Tips to prevent heart disease and lead a healthy life
Mike Spencer

One of the greatest ailments that endanger your healthy life is undoubtedly the heart disease. As per statistics provided by the American Heart Association, 62 million Americans suffer from some form of cardio-vascular diseases like heart attack, high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. Close to, a million such cases per year turn fatal. Heart disease is the number one killer in the U.S. and about 1/3 of the deaths from heart disease could be prevented by a way of a better dietary habit.

Without analyzing the cause, you cannot prevent the effect. One of the prime catalysts of heart disease is the free radicals. Contrary to the belief, margarine, which you may think is preventing heart disease (thanks to widespread advertisements), is much more harmful than butter. The process of margarine preparation involves heating oils to very high temperatures. Such a high temperature transforms the oils into free radicals.

One of the best foods you can have is the egg.

The egg yolk contains about 250 mg of cysteine, a variety of amino acid. This cysteine is instrumental in the elimination of free radicals.

Another common cause of heart diseases is cholesterol.

However, the interesting fact is that bulk of the cholesterol is synthesized within the body itself and not taken as part of the diet. Cholesterol is a soft buttery substance. It joins hands with calcium and cause hardening of the arteries that results in heart disease.

We consciously avoid some fat-rich food, like butter in order to avoid heart disease. However, this notion is grossly incorrect. The real culprit for poor heart health is sugar rich processed food. For instance, let us observe the dietary habits of the Eskimos. They consume large quantities of blubber – a highly fat-rich food. Yet, the instance of heart disease in them is minimal, unless fizzy drinks and French fries influence their food habits.

Excess weight begets heart disease.

Therefore, you need to check your diet. However, you should remember that being overweight is the problem, not eating fats. Some essential fats like Omega 3 fish oil has healing power.

Surprisingly 150 years ago, heart diseases were almost unheard of. Some vested interests have made heart disease proliferate. The people, who manufacture drugs for heart disease, stand to gain enormously when a detected patient has to consume drugs for the rest of his/her life. What is worse, your doctor is also befooled by the drug manufacturers in the name of educating them.

Prescribing drugs is rooted to faulty medical education of the doctors. It is a pity that less than 2% time of a Harvard Medical school student is spent in learning preventive medicine and a minor slice is devoted to nutrition.

One of the well-known surgeries in this heart disease field is the bypass surgery. Contrary to what you know, bypass surgeries fail to lengthen your life span than those who go without it. Unfortunately, 2% to 4% of the cases of bypass surgery turn fatal on the operation table itself.

Respectable medical journals have started stating the truth – bypass surgery does not result in increase of life expectancy. Bypass surgeries do not attack the cause of the problem, merely attempting to repair damage. It leaves chances for falling pray to heart disease again. Only about 2 inches of the blood vessels are repaired without addressing the problem of hardening of the arteries.

Much to your horror, another bigger fraud exists than the bypass surgery. It is the heart drugs. Cholesterol drugs reduce the cholesterol to some extent, but it never prolongs your life. The most important adage in this context is prevention is better than cure. In order to prevent heart disease, be vigilant on your diet. Avoid fizzy drinks and calorie-rich fried food (but that doesnt mean fat).

Consumption of cholesterol drugs in order to prevent heart disease has ugly side effects. Instead of prolonging life, these drugs aid in shortening your life span. A study in Finland on heart disease shows that the probability of people suffering a heart attack is 46% higher for those who are regular consumers of cholesterol drugs.

The mantra is to go for a heart-friendly diet, prevent being obese and exercise regularly. Lend your heart a helping hand in combating heart disease.

For more detailed information on preventing heart disease and recommended products visit:

http://www.heart-healthy-diet.com

Mike has been helping people protect their health for several years – through exercise and nutrition. The heart and circulation system is the most important, and all good health programs need to start here. Let Mike guide you in getting started.

http://www.heart-healthy-diet.com

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Healthy eating and dining out
Zaak OConan

One of the biggest challenges facing those trying to follow a healthy diet is the local restaurant. Eating out presents special challenges, such as not knowing how the food was prepared, how much fat it contains, and whether or not the healthiest ingredients were used.

Many restaurant chains, and even some fast food restaurants, have recognized the demand for healthier menu choices, and they are working hard to satisfy that demand. All too often, however, the healthy choices on a restaurant menu are limited and unappealing. It is important, therefore to pay close attention to the menu and make the healthiest choices possible.

One of the most important thing diners can do to eat healthy at restaurants is to be proactive. Diners should not be afraid to ask how a dish is prepared, or what ingredients are used in its preparation. If the server does not know, ask him or her to check with the chef. A good chef will be happy to answer such questions, and to make modifications in the recipe if needed. In addition, most restaurants will happily accommodate special needs, such as low fat or low sodium dishes. After all, the restaurant is there to serve its patrons.
Some of our favorite tips for healthy eating in restaurants include:

– One good rule of thumb to use when dining out is to order entrees that are grilled, baked or broiled. Deep fried dishes are best avoided. If you are unsure how a dish is prepared, don’t be afraid to ask.
– Portion size is just as important at the restaurant as they are at home. That means ordering the petit fillet instead of the full size steak, requesting half size portions of French fries, and maybe even forgoing that tempting dessert. Choosing leaner cuts of meat or fish is also a good way to eat healthier.
– When choosing side dishes, ask if steamed vegetables are available. Steamed veggies are an excellent, low fat, low calorie choice for many diners. Vegetables that are fried, au gratin, or prepared in cream or butter sauces are best avoided.
– When ordering salad, ask if fat free choices are available. Most restaurants have several fat free or low fat varieties of salad dressing available. If no low fat option exists, request the dressing on the side so that you can control the amount that is used.
– When ordering soup, choose broth based soups, and avoid bisques or rich soups like cream of crab or cream of broccoli. A simple vegetable soup is a delicious and low fat alternative.
– Replace high fat, high calorie French fries with healthier alternatives such as fresh fruit or an unbuttered baked potato. Most restaurants will be happy to accommodate such special requests.
– In Italian restaurants, stick with the tomato based sauces and avoid cream or heavy Alfredo sauces. A simple pesto sauce without meat is a good choice for most pasta dishes.
– When dining at oriental restaurants, go with the steamed rice and stir fried vegetable entrees. Avoid the heavy sauces and request that your meal be prepared with less oil. In addition, try to choose dishes that feature less meat and more fresh vegetables.
– Choose a light dessert of fresh fruit or sorbet. When ordering traditional desserts, order one and share it with your dining partner.

Finally, when dining at a fast food restaurant, it is important to avoid the temptation of super sizing the meal. Fast food restaurants often make their larger portions more attractive by pricing them competitively, but a big part of healthier eating is to control portion sizes. In addition, most fast food chains now offer healthier alternatives, such as salads and baked potatoes, as well as prominently displayed nutritional information.

While dining out certainly presents challenges to those trying to enjoy a healthy lifestyle, there is no reason to forgo the pleasure of an occasional meal out. By following the guidelines listed above, and by adding some creative tips of your own, you can make dining out a healthy experience as well as a pleasant one.
About the Author

Zaak O’Conan discovers and presents useful information on how to enhance and/or repair your life, body and relationships. You’ll find his other articles on eating better and other ways how to improve your life at http://your-health-center.com

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Eat Healthy Without Meat
Alex Fir

As concerns about healthy eating have grown, so has the interest
in vegetarianism. Numerous nutrition experts recommend eating
low on the food chain. In plain language this means eating more
grains, vegetables and fruits, and fewer meats, cheeses and
other animal based products.

There are various levels of vegetarianism, and each type has its
own unique health benefits and some health challenges as well.
Of course vegetarians, like meat eaters, must still make healthy
food choices. Simply pigging out on French fries while avoiding
the burger will not make you a healthy vegetarian.

Some people who consider themselves vegetarians still eat
poultry and seafood, while others avoid all animal flesh, even
fish and chicken. Most vegetarians still eat milk, dairy
products and eggs. In nutritional circles these people are
referred to as lacto-ovo vegetarians.

Vegans, on the other hand, avoid all animal products, including
eggs, milk and dairy products, and even fabrics like silk,
leather and wool. It is vegans who face the largest challenges
and risks when trying to follow a healthy diet. Most vegetarian
diets provide more than enough nutrition, as long as smart
dietary choices are made.

The key to eating a healthy vegetarian diet is much the same as
eating a healthy diet that includes meat. It all boils down to
making smart food choices, understanding nutritional labels, and
cooking your vegetables to maximize their nutritional value.

Choosing the foods that make up the bulk of a vegetarian diet is
very important. For most vegetarians, vegetables, grains,
lentils and soy products will make up the bulk of their diet,
and these staples are included in many vegetarian recipes.

When cooking with soy, however, it is important to remember that
tofu is relatively high in fat. The fat content of tofu dishes
is often comparable to that of dishes that are made with lean
cuts of meat. Those vegetarians following a low fat diet may
want to limit the amount of tofu based products they eat.

The same caution applies to the nuts and seeds that can make up
a large part of a vegetarian diet. Nuts and seeds are excellent
sources of dietary protein, but they can be high in fat as well.

Many newly minted vegetarians worry that they will not be able
to get enough protein and iron without eating meat, but for most
vegetarians this is not a problem. Most diets today actually
contain too much protein, and there are many non animal derived
sources of protein for vegetarians to enjoy.

Proper cooking techniques are of course very important to any
healthy diet. Avoiding high fat cooking methods is important, as
is avoiding the use of high fat creams, butters and sauces. A
vegetable stir fry cooked in healthy olive oil can be a great
addition to any vegetarian menu. And a great fruit salad is both
easy to make and delicious as a snack or a meal.

The only real area of concern when it comes to vegetarianism and
health is the B-complex vitamins, particularly vitamin B12.
Vitamin B12 is almost exclusively derived from animal based
sources, so vegans, who avoid all animal products, should take a
high quality vitamin B12 or B-complex vitamin supplement. It is
also important for vegans to discuss their diet and lifestyle
with their family physicians. As vegetarianism becomes more
widespread, the amount of information on the nutritional needs
of these two groups continues to grow.

The bottom line is that vegetarians can enjoy a very healthy
lifestyle. Making vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans the
centerpiece of the diet is a smart move for many people, and a
good low fat vegetarian diet can be a great way to enjoy a
healthy lifestyle. As with a meat based diet, however, it is
important for vegetarians to follow common sense eating
guidelines and make smart choices when creating meat free meals.

About the author:

A lot of people eat foods that are generally deficient in the
vitamins and minerals. Visit Nutri
tional Supplements Center to learn why it is vital that you
take nutri
tional health supplements.

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Teen weight loss: Taking it slowly is still the best

According to recent studies more kids nowadays are mild to severely overweight. The 1999-2000 National health survey indicates that 15 % of children and teens are overweight.

The figure is nearly double that what was recorded a decade or so ago. Some blame their present lifestyle while others blame the lack of discipline in teens nowadays. Regardless of the reasons, teen weight problems are real.

But unlike weight loss programs for adults, teen weight loss programs are a little tricky since such programs when left uncheck can be potentially dangerous for their health. Because of the potential danger, dietitian and nutrition experts approach the subject with caution.

The basic problem with teen weight loss is that their bodies are still growing and developing and cutting down food intake will greatly influence their growth. It is therefore important that diet programs for teens should cover all their nutritional needs.

For teenagers, they generally need to grasp some basic concepts about eating right. If they eat too little, their health will be put at risk. But similarly, if they eat more that they should, the extra food turns into body fat causing weight issues. Teenagers should learn to eat food less with saturated fats.

These foods include those fried in fat and oil like fried chicken, burgers, potato chips, french fries, potato chips and other fatty meat. Meanwhile, they also should avoid foods that are high in fat and sugar contents like cakes, chocolates, butter, cream, peanut butter, pies, cookies, and generally any sweets and sweet based desserts.

A lot of diet programs claim to be the best solutions for over weight teens. These claims generally revolve around two basic concepts: the right diet and regular exercise. In reality, the quickest and easiest way for teens to loose weight is still the having the right diet and right exercise. Teens should always avoid diet pills.

Most of the kids or teens today eat fast foods, get exceedingly large food portions and are really extremely lazy lacking the necessary activities to build a healthy body. Simple outdoor activities for teens can help them loose some of their excess body weight. When you cut grass use a push mower, for example. Engage in activities like playing Frisbee which would help you exercise without even realizing it.

There’s really no quick way to loose weight. You need to work the excess fat off your body. It is the right combination of diet and exercise which will help you loose weight. But the problem with dieting and exercising is keeping motivated and goal oriented. Kids find dieting intimidating and regular exercise boring.

This is why full family support is necessary if you want your kids to loose some weight. You need to keep your kids and teens motivated. Encourage them and help them overcome their cravings by cooking, serving and eating the same food diets that they eat. Get them to be more active. If they find regular exercises boring, join them in other activities such as sports.

Teach them what to look for when they eat outdoors. Tell them the benefits of foods and teach them how to read food labels. You may be able to control their diet while they stay home but when they go outside and eat with friends, then you might have a problem. It is therefore important in any diet to implant a sense of self discipline and pride in what they do.

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