Keep Your Heart Healthy
Charles Kassotis

Heart disease is the number one killer today. Men and women are
both likely to become victims. Men typically suffer more heart
attacks, but women’s can be deadlier, so it is important for
both genders to monitor their heart health by making a number of
simple lifestyle adjustments.

1.Eat smart. The American Heart Association and other health
organizations, as well, publish guidelines for sensible diets
that promote heart health. Get a copy at their website or ask
your doctor to recommend a diet for you. Typically, you should
try to limit your consumption of red meat to perhaps a few
ounces once or twice a week. Cook chicken and fish in casserole
dishes instead, and experiment with vegetable recipes to try new
and exciting variations. Don’t forget the raw veggies with
low-fat dip and fresh fruits for desserts or snacks.

2.Watch your fluid intake. Most of us don’t drink enough water
each day. Unless you have special medical restrictions, aim to
have eight glasses (eight ounces each) of water daily. In
addition, you can drink other beverages, but avoid sugary,
nutrition-less products like pop or sweetened fruit juice. One
or two cups of tea or coffee are probably all right, but keep in
mind that caffeine can dehydrate you and make you jittery, so
limit your intake.

3.Get daily exercise. Your doctor can recommend a hobby,
routine, or workout that will benefit your physique and health.
Walking at a moderate pace for 30 to 60 minutes daily is a great
way to incorporate aerobic activity in your lifestyle, tone
muscles, and enhance your metabolism. Your circulation will
thank you, too, as it becomes more efficient at pumping blood
through your body and breaking up plaque buildup in your
arteries, thus allowing your heart to pump more easily. Just be
sure to wear appropriate footwear and clothing, and don’t overdo
it. Let your doctor know if you experience shortness of breath
or painful limbs.

4.Learn to manage stress. Everyone experiences stressful
events throughout their day. From getting up late to missing the
train or having an argument with a family member, stress is all
around us. We just have to learn to keep conflict and
disappointments in check by reminding ourselves of the blessings
and joys that surround us, often unnoticed. You may want to keep
a journal to write about negative feelings instead of keeping
them bottled up inside, where they may eventually explode.

In addition, cultivate a good support group of friends, family
members, and social contacts. Get out and have fun. Meet new
people and discover new ideas. Life will become more enjoyable,
and your heart will benefit from your upbeat attitude. Consider
volunteering in your community to make a difference in the lives
of others. As you make new connections and continue to nurture
old ones, you will feel healthier and benefit from a positive
lifestyle.

About the author:

Get valuable information for your heart at The Heart Directory
at
http://www.heartdir.com

Is That Healthy Fish Really So Healthful?
Margot B

Is That Healthy Fish Really So Healthful?
By Margot B

ELLE Magazine’s April issue explores how the most health-conscious eaters may be exposing themselves to dangerous levels of mercury. For years fish has been a dietary staple among weight-watchers and the most health-conscious consumers. Many believe that the omega-3 fatty acids in salmon and tuna can prevent heart disease and wrinkles as well as make their brains both brainier and less susceptible to depression.

However, Dr. Jane Hightower, [an Internal medicine specialist] reports in ELLE’s April issue, that a dangerous level of mercury is found in some very common types of fish: swordfish, shark, ahi, canned tuna. She discusses the three-year study that led to her concluding that too much of the wrong kind of fish can give you a nasty case of mercury poisoning.

Hightower reports the symptoms of mercury poisoning to include fatigue, headaches, hair loss, and neurological problems, ranging from numbness, muscle weakness, altered vision and hearing, slurred speech, to convulsions and dementia.

Hightower’s claim has touched off controversy from nationwide, pitting federal agencies and fishing industry against environmentalists and health enthusiasts. ‘Virtually all fish contain traces of methyl mercury’ Hightower reveals. ‘In lakes and rivers, where pollution is often quite concentrated, even small fish can have large amounts.’ ‘In oceans, it’s the big predatory species at the top of the food chain that ends up with

the most mercury; these fish may feast for years on smaller fish before becoming fillets themselves. Swordfish, which may be among the largest sea creatures regularly consumed by humans, may accumulate several million times the amount of mercury found in the surrounding water, according to the EPA.’
Some healthy hints from Dr. Hightower:

* Eat more salmon – the fish highest in omega-3-like salmon and

sardines, contain very low levels of mercury.

* Limit fish if you are pregnant [or trying]. Eat no more than 12-ounces

a week, and avoid swordfish, shark, king mackerel, and tilefish.

* Go for variety – eat different kinds of fish.

* Think small – little fish tend to be lower in mercury. Eating smaller

portions also helps.

* Don’t be afraid – occasionally bingeing on sushi or eating

swordfish all week on vacation won’t hurt you.

Source: ELLE
Web site: http://elle.com/
Mar 14, 2003 09:23 ET

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Margot B
mailto:[email protected]
Web site: http://margotb.tk

About the Author

Margot B is the author of a book and 100s of articles, specializing in health and the environment….and is a Web site designer. Samples:
http://margotb.tk
http://nuchatlaht.tk
http://margotbworldnews.tk
http://websitebldg.tripod.com/

Is eating a raw food diet actually healthy for you?
Glen Jansen

Whatever diet you choose to live by, the food you eat has to provide your body with the nourishment to properly balance your body’s chemistry. If you have health challenges, are overweight or obese, chances are you are not in balance at all. The typical North American diet is woefully out of balance. Even what are commonly considered as healthy diets, such as low fat, vegetarien and vegan diets can be improperly balanced.

The good news is you can forget counting … cholesterol, calories, fat grams, carbohydrates, etc, if you eat a properly balanced diet. But, just what does a properly balanced diet consist of?

At this time, it is important to remember a quick lesson in chemistry. Many people know about acids. We used to often hear about acid rain and almost everyone knows that acids are dangerous. The opposite of acids are bases, or alkaloids. These alkaline substances will neutralize acids. In fact, if you mix an acid and a base of equal strength, you will get a new liquid that is close to being neutral. The way of measuring how acidic or alkaline a substance is a scale called pH.

It turns out that the body has a set level of pH that it likes to function in. Just as we all have a normal body temperature, we also have a normal pH for our tissues. Different tissues have different pH levels. One of the most important ones is the pH of your blood. The pH of your blood is slightly alkaline. The body will go to great lengths to keep that pH level fixed. It will do this at the expense of other tissues or systems.

The goal of any healthy eating regimen is to provide the body with the necessary building blocks in the proper pH such that the pH balance can be maintained easily. When this happens, the body will detoxify itself naturally. In addition, weight loss is a side effect of being properly balanced. When one is out of balance, or overly acidic, weight gain, chronic illness, allergies, cancer, heart disease and even diabetes can result. This chronic overacidity of the blood corrodes the tissues of the body. It can also be said that the main cause of all sickness and disease is the disruption of the balance in the body.

With that in mind, how does one get in balance?

In order to get in balance, one needs to consume about 80 percent of your diet as alkaline foods. Green leafy vegetables are a great example of alkaline foods. So are sprouts, broccoli and many other green vegetables. A great way to get started on this new way of life is to pick up a copy of [The pH Miracle] from your local or online bookstore. Inside you will learn how to jumpstart your way into a lifestyle of balanced eating that promotes long term health. In addition you will discover all the foods you should avoid and the ones that you can eat as much as you like. This book is written by Dr. Robert O. Young and his wife Shelley provides recipes in the book too. All in all, an alkaline way of life is both healthy and safe when done properly.
About the Author

A raw food diet that is rich in alkaline foods is the fastest way to health. We help spread the word of this amazing way of life at our Raw Food Diet web site. There you will find many items related to eating a raw food diet, getting enough antioxidants and even how to pick the best

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