Archive for October, 2007

naturally healthy way to lower your high blood pressure by lowering sodium intake

Monday, October 29th, 2007

natural cure for lowering blood pressure requires lowering sodium. Reduce canned foods. eat less of those fries and potato chips. Instead of eating frozen foods , eat more fresh vegetables. Instead of drinking fruit juice start eating your fruits. fruits juices do not add fiber, you need good fiber in your diet and hence raw fruits and vegetables are a great addition to heart healthy diet. if you feel the craving for salted nuts try eating fresh fruits. Instead of foods rick in sodium add some potassium rich foods to your diet.

Here are some fresh vegetable ideas for potassium. magnesium and high fiber to lower your cholesterol and lower high blood pressure – eat green Broccoli, fresh carrots,. Eat some green foods like green beans, peas, spinach. Red Tomatoes without adding any kind of salt.

check your food labels – use low sodium or low salt varieties if you must eat canned food. Eat unsalted nuts or seeds, peas and lentils. Switch to using light spices and herbs instead of salt to add create tasty food. Refrain from adding salt to your food. you may also want to try fat free broths or soups with no salt.

if you eat out frequently, request that your dish is prepared with no salt.

soluble fiber and high cholesterol

Sunday, October 28th, 2007

cholesterol is a fatty substance used to produce cell membranes. It is used in manufacture of bile acids and estrogen. Cholesterol is measures as total cholesterol , LDL or bad cholesterol, HDL or good cholesterol. HDL helps lowering of total cholesterol levels by carrying cholesterol away from arteries to liver. a healthy cholesterol level is between 130 mg/DL – less than 199 mg/DL . LDL should be below 100 mg/DL and HDL should be above 40 mg/DL. Tryglycerides should be lower than 150 mg/DL. icreased body facts as measured by triglyceroides are also an increased risk factor.

role of soluble fiber: a commonly used laxative like metamucil ingredient – Blond Psyllium contains an active ingredient mucilage. it swells and forms a thick mass helpng it increase stool size. many clinical studies have tested blond Psylium in many forms. Cereals and snack bars may contain this solube fiber in different quantities. LDL cholesterol is found to have decrased by 5% in the group that has taken 7% – 10% grams of solube fiber. There are studies published by archives of internal medicine studying effectiveness of Psylium and comparing it with simvastatin.

for best results eat diet with soluble fiber than just low-fat diet.

Blond Psyllium can cause abdominal pain or constipation, diarrhea and other side effects. some people also may be allergic to it. .it may increase risk of low blood sugar when taken with diabetes medications. consult your doctor before taking these in any form such as metamucil or nutrition bars.

low carb food is not same as low calorie food

Monday, October 22nd, 2007

A low-carb diet like atkins does not always equal to a low calorie food. Many low-carb products are sold under the Atkins brand. If you replace low carbohydrate food  with high protein food  you may still have just as many calories.  There is no specific definition of “low-carbohydrate”.

Manufacturers may reduce carbs in food by changing the process or adding high protein foods – sometimes they substitute refined wheat flour with soy flour that has high soy protein content , or  wheat protein. They may add what bran or oat bran that has extra fiber content. they may add nuts which have healthy fats. They may also replace sugar with other substitutes such as sorbitol.

sometimes manufacturers may subtract the carbs from fiber and list effective carbs only. They claim that since fiber does not affect blood sugar they are allowed to discount the carbs from fiber.  you should clearly look at net impact carb calculations in detail to make sure you are not paying for similar item higher price because you think it is low carb.

 

Oats to lower cholesterol naturally

Sunday, October 21st, 2007

A whole oats diet high in soluble fiber and low in saturated fat may lower the risk of heart disease by reducing cholesterol. Cholesterol control is important component for any weight loss diet.

Although both oats and wheat contain fiber, wheat has more insoluble fiber compared to oats. Insoluble fiber helps prevent constipation, while soluble fiber helps lower cholesterol. There are two types of cholesterol – a good HDL cholesterol and a bad LDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol contains small dense LDL cholesterol , one of the leading factors of a heart attack.

Bad cholesterol - LDL builds up in the inner walls of the arteries supplying blood to heart and brain. LDL forms plaque or a hard deposit that narrows the arteries and reduces flexibility, a condition known as atherosclerosis. Heart attack or stroke may result when a clot blocks arteries.

Oats contains soluble fiber that dissolves in water. A typical intake of 50 grams to 100 grams of whole oats a day can give 2.5 to 5 grams of soluble fiber.

Some common side effects of oat consumption are – bowel movement, flatulence and reduced absorption of cholesterol lowering drugs like Lipitor. You should always consult your doctor before starting oat diet to lower cholesterol if you are taking any medications.

bad breath may signal chronic respiratory infections or chronic bronchitis or diabetes

Sunday, October 21st, 2007

bad breath or halitosis should be treated by dentist. garlic and onions, contribute to breath odor. Dieters can also develop bad breath from eating with less frequency. Brush and floss daily, Food that collects on the tongue,around gums and between teeth rots and created bad odor. Saliva is necessary to stop dry mouth and salivary gland problems can create dry mouth condition known as xerostomia.

you can use sugarless candy and stop using tobacco products to prevent bad mouth odor. halitosis can also be caused by infection in the respiratory tract or gastrointestinal problems. Many other chronic problems – sinusitis, bronchitis or diabetes may also lead to bad breath.

Regular dental visits are important factor in maintaining good oral hygiene. Mouthwashes do not remove the cause of halitosis. Mouthwashes or breath fresheners will only reduce symptoms.