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.
If you've got a sweet tooth, then you may find that watermelon quenches your need for sugary foods. This juicy "summer day" fruit contains beta-cryptoxanthin, which lowers cholesterol. It also has 20% of your daily vitamin A and vitamin C, in addition to providing you with an absorbable form of lycopene, which lowers heart disease and cancer risks. Similarly, blueberries are another amazing fruit that has been known to boost dopamine levels and your mood, as well as providing an anti-oxidant toxin-removal service and improving memory/coordination functions.
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.
"More than anything else you do, the way you eat tells your body how healthy you want to be," says Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., a physician in Tucson, Ariz., and author of Food As Medicine. Today, it's easier to eat healthy foods, with public attention shifting towards more diet-conscious meals, restaurants using less cream and fatty butter and websites like sparkspeople.com acting as a personal diet coach. You may have to say goodbye to a few of your favorite victuals, but once you realize what you liked most about that food, be it the texture, salt, sugar or a certain soothing quality, you will be able to find an adequate replacement.
As we become older there are significant numbers that begin to weigh to a great extent upon us. We have to concern ourselves about our weight, levels of cholesterol, as well as our blood pressure. Things we may have ignored our entire lives now suddenly they have significant importance. But these are things that should never have been forgotten. A lifetime of misuse on the body returns merely damaging things when left unchecked.
Your cholesterol level is absolutely critical if you want to stay healthy and your body operating in good order. High levels has the ability to lead lead to heart attacks and stroke, both of these things you do not want to have to deal with. Being mindful when it comes to your cholesterol level is not only for the elderly. It is something both young as well as old have to be concerned with and be aware of if they hope to to lead a healthy lifestyle. In this article we will go over the basics of cholesterol and hopefully you will realize just how crucial a healthy level is to your body as well as peace of mind.
What is good cholesterol?
Good cholesterol is called HDL which is high-density lipoproteins. Doctor's believe that the high levels of HDL can actually protect your heart whereas low levels of HDL can increase your risk of heart disease. It is thought that HDL can carry cholesterol away from your arteries and back to the liver where it is passed from the body.
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 removed?
The first stage is through medicines however if there is a measurable constrictive or blockage in the artery or blood vessel then a slightly more intrusive 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 inserted into the artery and then naviagted to the occlusion where the build up of plaque has happened. The balloon is then inflated to clear the passage. Nowadays the operation is minimally intrusive and most patients are capable of going home on that very day.
Does a diet rich in fish really help lower my cholesterol?
You may be surprised but a diet rich in fish, particularly salmon, can help you lower your overall LDL cholesterol while helping raise the HDL cholesterol. It is the omega-3 fatty acids that have been shown to help the body. But do not stop at just salmon. There are other great foods that can help you reduce your LDL's and raise your HDL's such as: avocados, garlic, black beans, uncooked soy and even Shitake mushrooms.
To learn more click here How To Lower Cholesterol also Cholesterol Level and Controlling High Cholesterol
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