Food thats good for a healthy heart – Diet
Food thats good for a healthy heart
Nitin Jain
Heres a conundrum: While experts agree that high cholesterol and blood pressure are crucial heart disease risk factors, many people who suffer chest pain or even heart attacks have levels that are perfectly normal. This puzzle has prompted researchers to scour the body for other cardiovascular villains. Several have emerged in recent years, but the one that stands out the most is inflammation.
The latest studies suggest that chronic inflammation of the lining of arteries is an important factor in the development of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. What causes this inflammation is not clear, but the good news is that 1 the advice that is given for lowering cholesterol, blood pressure and triglycerides also works fine for fighting inflammation; and 2 you can tackle all 4 culprits with the help of dietary weapons - http://www.vitaminsdiary.com/nutrients.htm In fact, you can plan your war against heart disease in your kitchen. Here is how:
1. Think like an artist when you choose fruits and vegetables: Eat those with the brightest colors. They have the most heart protective antioxidant pigments. A diet high in fruits and veggies also provides another important heart benefit, salicylic acid, which is the same anti-inflammatory compound created when aspirin is broken down in the body.
2. Increase food sources of omega-3 fatty acids which target high triglycerides in the blood. Good sources of omega-3s include fish such as sardines, mackerel; nuts and seeds; green leafy vegetables; grains like wheat, bajra; legumes like rajma, cowpea, and black gram.
3. Reduce the amount of meats you eat, especially red meats, and always select lean cuts. Use meat as a seasoning for vegetable dishes rather than the focal point of a meal.
4. Cut down on salt and instead use herbs and spices like ginger, garlic, turmeric and fenugreek liberally in your cooking; the first three are naturally anti-inflammatory and the last has soluble fibre which helps sweep away cholesterol from the arteries.
5. Shift to groundnut, mustard, rice bran and olive oils which contain monosaturated fatty acids that help lower bad LDL and maintain levels of good HDL cholesterol. Drastically limit margarine, vegetable shortening, butter and all products made with partially hydrogenated oils.
6. Fruits and vegetables, whole grains wheat, brown rice, oats, beans and pulses, are also great sources of soluble and insoluble fibre, which trap LDLs and usher them out of the body.
About The Author
Get helpful information on vitamins, amino acids, herbs, minerals and other nutrients for a healthier life - http://www.vitaminsdiary.com/.
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Whats In Your Dog Food – Diet
Whats In Your Dog Food
A. M. Wilmot
According to holistic veternarian Dr. Jane Bicks, the maximum life span of dogs is estimated to be around 25 to 30 years, yet the average dog generally lives no longer than about 13 to 14 years.
She says that this deficit is due largely to poor nutrition.
For example, canned food is about 75 to 78 percent moisture, which leaves very little room for nutrition.
In addition to containing what is generally considered the bottom of the barrel ingredients in terms of nutritional density, most conventional dog food products contain especially large amounts of sodium to make them palatable, as well as
dairy, by-products, chemical preservatives, artificial colors and other potentially harmful ingredients. The carbohydrate ratio is too high in some dog food brands as well, eventually leading to obesity, which is increasingly becoming a serious problem with dogs.
In fact, obesity is one of the greatest health concerns facing our dogs; it can cause unnecessary suffering and a shortened lifespan
Renowned research scientist Dr. Barry Sears believes that dog food should have about the same 30-30-40 ratio as the human Zone diet. This means a relatively small amount of carbohydrates. Not only do many dog food brands have a particulary large amount of carbohydrates, they are mostly grain based, which are exactly the ones the Zone diet tries to minimize.
Another problem, according to the USDA Agricultural service, is that mites often get into dog food pellets, which can cause a number of problems such as disease. They recommend keeping dog food cool and dry, and vacuuming in the places where the food is stored the food is stored a least once a week. In addition keep the are around the dish where the dog food is served clean.
Also, do not leave any dog food in your pets bowl on warm, humid days.
It should be noted that harder working dogs require more protein and fat in their diet to maintain stamina and good body form. A dog food that is complete and balanced and includes at least 26 percent protein and 1650 kilocalories of metabolizable energy per pound is ideal. During the seasons when dogs are not working, their energy requirements decrease. Feed less of the high calorie
food or change to a less nutrient-dense dog food.
Dr. Jane Bicks has been honored on many occasions by the veternary profession and is the author of several books inlcluding Thirty days to a healthier, happier dog and Dr. Janes Natural guide to a healthier, happier dog. She has been involved in many advisory boards including Canine Companions for independence and has served as the President of the Veterinary Medical association of New York City.
To find out more about her holistic food and other dog food nutrition facts, go to http://www.dog-food-nutrition.com/
About The Author
A. M. Wilmot is an author and researcher in the fields of human and pet health. For more info. go to http://www.dog-food-nutrition.com/
Have Diabetes, But Enjoy Quality Food Try Diabetic Recipes! – Diet
Have Diabetes, But Enjoy Quality Food Try Diabetic Recipes!
Mike Yeager
Having diabetes certainly limits some of the food you can eat, but with the right diabetic recipes you can still enjoy fine food. Sometimes, it is hard to know what foods are safe for you to eat. For your safety, you and your dietitian should work together to design a meal plan thats right for you and includes foods that you enjoy. A diabetes diet meal plan is a guide that tells you how much and what kinds of food you can choose to eat at meals and snack times. A good meal plan should fit in with your schedule and eating habits. Keep in mind that while many diabetic recipes are fairly simple and fast to make, some diabetic recipes may be more complex and take longer. The right meal plan will also help keep your weight where it should be. It is important to gather the right diabetic supplies when planning your diabetic recipes. Whether you need to lose weight, gain weight, or stay where you are, your diabetic recipes will be sure to help.
Some tips on finding tasty Diabetic Recipes.
Fortunately, there is almost certainly to be a diabetic recipe of your favorite food. For example, because of the high sugar content of most desserts, many diabetics felt that they would have to give them up. However, there are many diabetic recipes for desserts that will be safe for people with diabetes to eat. There are also many diabetic safe breads, salads, sandwiches, appetizers, and any other food category you can think of. If you have diabetes and don