easy addition to salads, vegetable and rice dishes, and oatmeal. This super seed is one of the few plant sources for omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for maintaining a balance within the body and fighting off heart disease, strokes and depression. Flax seeds also carry a photoestrogen, which mimics the body’s estrogen, and works to reduce cholesterol, as well as circulating estrogen to prevent breast cancer.
Perhaps you find that warm foods and drinks make you feel naturally happier. Maybe you’re a reformed coffee junkie. Instead, why not try a cup of tea? Chai tea is a delicious blend of vanilla, cinnamon and comforting spices. Generally black and green teas are the most doctor-recommended for fighting breast, lung and digestive cancers and heart disease. Additionally, a hot cocoa can provide you with antioxidant flavonoids, which fight heart disease and cancer, will reduce toxins in the blood and improve cholesterol ratios.
With most diets, health experts say that fatty foods and alcohol consumption are big no-no’s. You may have to say goodbye to butter, but new research suggests that wine, in moderation, holds benefits for the heart. Red wine is said to be the best, but even white wine contains tyrosol and caffeic acid, which reduces stress, as well as polyphenols. White wine has been specifically linked with improved lung function, while red wine has been linked to everything from lowering LDL cholesterol and lowering blood-clotting agents to inhibiting colon cancer cells and reducing the risk of skin cancer. Danish doctors recommend one glass with dinner weekly or even every evening to give you that magical health boost.
As we start to get older there are critical numbers that start to weigh heavily upon us. We have to worry about our weight, levels of cholesterol, as well as our blood pressure. These are some of the things that most of us have ignored for the vast majority of our lives now all of a sudden they have significant importance. But these are some of the thing that should never have been ignored. A lifetime of mistreatment on the body renders only damaging things when left unchecked.
Your cholesterol level is absolutely pivotal if you wish to continue in good health and your body working right. High levels can lead to heart attacks as well as stroke, both of these things you do not want to have to deal with. Being mindful in regards to your cholesterol level is not merely for the elderly. It is something both young as well as old have to worry and be mindful of if they want to lead a healthy lifestyle. In this article we will cover the fundamentals of cholesterol and hopefully you will understand how key a healthy level is to your body as well as peace of mind.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a lipid that is found in the bloodstream of humans and all animals. It can be there from two different sources. The first source is your body itself. The body naturally produces cholesterol. The second source of cholesterol is the food that we eat. It may surprise you to know that not all cholesterol is bad for you. There is good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. But you have to know the difference if you want to protect your health and your heart.
What happens when cholesterol gets too high?
Well when LDL gets too high then the cholesterol begins to accumulate on the artery walls and then hardens into plaque. The build up continues until the entire artery is blocked off. This added blockage makes it hard for blood to get to the heart where it can be pumped to the rest of the body. It can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
When HDL levels are high this is a good thing because researchers believe that HDL helps rid the body of cholesterol build-up. That is why a diet rich in foods that promote HDL is always heavily recommended.
How is the blockage from the arteries withdrawn?
The initial stage is through medicines but if there is a crucial narrowing or closure in the artery or blood vessel then a somewhat more aggressive procedure is required. The actual functions might change however one popular method is done through the use of a balloon angioplasty. The mechanical device is introduced into the artery and then naviagted to the occlusion where the build up of plaque has taken place. The balloon is then inflated to clear the passage. Nowadays the operation is minimally invasive and most patients are able to going home that day.
How do I know what my cholesterol is?
Well in order to know what your cholesterol is you should have a blood cholesterol testing performed at least every five years. The most recommended test is a fasting lipoprotein blood profile. This test measures not only your total cholesterol but it also specifies the LDL and the HDL levels. It is a great idea to be knowledgeable about where your numbers are and to ensure that they are in the proper healthy range.
For added useful knowledge click here Symptoms Of High Cholesterol and more information at Hdl Cholesterol in addition to How To Lower Cholesterol