cholesterol and maintain general

cholesterol and maintain general

cholesterol and maintain general

What is the relationship between low or normal cholesterol and heart disease? When we say that the cholesterol level of a person is low or normal, he or she is actually free from heart disease.

This is especially true when the low and normal levels are constantly maintained. However, we have to keep in mind that there are other components to be considered, like HDL and LDL cholesterol levels.

LDL is the bad cholesterol in a person's body while HDL pertains to the good cholesterol levels. Your LDL level can be checked by your doctor.

From your test results, they will analyze the risk factors that go along with your LDL result.

However, it is generally understood that the lower the LDL of a person, the better chances of having a healthy heart.

An ideal LDL level should be below 100 mg/dl while a level of 190 mg/dl is considered very high and extremely dangerous.

Low or normal cholesterol and heart disease are correlated to one another, as the former presents a major risk for acquiring heart disease, strokes, and heart attacks.

This simply means that you have to maintain low or normal LDL to avoid heart ailments or problems.

On the other hand, the higher the HDL level becomes, the better it is for one's health.

Aside from being known as the good cholesterol, HDL also acts as a protective guard for the heart against potential diseases.

HDL works by pushing cholesterol away from the body's arteries and leading it to the liver where it is excreted from the body. In addition, HDL also inhibits the build up of plaque, which poses harm and threat to the arteries.

Every person should be aware of the facts about low or normal cholesterol and heart disease. If you want your cholesterol levels within the low or normal range, you should stop eating foods that are high in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol

However, in regard to personal health, essential oils

However, in regard to personal health, essential oils

Yes of course essential oils are wonderful, remarkable natural resources with great therapeutic value, free from unwanted secondary effects and pro-biotic in their support for life's processes. Yet if used inappropriately will still give some nasty surprises and accidents. The greatest hazards presented by essential oils are due to the following:

Substitutions and adulterations - organic or inorganic chemicals added to an essential oil either inadvertently during extraction procedures, or intentionally to alter, falsify, extend or enhance the essential oil for financial gain.

Ignorance of the biochemical properties and characteristics of an essential oil.

Miscalculation of quantities, proportions and frequencies of essential oil dosage.

Inappropriate administration of essential oils regarding routes of application and suitable methods for the individual's 'terrain', constitution and condition.

Regardless of the nature of essential oil chosen or the route of application, each response will differ based on the 'terrain' of the individual recipient. Briefly, this is a concept which defines the constitution or general predisposition of an individual - the unique variables that are present in specific proportions - genetically, physiologically, psychologically, environmentally, behaviorally, socially, racially etc., etc. The specific strengths and weaknesses which manifest through this unique mix of variables are directly responsible for the levels of mindbody health the individual will experience. An illness will either develop or not, depending upon the terrain, much as seeds or weeds will grow or not, depending upon the condition of the soil. So the individual's interaction with ordinarily user-friendly essential oils may very well prove hazardous. Great care should be taken in the selection of suitable essential oils together with their channels of application, and to reduce the normal dosage by at least half for the very young, the elderly, infirm, debilitated, pregnant women or anyone with lowered thresholds and increased sensitivity.

Because of their chemical compositions and highly concentrated form, the majority of essential oils should not be used undiluted onto the skin or mucus membranes, especially those containing phenols. Phenolic essential oils are also highly likely to irritate if used in a diffuser. However, pure essential oils of true lavender (Lavandula officinalis or Lavandula vera), Roman chamomile (Anthemis nobilis), ravensara (Ravensara aromatica) and tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) are generally considered suitable for 'neat' and undiluted application to the skin.

Fragrant candles have become very popular recently and I smiled to see them being presented on TV with the same advertising hype as perfumes. If the aromatics used are indeed pure essential oils and not synthetics, then scented candles can provide healthful, ambient fragrancing. Please be aware however, that your candle labeled gardenia, carnation, violet, lilac, vanilla, musk, tuberose etc., etc., is probably made with synthetic fragrances, since even if these exotic extracts were available in essential oil form on the world market, they'd be incredibly expensive and unlikely to be sold at Bed Bath and Beyond. In addition, there'd be absolutely no point in wasting such precious aromatics in a candle, because by burning them you destroy the precise molecular structures and delicate aroma. Ceramic light bulb rings are also pretty much a no-no- for therapeutic use, since there's no way to control the level of heat - and light bulbs get very hot - so the aromatic molecules will be completely zapped and destroyed very quickly

Regime For Health Medication

Regime For Health Medication

Today we live our lives in the fast lane, and as a result we do not have sufficient time for daily exercise. Our days seem full of stuff to do on a constant basis. Therefore by the time we get home from work, looked after the children cooked dinner, and all the other necessary chores we need to do, we are often too exhausted to even think about going to the gym or doing any type of exercise at all.

This is not good for us as the fact remains that exercise is a very important element in the battle against hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Never mind exercise, do we even unwind at all?

Exercise helps prevent these types of diseases and is much more cost effective both in monetary and lifestyle terms. Cardiac problems can be improved by as much as 300% just by doing regular exercise. Also if you suffer already from these types of diseases you may eventually be able to lower your medication dosage.

You do not have to join a gym when you begin an exercise program, even though that is a really good idea.

If you are starting an exercise program, particularly if you already suffer with a medical problem make sure to consult your doctor to ensure he is satisified for you to start exercising. He may caution you to take it easy and not to over do it, but will be happy that you are deciding to try and get into shape.

If you are joining a gym, make sure you are assessed by a fully qualified personal trainer. They will assess your general condition and work out a fitness regime to specifically suit you. Then as your fitness level gets better your regime will be monitored and gradually enhanced to meet your improving health levels.

But you do not need to join a gym in order to start exercising. You may try methods like walking, cycling or swimming. As before you should always start in moderation and build up your sessions as your fitness levels improve.

The best benefit about improving your hypertension and your general health by getting fit is that you will improve your fitness levels and maybe start losing some weight, and even finding your blood pressure starting to fall by itself without the aid of medication to more acceptable levels.

Eventually it could even be possible to get prescription dosages down to a minimal level. The benefits of this would be much less side effects from your medication, and who knows you may even be able to quit under supervision eventually

Market Australia's Heart Health Essential Omega 3 provides a

Market Australia's Heart Health Essential Omega 3 provides a

According to research data published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, individuals that include regular daily intake of Omega 3 can reduce the risk of heart attack (coronary thrombosis) by up to seventy percent. Such encouraging news has generated a good deal of interest in Omega 3 of late.

What is Omega 3?

Omega 3 is, in fact, a polyunsaturated fatty acid which, as it passes through the limentary canal (digestive tract through the human body), breaks down existing cholesterol and deposits a minutely thin barrier to prevent its reformation. Omega 3 works to fight again the principal cholesterol culprit that causes clotting of the blood. These clots then block blood vessels causing heart attacks or, if they reach the brain, strokes.

Omega 3 is most commonly associated with the oils found in fish. Best known sources are mackerel, trout and salmon although the oils can be extracted from white fish; and the liver of the Cod is particularly rich as well.

The American Heart Association recommends a daily intake of 1000 mg. of Omega-3 for measurable health benefits in cardiovascular care. There are various ways of including Omega 3's in your diet so you need not worry if you are not a big fan of fish.

Sources of Omega-3's

The most obvious method, eating suitable fish regularly, isn't practical for everybody, as again - not everyone enjoys fish, some people are even allergic to it and, of course, vegetarians and vegans don't eat fish. Fortunately there are a wide range of supplements on the market for those people.

The most common form of supplement is the capsule formulated from concentrated oils derived from those fish that have the high Omega 3 levels. Generally, the tablet will contain something around fifty percent from that source (fish) with the balance made up of other sources of fatty acids.

Omega 3 fatty acids are not restricted to fish oils - they can also be found in a number of plant extracts as well. The best source of Omega-3 is alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) which includes flaxseed (linseed) oil, rapeseed (canola) oil, chia seeds, walnuts and walnut oil, the Mediterranean plant, purslane, grass-reared meat, and dark green leafy vegetables. These items are widely found in health food stores and in natural health markets.

The good news of Omega 3 health benefits goes global

Omega 3's can also be found in a wide range of other foods including vegetables and processed foods; however, the levels are negligible and provide no significant health benefits. Vegetarian Omega-3 supplements are available, usually as flaxseed (linseed) oil.

EPA and DHA Omega 3 are found almost exclusively in aquatic plants and animals. They are synthesized by phytoplankton, which are consumed by fish, mollusks and crustaceans and thus concentrated in the aquatic food chain.

Alternative sources of Omega-3 ALA and Omega-3 EPA and DHA are being studied for viability. ALA from perilla is already available in some countries and krill, shrimp-like creatures abundant in the Antarctic Ocean, are being targeted by a Canadian company as a future Omega-3 source. Krill oil contains 25% Omega-3 EPA and DHA. Genetic modification is also being explored, with one experiment inserting genes which will produce long-chain Omega-3 polyunsaturates into existing oilseed varieties. Another uses gene transfer technology to directly convert Omega-6 polyunsaturates to their Omega-3 counterparts.

As the health reputation of the Omega-3s grows, food manufacturers have explored the opportunity of fortifying everyday foods with Omega-3s. Omega-3 eggs are increasingly available; for example, bread fortified with 13mg of Omega-3 DHA per slice is now available in New Zealand and Australia. Malaysia has a cracker fortified with vitamins, minerals and both Omega-3 and Omega-6 EFAs and a similarly fortified margarine serves as a fine accompaniment.

In Sweden, a low fat liver pate is enriched with Omega-3, iron and vitamins. The Spanish can buy fruit juices fortified with milk, fiber, vitamins and Omega-3, and probiotic meal replacement bars, soups and milkshakes with Omega-3s. Finns market a blackcurrant juice with added Omega-6 and Omega-3 as ALA. This list is by no means comprehensive, particularly as it does not include the increasing number of infant milks, foods and supplements with added Omega-3 DHA.

As the advantages of regular intake of Omega 3 become more accepted in North America, the food processing and pharmaceutical industries will, no doubt, put more effort and funding into making these various supplements more readily available. The benefits of Omega 3 will continue to grow in importance as the population ages and looks for ways to maintain healthy and active lifestyles. Currently, Omega 3's are easy enough to buy from online companies and specialized pharmacies but it surely won't be long before Americans will be able to choose the supplement that suits them best from the shelves of local supermarkets and convenience stores

Essential oils give you REAL health benefits that are long-term and ...

Essential oils give you REAL health benefits that are long-term and ...

This is the typical conversation most mornings and sometimes at weekends during snack time, between my wife and my 4 year old daughter.

"Mum, I'm hungry."
"What would you like to eat?"
"Egg sandwich."

She wants a fried egg, cooked in a small dab of virgin olive oil over moderate heat with a sprinkling of freshly ground pepper in a sandwich of freshly baked wholegrain homemade bread. I introduced her to eggs when she was a toddler. Eggs are easy to chew and should be part of a daily diet given to any child of one year old or older. I remember when my daughter as a toddler would eat the egg white first and then pop the whole yolk of a hard-boiled egg straight into her mouth. I still remember when I was a child and my mother used to give me a hard-boiled egg whenever I was hungry. What happened to the good old fashioned days when eggs were given as snacks?

Today, we live in an addiction-prone society. Of all the addictions out there, one of the most deadly is one that is most often overlooked: Junk food. We feed our kids junk food everyday without realising it. We are all guilty of doing this. It is easier to pull out a bag of crisps when a child is hungry rather than have them suffer pangs of hunger. This practice is acceptable for the rare occasions but the problem with our society is that we use this kind of junk food as a common everyday snack.

Did you also know that processed food is junk food? The first image that comes to mind for most people when they hear the term "processed food" is a wrapped burger and a sleeve of fries served over a counter at a fast food joint. But the truth is the very food you have in your cabinets is processed if it's boxed, bagged, canned or jarred, frozen or dehydrated and has a list of ingredients on the label. Processed foods have been altered from their natural state for "safety" and convenience reasons. Processed foods are more convenient, it's so much easier to bake a cake by opening up a box, pouring out a dry mix, and adding an egg and some oil than starting from scratch. Instead of making a dish with fresh ingredients, why not pick up a ready-made meal from the store? Isn't it easier to just pop it in the microwave for a couple of minutes? No pots and pans, no mess! But processed food are laced with colours, those are often inedible, carcinogenic and harmful to the body. Studies have found that food colouring can cause hyperactivity and lapses of concentration in children. Chocolates, colas, flavoured drinks and snack are full of artificial colouring. These are not the only additives in processed foods. Don't forget the refined salt, sugar, preservatives, flavour enhancers and other so called "beneficial supplements". Children are especially vulnerable to these unnatural ingredients. Poor diets can slow growth, decay new teeth, promote obesity and sow the seeds of infirmity and debilitating disease that ultimately lead to incurable disease and death or worse make life insufferable.

Did you know that approximately 80% of mothers, who is usually the main parent controlling their child's diet, considered that their child's diet was 'very good/good/healthy' hence overestimate the quality of their child's diet. This is extremely worrying, since mothers who do not perceive that their children follow an unhealthy diet will not make the appropriate amendments to improve their child's dietary habits. Do not be one of these mothers, feed our children correctly and this can only be done by reducing your introduction of processed junk food into their diets. If you think you are one of these mothers who have already done this, think again. Do you feed your child bread from the bakery? Do you give them bottled "freshly squeezed" juice? Do you give them fruit yogurts? Do you spread their toast or sandwich with commercial butter or margarine? Do you use canned tomatoes to make your sauces? Do you feed them frozen sweet corn or peas? Worst of all, do you give them apples that you have not washed? This line of questioning could go on but if you answered "yes" to most of these questions already, your child has an unhealthy diet! (If you want to know more about the foods described above and why they are considered unhealthy read our research in "Is Your Food Killing You?").

How can a simple egg sandwich contribute to a healthy diet? A fried egg sandwich for instance, consists only of bread, egg and possibly butter and the oil used for cooking the egg. The benefits of homemade bread are described in our article "Wholegrains and their benefits". The benefits of homemade butter are described in our blog. The egg is a nutrient-dense food, containing high quality protein and a wide range of essential vitamins, minerals and trace elements.

Hemp Oil : organic health essential fatty acids hemp

Hemp Oil : organic health essential fatty acids hemp

Hemp Oil : organic health essential fatty acids hemp

Hemp Oil : organic health essential fatty acids hemp

Hemp Oil : organic health essential fatty acids hemp

By now, most of us have heard of essential fatty acids (EFAs) and their potential health benefits. They're said to sustain cognitive function and memory, benefit the heart and immune system, aid in cell reproduction and repair, and even help balance hormones. Fish oil, duly noted by the medical community as having similar benefits, contains high levels of omega-3 essential fatty acids, thus establishing the link between a daily regimen of fish oil and good health. Fish oil is sold in the U.S. as a dietary supplement and comes in both liquid and capsule form.

What are essential fatty acids?

Essential fatty acids are unsaturated fats typically found in the oils of vegetables, certain nuts and seeds and some fish. They're said to benefit health more than the saturated fats found in meat and dairy products and may even have a positive impact on cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. Essential fatty acids are referred to as "essential" because they must be obtained through diet and are essential to the normal growth and function of muscles, nerves, cells and organs in humans. There are two families of essential fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids.

Omega-3 fatty acids - the fatty acids found in fish oil

Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat present in many coldwater fish including trout, salmon, sardines, anchovies, herring, mackerel, tuna and cod. The two most potent forms of omega-3 fatty acids are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA), both known as "good fats" - unlike saturated fats, which when consumed in excess can lead to cardiovascular problems, neural and brain disorders.

EPA helps to produce the prostaglandins (hormone-like substances) which help control blood-clotting and arterial functions. EPAs may also help to lower serum triglyceride levels.

DHA is a major component of human brain and retinal tissue and aids the transmission of nerve impulses.

The term "omega-3 essential fatty acid" has become synonymous with "fish oil" in modern American marketing literature

To enjoy optimal health, then, supplementing with good vitamins is

To enjoy optimal health, then, supplementing with good vitamins is

To enjoy optimal health, then, supplementing with good vitamins is

Dietary supplements are available for any health need you can think of, but all supplements are not the same. Some are all-natural while others are chemically based. Some can be safely combined with other supplements or medications while others can't. It's a smart decision to educate yourself about dietary supplements before buying. Here are some facts you should know before trying any supplement or vitamin.

Do You have Undiagnosed Health Needs?

Before you rush out and buy the latest supplement for nutrition - vitamins, herbs, etc. to cure your problem - see a doctor to properly diagnose your health need. Some health conditions carry multiple symptoms, and those symptoms might also be present with other health issues. So you really can't know for sure what your exact health need is until it's diagnosed by a medical doctor through deductive reasoning and diagnostic testing.

Medications

If you currently take prescribed medications or even certain over-the-counter medicines, ask your doctor or pharmacist before adding vitamins or dietary supplements to your daily intake. Certain supplements might cause side effects if blended with other medicines. For instance, if you're taking heart or blood pressure medication, find out which supplements could cause a negative reaction with these particular medicines. The same goes for medications for diabetes, cholesterol, and cancer medicines or treatments.

Limit Your Initial Intake of Supplements

Start out by taking only one or two supplements and give your body a chance to get use to the changes. Then you might decide to add another supplement for a specific health need. Supplements aren't meant to provide a quick fix, but are actually meant to promote long-term optimal health. Start small and gradually increase your knowledge about supplements to enjoy long-term benefits.

Weight Loss Diets and Supplements

Dietary supplements are not to substitute quality foods and nutrition in your diet. Dieting should consist of the recommended amounts of fruits, vegetables, meats, nuts, grains, and dairy to achieve your weight loss goals. Depriving yourself of a nutritional diet will only cause more health problems or greater weight problems later on. Supplements can help you achieve your weight loss goals by boosting your vitamin intake, and thus boosting your body's immunity and energy. Be sure to exercise daily and drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated.

Buy from a High Quality Distributor

Vitamin supplements seem to be a dime a dozen, but not all are considered to be of high quality. Some are manufactured in such a way that causes the supplement to lose its effectiveness. They're sold in every store at dirt-cheap prices, but their nutritional value is next to nothing. You can find higher quality supplements online or at specialty supplement stores if you know where to look. Beware of outrageous claims, and make sure the supplement is indeed "all natural" if the company makes this claim. Find a company that not only offers to sell items, but also offers helpful advice on how to properly use and combine supplements.

Now that you're armed with these tips, check out a dependable supplement source online if you want to lose weight, promote a healthy immune system, and enjoy overall good health