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Article by Jhon Napier

High cholesterol is invisible dangers which can cause severe damage to human body and to measure high cholesterol doctors examine the level of HDL, LDL and triglyceride levels in body. The bad cholesterol or the LDL cholesterol accumulates in the inner walls of arteries and it can block the passage whereas the HDL cholesterol is helpful in preventing blockages.

Cholesterol level determination

To test cholesterol the lipid level is examined in which the total cholesterol is measure in milligrams per deciliter. The LDL cholesterol should not exceed 100 mg per deciliter and triglycerides should be less than 150 mg per deciliter. The cholesterol level is mostly determined by the diet and the living style. Cholesterol is a kind of wax like substance found in most of the food products. Food products such as dairy product, meat, fish, and poultry contain a good amount of dietary cholesterol. Fish has less cholesterol and food products made from certain plants grains, nuts and seeds have almost no cholesterol.

Cholesterol is not fat but it can be found in high quantity in food products which are high in fat. Some of the highest amount of cholesterol is found in egg yolk and organ meat and in the human body pancreas function is to produce cholesterol, therefore, cholesterol from diet is not required.

Truths and Myths of low cholesterol diet

1. One can opt to eat low cholesterol diet in which vegetarian food and Mediterranean diet is included. The diet should include a good amount of fruits, grains and vegetables and a low amount of non vegetarian food such as red meat, fish and grains should be taken. The intake of wine should be reduced.

2. To reduce intake of cholesterol use unsaturated fat instead of saturated fat. One can take saturated fats which is found in cooking oil extracted from sunflower, cotton seeds, soybeans, corn but if the oil comes with a label called Hydrogenated, one should avoid it because it means the poly-saturated fat has been converted to saturated fat and it will not be helpful in reducing cholesterol instead it can be very harmful. The vegetable oils undergo the process of hydrogenation which makes it solid. Tans fat found in such oil can cause narrowing of arteries and heart disease.

3. Fish products are high in mega 3 fatty acids and it is said to be helpful in reducing the bad cholesterol but long term ingestion of fish should be taken only on advice of a physician.

4. Taking food products high in mono saturated fats is also helpful. Olive oil and canola oil are rich in mono-saturated fats and it helps in reducing blood cholesterol.

5. One should reduce intake of dietary fat both saturated and unsaturated to reduce cholesterol levels.

6. People who are overweight should reduce weight to reduce cholesterol because when the total amount of fat is reduced the total amount of saturated fat reduces. A very high amount of saturated fat is present in food products such as whole milk, ice cream, cheese, butter etc.

About the Author

Read about Home Remedies for High Blood Pressure. Also know about High Blood Pressure Herbal Treatment. Read about Home Remedies for Cold Sores.

Article by Elaine Savard

Selenium is an essential trace mineral that is naturally found in animal protein and vegetables as well as in fish and sea vegetables. Surprisingly one of the biggest sources is the Brazil nut.Selenium occurs naturally in the soil, therefore crops will absorb it and transfer it into a form that the human body can use. The form that is most easily absorbed and stored by the body is L-selenomethionine. This also is the form of the mineral that is used in most clinical trials.Studies have shown scientific evidence that suggests the consumption of selenium may reduce the risk of certain forms of cancers. This is very exciting news and is a major breakthrough for the health benefits of this essential nutrient. Results from a French study done in 2003, showed that people with lower levels of selenium in their blood had a larger thyroid gland. Therefore, it was concluded by this research, that selenium may protect against goiter and thyroid disease.The mineral has an antioxidant function that also shows a reduction in thyroid disease, infertility, arthritis. It neutralizes the effects of the free radical that cause injury to the body promoting onset of disease. It is also know to help the body fight toxins such as mercury. Because of its antioxidant properties it may also be of benefit to diabetics in the delay or even prevention of kidney disease.Some other benefits of this mineral are: helping the skin look younger, helps thyroid hormone metabolism and may even help increase sperm count.Some symptoms of the deficiency of selenium are muscle cramps and heart enlargement.Symptoms of toxicity are loss of hair,nails or teeth, as well as skin inflammation.If you are looking for a health and wellness product that contains selenium please visit my website http://www.fucoidanforhealth.com

About the Author

I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 1997. I have journeyed through the diagnosis, treatment and now continuing living with the disease.

More Thyroid Disease Articles

Can vitamin D help prevent certain cancers and other diseases such as type 1 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain autoimmune and chronic diseases? To answer these questions and more, UCSD School of Medicine and GrassrootsHealth bring you this innovative series on vitamin D deficiency. Join nationally recognized experts as they discuss the latest research and its implications. In this program, Frank Garland, PhD, discusses vitamin D and the opportunity for prevention of diabetes. Series: Vitamin D Deficiency – Treatment and Diagnosis [2/2009] [Health and Medicine] [Professional Medical Education] [Show ID: 15771]
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Article by Cindy Heller

Heart disease is a general term for a number of different diseases, all of which influence the heart in some way. Heart disease is in fact considered as being the leading reason of death nowadays in the United States. Heart disease indeed possesses serious threat to many people. Therefore, it is important to understand the methods to prevent and treat heart disease.

Prevention methods

There is reason to be hopeful because according to experts, heart disease prevention is promising. Even though some risk factors including sex, genetics, and age of a person are not within our control, one can still make an alteration in lifestyle and also change diet so that the odds of heart disease are significantly reduced.

There are also other methods by which heart disease prevention can be achieved. According to what the American Heart Association proposes, one must control obesity even in children and also make a determined attempt to take proper diet that contains enough nutrition. One of the better nutritional supplements you may want to try for heart disease prevention is mangosteen puree that is rich in antioxidants which aid in destroying free radicals that are the reason behind damage to cells and which in turn will result in heart disease.

Good heart disease prevention may also mean controlling the blood pressure and having LDL cholesterol at low levels. The best way to attain these goals is by making appropriate changes to diet and even by taking medications if so recommended by the doctor. Clearly, having low blood sugar levels will consider as heart disease prevention.

Another alternative is to exercise because it is a well known fact that regular exercise can reduce the risks of heart disease. Experts have a tendency to recommend as much exercise as humanly possible at least an hour per day. For many people, this seems like a never-ending task but the truth is this amount of exercise can be attained in ways other than going to the gym. Basically changing some habits, such as walking to work, can make people healthier. Walking is perhaps the easiest, cheapest, and healthiest type of exercise for most people and therefore should be taken advantage of.

The best heart disease prevention may not be a solitary course of action; rather, one may decide to have many strategies combined into one that will prove to be more effective. You can select approaches such as changes in diet, together with reducing excess weight and also maintaining blood sugar levels as well as taking nutritional supplements that are suggested by health experts.

Treatment options for heart disease

If you have heart disease then you will have to have some types of heart disease treatment in order to solve your problem. There are various heart disease treatment options that are available nowadays. The first treatment is of course prevention as explained previously.

However, if your heart disease is serious, than most probably you will also have to use more serious techniques of heart disease treatment. This includes medical treatment, which will usually be started straight away, even before an exact diagnosis of a heart problem is made.

This medical treatment may comprise of oxygen from a tube in the nose, oxygen through a face mask, nitroglycerin under the tongue, pain medicines, and aspirin. There are also clot dissolving medications which are often given, and the earlier these drugs are given, the higher the chances of opening the blocked artery and defending the cardiac muscle from further injury.

Cellular therapy, for example, is considered as being a potential treatment for heart disease. This is due to cellular products have been revealed to hold great potential for the treating of injured and diseased tissues in the body. They come from many sources, such as stem cells from bone marrow, peripheral blood, and myoblasts from skeletal muscle cells. The research so far has shown that this cellular therapy offers amazingly positive results, and so with additional research and more advancement, in the future this just may be known as the cure for heart disease.

Surgery can be executed on those who experience heart disease at any age although other methods are preferable. Surgery is necessary for those who do not react to their medications or whose condition worsens radically. In some situations, surgery is the only method to amend the problem and give the patient a probability of good health. In uncommon cases, repeat surgery is needed afterward to rid the body of excess fluids that have developed in the chest.

Heart surgery can be wearing and the healing period can be slow so it is no surprise to find out that a huge number of people who suffer from heart disease which needs surgery are interested in less invasive surgery. Less invasive surgery for heart disease can involve smaller incisions, less pain, and a much faster healing period. Not only does this type of surgery involve shorter hospital stays, it can also reduce the risks of complications to the patient during and after the operation.

There are many resources that are available if you want more information on the treatment of heart disease. The most significant thing of all is to keep a healthy lifestyle, a healthy and nutritious diet, and plenty of exercise. By keeping a healthy lifestyle you will not only be guarding yourself against heart disease but as well against all illnesses and health conditions in general.

About the Author

Cindy Heller is a professional writer. Visit facts about heart disease to learn more about cure for heart disease and reversing heart disease.

Article by Candice McInnes

Everybody [especially teenagers] hates this skin problem. some get really bad acne which can result in scarring while others just get a mild case. Either way we do need to look at our diet and change our thought process when it comes to eradicating these awful blemishes and pimples.

Though there is some debate as to whether changing to a acne free diet actually works, there is enough support out there for it to be realistic as there is enough evidence proving that what we eat may affect our skin [we are what we eat!].

Changes needed in our diet

Diet alone will not clear up any acne problems [but it helps], you will also need to get into the habit of cleaning and moisturizing you skin at least twice a day.

Avoid or limit the following:

peanut productsfried foodsdairysaltrefined sugarshigh carb foodshighly processed foods

Not all of the above mentioned foods will increase you acne, some people are more sensitive than others and therefore will have a breakout. Try eliminating one at a time and see if it helps clear your skin, I am sure you have noticed that after a party, where you were eating handfuls of nuts, you had a break out – try limiting your peanut intake for a few weeks and see if there is a difference [peanuts used as an example, it could also be those greasy savory meatballs or cheesy pizza pieces etc.]

Increase your intake of the following

* whole grains – oatmeal, brown rice, wheat pastas, etc

* fresh vegetables – all vegetables are good for you, remember though not to add any fats or sugars to enhance them [sad but you do need to avoid these]

* fruit – all will be good for you but there are a few that have a very high sugar content, limit these wherever possible

* lean proteins – there is nothing more tasty than that piece of fat on the edge of a perfectly cooked steak, avoid this tasty morsel totally if you have a skin problem. Chicken skin is also a no no, this contains large amounts of fats and can also increase the oiliness that you are trying to clear up.

Some possible causes of acne [excluding foods]

* hormones – the hormonal increase that happens when we blossom from pre-teenage years into puberty

* birth control pills – starting or stopping the pill can have a hormonal reaction that could cause acne

* hormonal changes – in pregnancy, the poor body goes through some major changes in this period, and while some women bloom and look beautiful there are a few out there that have the opposite reaction to this very normal occurrence

* some medication – while trying to control or cure some other problem a reaction could occur giving you a bad case of those awful pimples

* greasy make-up – this can block the pores in your skin, remember to get non greasy make up when next purchasing these items

* hereditary – generally if one of your parents had a bad skin problem, you will have a bigger chance of getting a pimple problem as well

Going on a healthier diet will definitely increase your energy levels, overall health and quite possibly give you a clearer, blemish free skin.

About the Author

Candice is a full time author and loves to write about her interests. These include a variety of diets, be it for weight loss or for the benefit of ones health she puts pen to paper. She also loves shopping, bowling, beading, dabbles in the forex market and enjoys internet marketing. You can visit her at 22 Inch black rims to find the black rims you want.

Question by donna belle p: How to treat asthma and how to prevent allrgic asthma attacks?
I have always been sensitive to air pollution, smoke, dust, pollen and other things that trigger asthma. How can I help myselfwith asthma attacks?

Best answer:

Answer by julie w
I was going to suggest you stay away from things you are allergic to………….but?? Kinda hard for you being surrounded by them all. An air purifier would be a good thing to have in your home.
Have you seen a doctor? I’m allergic to dogs, cats etc and I carry an Inhaler, Ventolin I think.
It clears my lungs very quickly. If you haven’t already got one I suggest you do. I carry mine with me at all times. You just never know.
All the best
Julie W

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Article by Jessica Vandelay

Cardiovascular or heart diseases, including stroke, are the No. 1 killer in the U.S. and worldwide. To urge Americans to join the battle against these diseases February is designated by Congress as “American Heart Month.”Heart disease is responsible for 40 percent of all the deaths in the U.S., more than all forms of cancer combined. Most forms of heart disease can be prevented or treated with healthy lifestyle choices including diet and exercise. Read more about ways to prevent heart diseases in health magazines like Prevention, Men’s Health, Health and Women’s Health.

American Heart Month is sponsored by the American Heart Association, a national voluntary health agency. The American Heart Association works with the Congress to draft and sign the annual American Heart Month proclamation. The purpose of American Heart Month is to raise awareness of and funds for research to cure heart diseases.

The mission of the American Heart association is to reduce coronary heart disease, stroke and risk by 25 percent by 2010, according to the agency’s web site.

Heart disease is a broad term—it describes a range of diseases that affect your heart. These various diseases include cardiovascular diseases, like coronary artery disease, heart rhythm problems and congenital heart defects—defects people are born with.

Heart disease is also known as cardiovascular disease, which refers to conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, chest pain or stroke. Other heart conditions, such as infections and conditions that affect your heart’s muscle, valves or beating rhythm also are considered forms of heart disease.

Heart disease risk factors include: • Your age: Aging increases your risk of damaged and narrowed arteries and weakened or thickened heart muscle, which contribute to heart disease. • Your gender: Men are generally at greater risk of heart disease. The risk for women increases after menopause. • Your family history: If you have a family history of heart disease your risk of coronary artery disease, especially if a parent developed it at an early age increases dramatically. • Smoking: Nicotine constricts your blood vessels, and carbon monoxide may damage blood vessel inner linings. Heart attacks are more common in smokers than in nonsmokers. • Poor diet: A high fat, salt and cholesterol diet can increase the development of heart disease. • High blood pressure: High blood pressure can result in hardening and thickening of your arteries, narrowing the vessels through which blood flows. • High blood cholesterol levels: High levels of cholesterol in your blood can increase the risk of formation of plaques and atherosclerosis. Plaques can be caused by a high level of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), known as “bad” cholesterol, or a low level of high-density lipoproteins (HDLs), known as “good” cholesterol. • Diabetes: Diabetes increases your risk of heart disease. Both conditions share similar risk factors, such as obesity and high blood pressure. • Obesity: Excess weight typically worsens other risk factors. • Physical inactivity: Lack of exercise is associated with many forms of heart disease and some of its other risk factors too. Read magazines like Shape, Women’s Health and Men’s Health for exercise tips.• High stress: Unrelieved stress in your life may damage your arteries as well as worsen other heart disease risk factors. • Poor hygiene: Over exposure to viral or bacterial infections can put you at risk of heart infections. Researchers also believe poor dental health may contribute to heart disease. Germs on your teeth and gums can travel from your mouth to your heart, potentially worsening coronary artery disease.

About the Author

For more health magazines, visit http://www.magazines.com/category/health-fitness

Jessica Vandelay is a freelance writer in New York City.

Bios Life is the only patented, natural fiber drink that maintains healthy cholesterol level in 4 distinct ways. Bios Life has no harmful side effects and is the only product on the market to have a proven effect on substantially raising HDL (good cholesterol) levels. Bios Life has been clinically tested by multiple leading research institutions, including the Cleveland Clinic, Stillwater Heart Center, and Stanford University. It has been published in medical journals like Metabolism and presented to the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association and the American Dietetic Association. Traditional cholesterol-reducing medications or “statin” drugs reduce cholesterol with only one or sometimes two mechanisms. Bios Life has none of the dangerous side-effects of statin drugs and offers more complete health benefits: Lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol an average of 31% and as much as to 52% Raises HDL (good) cholesterol levels an average of 29% and as much as 85% When taken with statin medications it reduces cholesterol levels an additional 20% Lowers triglycerides, which have also been linked to heart disease If you are interested in ordering Bios Life or becoming a distributor email me at dowskk@gmail.com or the person that direct you to this video.

Article by Kritnaphat N.

Every 34 seconds a person in the United States dies from heart disease. This identify that heart disease is significant health complication. Heart disease is a common word that refers to a variety of acute and chronic medical conditions that affect one or more of the components of the heart.

There are many risks factors can lead you to heart disease. One factor is increasing age. Over 83 percent of people who die of coronary heart disease are 65 or older. At older ages, women who have heart attacks are more likely than men are to die from them within a few weeks. If your parents have a heart disease, you are also more likely to develop to heart disease more than other people. Most people with a strong family history of heart disease have one or more other risk factors. According to a study, smokers are 4 times that of nonsmokers developing coronary heart disease.

High blood cholesterol and high blood pressure are the factors of hear disease too. As blood cholesterol rises, so does risk of coronary heart disease. When other risk factors are present, this risk increases even more. High blood pressure increases the heart’s workload, causing the heart to thicken and become stiffer. It also increases your risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and congestive heart failure.

Low in exercise is a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Regular exercise can help to prevent heart disease because it causes you to be obesity and overweight. Obesity and overweight people are more likely to develop heart disease and stroke even if they have no other risk factors. Excess weight increases the heart’s work. It also raises blood pressure and blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and lowers good cholesterol levels.

Heart disease can let you very suffer from its symptom and have to spend a lot of money for the heart disease treatment. So it is necessary to take care yourselves out off the risk to be heart disease.

Start with your diet, a heart friendly diet emphasizes foods low in fat, and high in complex carbohydrates. You have to avoid red meat, butter, cheese, ice cream, and other foods high in saturated fat, add fair amount of fish in your diet. Eat lean chicken and have fruits and vegetables daily. When you cook your meal, you ought to reduce or eliminate the foods that are processed or fried. Eat a high quality protein such as beans and soybeans because beans and soybeans are good for you from heart disease. Garlic is very good for prevent heart disease as well. It lowers cholesterol and triglycerides, reduces blood pressure, help prevent the clotting of blood that cause heart disease.

Regular exercise is essential for keep out of heart disease. Habitual suitable exercise can help to prevent heart disease. Anyway you should work out regularly and long term. Exercising can help control blood cholesterol, diabetes and obesity, as well as help lower blood pressure in some people. Many experts suggest that a 30 minute walk 3 to 5 times a week is sufficient to protect heart disease. On the other hand, if you are a heart patient or are over 40 and have not been exercising regularly, you should necessary to consult a doctor before beginning any exercise program. Yoga is an excellence exercise which you can opt to less the risk of heart disease as Yoga is stretching exercises can improve circulation to the heart.

Heart disease can impact on the sufferer’s life, modern medicine has developed several effective treatments for heart disease, ranging from drugs and lifestyle improvements right through to surgery. Of course, prevention is always better than cure, so living a healthy lifestyle, eating more fruits and vegetable, and exercise regularly can protect you from hear disease.

About the Author

Health Care

In dieting and nutrition, the way to help prevent arthritis is to make sure to get enough minerals and fatty acids and to eliminate sugar and inflammatory proteins. Eat plant-based foods to alkalize the body and prevent arthritis with tips from a dietitian and nutritionist in this free video on eating healthy. Expert: Rachael Richardson Contact: www.nutrolution.com Bio: Rachael Richardson is a registered dietitian and a Florida licensed nutritionist. Richardson has earned degrees from the University of North Florida and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Filmmaker: Paul Muller