Coconut oil has a pleasant taste, does not go rancid even after a year like other oils and has health benefits instead of health detriments. Civilizations consuming coconut oil without the trans fat oils are healthier, have less colon problems, less cancer, do not battle weight loss and have less heart disease.

Coconut oil has antioxidant properties due to the lack of oxidation of the oil in the body thereby reducing the need to supplement Vitamin E that is normally used up in the oxidation process. The general studies indicate that regular consumption of coconut oil reduces cholesterol to a normal level by converting cholesterol into pregnenolone.

Ever since trans fat became a dirty food, we have looked for replacement oils that will deliver our favorite “bad” food to the table without sacrificing the good taste. It has been established that our best bet to stay healthy is to eat healthy. Eating healthy includes eliminating harmful oils and supplementing our diet with foods that includes basic building block nutrients that have eroded from our farms and gardens.

The trans fats stay in the bloodstream and eventually collect as fat in the vessels and body. Coconut oil goes straight to the liver and is converted to energy. This good oil speeds up your bodys metabolic rate, causes you to burn calories and in this manner you will loose weight.

Coconut oil has a laundry list of healthy benefits. Using coconut oil as a supplement, 3-4 tablespoonfuls a day, produces sufficient lauric acid. Lauric acid produces monolaurin. Monolaurin is a natural antiviral that kills viruses. This is a huge support to the immune system.

Cooking with coconut oil will eliminate harmful fatty chains that manifests themselves as trans fatty acids in the body. If you are reducing trans fat in your body you also raise HDL good cholesterol levels and lower LDL bad cholesterol levels in your bloodstream.

The medicinal use worldwide of coconut oil includes supplement to prevent osteoporosis, sore throat, kidney stone dissolving, reduce swelling and for weight loss.

The results are clear, nutritionists and dietitians agree that coconut oil is one of the healthiest supplements you can consume. Civilizations that have used coconut oil are generally healthier and do not have the many western nation diseases such as heart disease, blood pressure issues, blood sugar, obesity and diabetes.

Coconut oil can be used for cooking and frying. Battle weight loss the natural way. Replace all oil such as butter, margarine, vegetable oil or shortening with coconut oil. Warmed to 76 degrees, coconut is liquid and can be used in salad dressing. You can also use it as a skin lotion. It is liquid on contact to the skin.

It may be a while before it is time to make another new years resolution. Dont wait, for your healths sake, make a change now that will change the quality of your life of tomorrow.

Related posts:

1. 7 Reasons Why You Should Be Using Coconut Oil
2. Is Saturated Fat In Coconut Good For Your Heart Health?
3. Diet Suggestions For Lowering Cholesterol Levels

“Where’s the Beef?”

“Where’s the Beef?” soon became a catchphrase in the arena of verbal combat. I still chuckle whenever I think back to an infamous moment during the 1984 presidential primaries. Walter Mondale separated himself from underdog Colorado Senator Gary Hart with a little humor.

Mondale borrowed the phrase “Where’s the Beef?” to criticize Harts lack of depth in policy statements. Everyone knew exactly what he meant. Those three powerful words cut swiftly and poignantly to the proverbial chase! Suddenly, Harts pompous pontifications were stripped of their aurora of omniscient omnipotence and simultaneously exposed as frivolous fluff. Reminiscent of the scene from The Wizard of Oz, the curtains parted and the spotlight shifted to an emperor who had no clothes.

Okay, so Mondale didn’t beat Reagan. But that’s another story.

My point is and I do have one, although our supermarket shelves are stocked with a wide array of fancy foodstuffs in pretty packages, and even though your gleeful kiddies may make you feel like parent-of-the-month as you reward their consumption of Happy Meals with cool cartoon figurines, remember All that glitters ain’t gold! Unless consumers become vigilantly alert, the food industry will continue to crank out an endless entourage of pre-packaged, foodless foods.

Does A Foodless Food Syndrome Really Exist?

My guess is, most people aren’t fully persuaded that a foodless food syndrome really exists. Or if this so-called syndrome does exist, it can’t possibly be all that serious, right? Granted, many people continuously feel sick and tired, but that’s natural, right? Though many people are sick and tired, most are simply not sick and tired of being sick and tired.

Furthermore, we fail to connect the dots. Sure, we’ve heard the reports. But Sixty percent of Americans are overweight! is no longer a newsflash. Complacent to reality, we tempt fate and continue to Super-size our fries. Sure, seventeen million Americans suffer from diabetes, but another gulp of soda pop couldn’t hurt. And so what if over 40 percent of the US population will die of a heart attack? I’m not giving up my cholesterol-rich diet. Forget about the fact that there is now irrefutable evidence that high cholesterol levels are associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease. Forget about the fact that there is a direct relationship established between high cholesterol levels and high rates of heart attacks. Surely it’s just a coincidence that the high US death toll from heart failure corresponds with the high cholesterol level in The United States.

On the flip side of the coin, is it just a coincident that populations with much lower cholesterol levels also have much lower death tolls? Consider rural China, where the average cholesterol level is almost half that of the American cholesterol level. Less than five percent of their population dies from heart attacks. Hmm. Forty percent verses five percent is a HUMONGOUS difference, dont you think? Oh well, maybe that too is just a coincidence.

And so what if The World Health Organization tells us yet another time that cancer is a leading cause of death? Who cares if an estimated 7.6 million people died of cancer in 2005? Its no longer shocking to learn that 84 million people will die in the next 10 years if action is not taken. Besides, what, in bloody blazes, does all this have to do with poor nutrition?

Everything. Numerous experts echo the alarm of the American Cancer Society, “Eating right, being active, and maintaining a healthy weight are important ways to reduce your risk of cancer – as well as heart disease and diabetes.”

The Problem with Processed Food

So why am I picking on the processed food industry? Here’s the problem in a nutshell.

First, we produce way more food than what is necessary for our consumption, which creates a surplus. So this surplus food needs to be highly refined and processed, otherwise it will spoil. During this process, essential vitamins and minerals are annihilated. The result is, foodless foods are being produced in massive quantities. These food products retain most of their calories, but they have little, if any, nutritional value.

These foodless foods do not nutritionally support your body properly to allow for the normal repair and growth of your tissues and cells. In fact, refined foods are so depleted that the government has laws which require artificial vitamins and minerals to be added in order to meet minimum standards. The very reason why foods are labeled “enriched” or “fortified” is because their natural nutrients have been robbed! As a consequence, over sixty percent of the typical American diet consists of refined foods and snacks.

The Importance of A Healthy Diet and Diet Supplementation

So what’s the solution?

The first step is to eat a healthy diet consisting largely of raw fruits and vegetables, preferably organic. Avoid refined sugar and processed bread. Instead, substitute natural sweeteners like honey. Also, eat whole-grain bread.

But lets face it were not living in the Garden of Eden. Life is a rat race and were in the fast lane. It can be cumbersome with our fast-paced lifestyles to get all the essential vitamins and minerals we need by relying on our diets alone. That’s why it is critically important to supplement your diet with a great high-quality All-Natural Multi-Vitamin made from Whole-Food sources. Unlike cheap synthetics, Whole-Food Vitamins are the greatest in the world when it comes to nutritionally supporting your body. Plus, they are much better utilized and absorbed by your bodys individual cells.

Theres the Beef!

DISCLAIMER The opinions expressed herein are my own, although they have been compiled over the years from my research through books and articles. My opinions should not be considered as medical advice to treat or cure any diseases or illnesses. For these matters, consult a qualified professional.

For more detailed information, please visit our website at

Related posts:

1. Aspergers Syndrome- Is There Real Cure For It?
2. Food And Vitamin Loss Over Time
3. Information On Cholesterol

Statins Statins are one of the more commonly perscribed medications to reduce cholesterol. These drugs inhibits the enzyme which the liver uses to produce cholesterol, thereby slowing the production of cholesterol in the body. People at risk for developing the plaques which line the arteries, or artherosclerosis, are usually given this medication. Statins not only slow the growth of plaques, but they also can shrink existing plaques and actually make them less likely to break apart, causing stroke or heart attack. Risk factors for artherosclerosis are

High cholesterol levels;
Diabetes;
A family history of early-age heart attack or heart disease;
Advancing age.

There are several statins that are commonly perscribed. These medications have many differences, including their cholesterol-blocking ability, their side-effects, how they interact with other drugs, and their ability to reduce heart attack and stroke. Some common statins which are frequently perscribed include

Atorvastatin Lipitor;
Rosuvastatin Crestor;
Fluvastatin Lescol;
Simvastatin Zocor;
Lovastatin Mevacor;
Pravastatin Pravachol.

Most side-effects of the statins are mild, like nausea and vomiting, but one major side-effect that is very rare, is rhabdomyolysis, which can cause muscle damage and eventually kidney failure. Any muscle or joint pain experienced while taking a statin should be reported immediately to your doctor.

Resins Resins are another cholesterol-lowering medication. They bind with cholesterol-containing bile acids in the intestines and are then excreted. Resins actually reduce LDL cholesterol and are often perscribed with statins for a combined effect of lowered LDL cholesterol. Currently perscribed resins include

Cholestyramine Questran;
Colestipol Colestid;
Colesevelam WelChol.

Resins have few side-effects gas, bloating, nausea and constipation; however, they may interfer with the absorption of other medications taken at the same time.

Nicotinic Acid Nicotinic acid niacin is a common B vitamin, which, given in therapeutic doses, reduces LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. An over-the-counter niacin tablet as a dietary supplement would not produce the same effect, and could result in serious side-effects. Common trade names are

Niacin;
Niacor;
Slo-Niacin.

Nicotinic acid interacts with other medications, including blood pressure medication, and your doctor should be consulted.

Gemfibrozil Lopid — Gemfibrozil reduces triglycerides and increases HDL cholesterol, the good cholesterol, in the blood. It interacts with other medications, such as Coumidin, which could lead to increased bleeding, and glyburide, which could cause low blood sugar. The most serious, but rare, side-effect is rabdomyolysis, which could lead to kidney failure. Your doctor should be consulted and your current medications discussed before beginning therapy on gemfibrozil.

Clofibrate Atromid-S — Clofibrate also acts by reducing LDL cholesterol levels; however, because of its many side-effects, it is usually perscribed only if all other methods of reducing cholesterol are ineffective. All current medications, including over-the-counter drugs, should be discussed with your doctor before using clofibrate.

Ursodiol Actigall, Urso Ursodiol is made by the liver and reduces the production of cholesterol by the liver and absorption of cholesterol in the intestines. Side-effects are GI related, including nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation; and rash and back pain. Other medications may interfer with its function, reducing its effectiveness.

There are many more medications, including dietary supplements and over-the-counter medications that can help in reducing cholesterol levels. Before taking any medications, discuss them with your doctor and let your doctor know what medications you’re taking already, to decide which may be best for you.

Related posts:

1. High Cholesterol Level Risk Factors, Treatment Options
2. Cholesterol What Is It and Are You At Risk?
3. Lipitor Now available online to lower your cholesterol levels

His secret? Here is his “recipe” for bringing his cholesterol down

Cholesterol Lowering Program courtesy of Joe

Add 375 mg. of Niacin to your diet through foods or supplements
Take 4-6 tablespoons of psyllium each day
Add lecithin Pieternel..dosage?
A multivitamin to compensate for the minerals and vitamins that bond to the toxins that the psyllium sweeps out.
Monitor your cholesterol regularly and ask your doctor for the ratio about good and bad cholesterol.

We need 15 mg. of niacin a day to keep our heart healthy and gain other health benefits as well. The best way to do this is with the following niacin-rich foods beef liver, brewer’s yeast, broccoli, carrots, cheese, corn flour, dandelion greens, dates, eggs, fish, milk, peanuts, pork, potatoes, tomatoes, wheat germ, and whole wheat products.

Herbs containing niacin are Alfa alfa, burdock root, catnip, cayenne, chamomile, chickweed, eyebright, fennel seed, hops, licorice, mullein, nettle, oat straw, parsley, peppermint, raspberry leaf, red clover, rose hips, slippery elm and yellow dock. Research shows that 15 mg. of niacin improves mental functioning as well.

Niacin is Vitamin B3, which is necessary for proper circulation, for the nervous system and the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. It helps the digestive system, improves circulation, and can be helpful in mental illnesses. It also enhances the memory and plays a role in the synthesis of sex hormones.

Being Careful
A “niacin flush” may occur after the intake of niacin supplements. A rash may appear on the skin, usually lasting a few minutes, which is in most cases harmless. Dosages over 500 mg.day may cause liver damage if taken for a prolonged period of time. People with high blood pressure and ulcers should be closely supervised by a physician when taking niacin.

A heart quote from J Krisnamurti
The moment you have in your heart this extra ordinairy thing called love and feel the depth, the delight, the ecstacy of it, you will discover that for you the world is transformed.

Warmly, Pieternel van Giersbergen.

Related posts:

1. Common Medications To Treat High Cholesterol
2. High Cholesterol Level Risk Factors, Treatment Options
3. Cholesterol What Is It and Are You At Risk?

Cholesterol is a type of fat lipid made by the body. About 80 of cholesterol is made by the body, the other 20 comes from the diet. Cholesterol is a building block for cell membranes. Our body uses cholesterol to produce many hormones e.g., progesterone, estrogen, testosterone, vitamin D, and the bile acids that help to digest fat.

Many foods contain cholesterol and high intake of these foods can increase the level of cholesterol in the blood. Having too much cholesterol in the blood is not a disease in itself, but high cholesterol hypercholesterolemia can cause the formation and accumulation of plaque deposits in the arteries. Plaque is composed of cholesterol, other fatty substances, fibrous tissue, and calcium. When it builds up in the arteries, it results in the hardening and narrowing of the arteries atherosclerosis in the major vascular systems.

Narrowing of the arteries around the heart coronary heart disease can prevent the heart from getting as much oxygen-rich blood as it needs, increasing the risk of a heart attack. Decreased blood flow to the brain can cause a stroke, and less blood flowing to the lower limbs may result in exercise-related pain or even gangrene.

Having a high cholesterol level does not cause symptoms and does not make you feel sick. If there is a huge excess, some people develop soft, yellowish skin growths called xanthomas, usually in the area near the eyes. Most people find out they have high cholesterol when they have their blood cholesterol measured as part of a medical check-up.

Types of Cholesterol

Cholesterol is not soluble in water and doesn’t mix easily with blood. In order to be able to travel in the bloodstream, the cholesterol made in the liver is combined with protein and other substances. This cholesterol-protein package is called a lipoprotein. Lipoprotein then carries the cholesterol through the bloodstream.

Lipoproteins can be high density HDL, low density LDL or very low density VLDL, depending on how much protein there is in relation to fat.

LDL low density lipoprotein

Low-density lipoprotein LDL is called the “bad” cholesterol. About 70 of cholesterol is transported as LDL. This is mostly fat and not much protein. LDL causes cholesterol to be deposited in the arteries. High levels of LDL are associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease.

HDL high density lipoprotein

High-density lipoprotein HDL is called the “good” cholesterol. It carries cholesterol from the body’s tissues back to the liver. About 20 of cholesterol is transported as HDL, which is mostly protein and not much fat. HDL cholesterol may help protect against atherosclerosis by preventing cholesterol from depositing on arterial walls as it circulates in the bloodstream.

Risks factors

There are several factors that may contribute to high cholesterol level in the blood

Genetic predisposition. People are at a higher risk of high cholesterol if they have a direct male relative aged under 55 or female relative aged under 65 affected by coronary heart disease.
Diet high in saturated fat. Saturated fat and cholesterol come from animal foods such as beef, pork, veal, milk, eggs, butter, and cheese.
Sedentary lifestyle. Lack of exercise may increase LDL cholesterol and decrease HDL cholesterol. Regular physical activity may lower triglycerides and raise HDL cholesterol levels.
Overweight. Excess weight may modestly increase your LDL bad cholesterol level.
Age and sex. Cholesterol generally rises slightly with increasing age, and men are more likely to be affected than women.
Drinking alcohol excessively. Drinking too much alcohol can damage the liver and heart muscle.
Diabetes. Diabetes is a significant risk factor for all cardiovascular diseases.
Smoking. This applies not only if you smoke, but also if you live or work every day with people who smoke.

Treatment

Lifestyle changes such as changing diet, managing weight, increasing exercise, and quitting smoking are the first steps to improving blood levels of cholesterol. If these changes are not enough, your physician might recommend cholesterol-lowering prescription medication.

Medications to improve blood cholesterol levels include

Statins – are the most widely used, and also the most powerful medications for lowering LDL cholesterol. They work by reducing the production of cholesterol in the liver. Statins not only lower blood LDL cholesterol levels, they also modestly increase HDL cholesterol levels and modestly decrease triglyceride levels. These medications are usually well tolerated, have few side effects, and are taken once or twice a day. Currently, six statin drugs are available atorvastatin Lipitor, fluvastatin Lescol, lovastatin Mevacor, pravastatin Pravachol, simvastatin Zocor, and rosuvastatin Crestor.
Bile acid sequestrants – these drugs bind with cholesterol-containing bile acids in the intestines and are then eliminated in the stool. They typically lower cholesterol by 10 to 20. Small doses of sequestrants can produce useful reductions in LDL cholesterol. Cholestyramine Questran, Questran Light, colestipol Colestid, and colesevelam WelChol are the 3 main bile acid sequestrants currently available. Bile acid resins are mainly used in young adults with hypercholesterolemia or in combination with another cholesterol-lowering medication.
Cholesterol absorption inhibitors – are a new class of cholesterol lowering agents approved in 2002. Drugs in this class work to lower blood cholesterol levels by absorbing excess cholesterol in the intestines and thus blocking cholesterol’s entry into the bloodstream. Ezetimibe Zetia is the first drug in this class. Ezetimibe reduces LDL cholesterol by 18-20. It is probably most useful in people who cannot take statins or as an additional drug for people who take statins but who notice side effects when the statin dose is increased. Adding ezetimibe to a statin is equivalent to doubling or tripling the statin dose.
Nicotinic acid or niacin – this water-soluble B vitamin improves all lipoproteins when given in doses well above the vitamin requirement. Nicotinic acid lowers total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, while raising HDL cholesterol levels. Niacin also widens blood vessels, making flushing and hot flashes frequent side effects.
Fibrates – these cholesterol-lowering drugs are primarily effective in lowering triglycerides and, to a lesser extent, increasing HDL cholesterol levels. These drugs include fenofibrate Tricor and gemfibrozil Lopid.

Related posts:

1. Cholesterol What Is It and Are You At Risk?
2. The Malign Effects of High Cholesterol
3. Common Medications To Treat High Cholesterol

There are many factors that facilitate the accumulation of cholesterol inside the bloodstream. Unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle, smoking and alcohol abuse all contribute to cholesterol accumulation in the organism. However, age, gender and genetic heritage are also major factors that determine either overproduction or inappropriate elimination of blood cholesterol.

High cholesterol levels are usually characteristic to people with ages over 50. Women generally have lower blood cholesterol levels than men. However, post-menopausal women have higher blood cholesterol levels than young men. Genetic heritage also affects blood cholesterol levels and people with a family history of cardio-vascular diseases usually have high cholesterol and are very exposed to developing heart disease.

Cholesterol is needed inside the organism in very small quantities. In excess, the substance can cause a lot of damage to arteries, tissues and body organs, perturbing normal blood circulation. By clogging the coronary arteries, cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease. Cholesterol is a viscous substance produced by the liver. This substance has a very important role in synthesizing vitamin D. Cholesterol is also required for producing hormones testosterone and estrogen and bile salts that contribute to the digestion of fat.

The best thing to do when you have high cholesterol is to keep a good diet. Although diet alone cant always overcome cholesterol problems, it can considerably reduce bad cholesterol. Bad cholesterol low-density lipoprotein is very harmful for the body and it is the major factor of risk in heart disease. By following a diet rich in complex carbohydrates, natural fibers and unsaturated fat you can normalize blood cholesterol levels. In order to reduce blood cholesterol levels, you should avoid foods that are rich in saturated fat animal products and include more vegetables and fruits in your diet. Fresh fruits are rich in vitamins, minerals and fibers that can help in decongesting the arteries filled with cholesterol deposits.

You should avoid smoking and alcohol, as they are known to facilitate the accumulation of cholesterol inside the body. People with high cholesterol levels should exercise regularly and lose extra pounds, as obesity is also a factor of risk in heart disease. High cholesterol levels are reversible and if nothing seems to be working for you, there are medical treatments that can improve your condition.

Related posts:

1. High Cholesterol Level Risk Factors, Treatment Options
2. Cholesterol What Is It and Are You At Risk?
3. The Good, The Bad And The Truth About Cholesterol

What people do not know though is that there are two kinds of cholesterol and one kind is actually beneficial to the body. In fact, it is one of the essential substances that our bodies need to maintain balance.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a substance that can be found in fats or in lipids. Lipids are important because it is used to form cell membrane, used to balance hormones and help in other bodily functions. Too much cholesterol though tends to clog the bloodstream, eventually leading to heart disease. And because cholesterol cannot easily dissolved, only transported, the risk of build-up is great. As mentioned earlier, there two kinds of cholesterol, the LDL and the HDL cholesterol.

The bad cholesterol

The LDL cholesterol is frequently referred to as the “bad cholesterol” because too much of these can accumulate in the walls of the arteries and clog the blood stream that leads to the heart and the brain. This build up, called atherosclerosis, which can eventually lead to a heart attack or a stroke brain attack depending on where the arteries are leading to.

High LDL increases the risk for heart disease so it important that it is kept at normal range, which is below 100 mgdL.

The good cholesterol

The HDL cholesterol on the other hand is referred to as the good cholesterol as high levels seem to protect a person from heart disease and hear attacks. According to some experts, instead of staying at the arteries like the LDL, HDL leaves the arteries and instead goes to the liver. In contrast with LDL levels, a low HDL increases the risk for heart attack. Levels of HDL should not be below 40 mgdL for men and 50 mgdL for women. Regular exercise has been found to increase the levels of HDL.

Cholesterol in food

Foods that come from animals contain cholesterol levels. Just how much depends on the kind of animal food. vegetables however do not contain any cholesterol.

In addition to the cholesterol that we get from food, the body is also capable of producing its own cholesterol. This creates a problem in overproduction since we also take in cholesterol through the foods that we eat. Average individuals or those who do not have any heart problems should only take in about 300 milligrams.
For people who are already at risk for coronary heart disease and heart attack, physicians recommend the reduction in the intake of cholesterol. They should only take in less than 200 milligrams. Everyone is also advised to keep their consumption of saturated fats to a minimum, as these can significantly help in lowering the risk for heart disease.

People, who have severe high blood pressure, are however advised to take in no more than six ounces of lean meat and fish daily. They should also choose the products thatv they buy and ensure that they are fat free or low-fat.

Related posts:

1. Cholesterol What Is It and Are You At Risk?
2. Information On Cholesterol
3. The Malign Effects of High Cholesterol

Cholesterol in the human body comes from two major sources. About three-quarters of the bodys total cholesterol is produced within the body, while only one-quarter comes from cholesterol in food.

Higher concentrations of cholesterol are present in body tissues which have more densely packed membranes i.e. the liver, spinal cord, brain, atheroma, adrenal glands and reproductive organs.

The liver is the most important site of cholesterol biosynthesis. It is secreted from the liver in the form of an acidic secretion known as bile.

Diets rich in animal fats, meat, poultry, fish, oils, egg yolks and dairy products are a rich source of dietary cholesterol. Organ meats, such as liver and kidney, are extremely rich in cholesterol content, but foods of plant origin contain no cholesterol.

High cholesterol levels in the bloodstream can influence the pathogenesis of certain conditions. Recent studies have revealed that the abundance of protein complexes called lipoproteins, are responsible for the cholesterol build-up in the blood vessels.

Cholesterol gets attached to these lipoproteins. The high-density lipoprotein HDL carries cholesterol out of the bloodstream for excretion, while the low-density lipoprotein LDL carries it back into the system for use by various body cells.

LDL cholesterol is called bad cholesterol, because elevated levels of it are associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease. LDL deposits cholesterol on the artery walls which leads to the formation of a hard, thick substance called cholesterol plaque. Over time, cholesterol plaque causes thickening of the artery walls and narrowing of the arteries, a process called atherosclerosis.

The levels of both HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol may also determine risk for heart disease; however current medical opinion is that the ratio of HDL cholesterol to LDL cholesterol is much more important than the level of cholesterol.

Methods to control your cholesterol levels

Lower your consumption of foods containing saturated fats – fried fast foods, butter, cream, cheese, and fat on meat – to help reduce cholesterol. Add more plant foods to your diet vegetable oils, nuts, legumes, breads, cereal grains, fruits and vegetables. A low cholesterol diet, combined with regular exercise is the best way to lower cholesterol levels.

Medications can also help lower cholesterol levels. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, Statins, such as lovastatin Mevacor and atorvastatin Lipitor are the most effective and widely used medications to lower LDL cholesterol. Other medications include nicotinic acid niacin, fibrates such as gemfibrozil Lopid, resins such as cholestyramine Questran, and ezetimibe, Zetia. These medications should be taken after consulting the experts.

Related posts:

1. Information On Cholesterol
2. High Cholesterol Level Risk Factors, Treatment Options
3. The Good, The Bad And The Truth About Cholesterol

1. Don’t think diet, rather think about eating smarter.

2. Before attending a party, have a small high quality, nutritionally balanced meal. That way you will be less likely to be hungry and fill up on snack foods served with drinks.

3. While at a party, determine to hold your drink in your dominant hand all evening. This will make it a little less convenient to reach for food.

4. Think of one daily indulgence, rather than a ‘day of indulgence’.

5. Before attending a party resolve to snack only from fresh fruit and vegetable choices.

6. If you must have a taste of chips and other ‘dry’ snack foods, alternate with fresh vegetable crudits. It is quite difficult to mix the tastes, so you are likely to eat more slowly and eventually give up. When that happens stick to the fresh food choices.

7. Choose between an alcoholic beverage, a dessert or a ‘sinful’ main course, rather than indulging in all three. Rotate your choice when you have several events to attend.

8. Choose almonds, pecans and walnuts, eating individually and slowly. This way you can avoid handfuls of salted peanuts or cashews.

9. Alternate alcoholic drinks with a glass of sparkling mineral water with a dash of lime, or a vegetable juice dashed with a chili sauce.

c Kim Beardsmore

Related posts:

1. Snack Ideas For Kids That Won’t Wreck Mom’s Diet
2. Bust Through the Weight Loss Plateau!
3. Weight Loss Starts in Your Head!

Do you look at yourself and say, “I’m fat”, or “My hips are too big”? Many of us look in the mirror and immediately compare ourselves to those ‘perfect’ human specimens we see every single day on TV, in magazines and in the newspapers.

Often we talk to ourself and make excuses, “It’s my genes”, “I’m much too busy to get fit”, “I like myself this”, as a way of protecting yourself from the way we see ourselves now and the way we want to be.

If we were to be truly honest with ourselves most people actually want to lose a few pounds – if we only knew how.

The good news is you CAN achieve your desired body shape with the right thinking about yourself, an understanding of how to get optimal nutrition, healthy eating habits and how to incorporate activity into your lifestyle to keep your muscles toned.

But most important of all, you need a regular mental workout to keep your self-image in shape.

Self-image is closely connected to the success or failure of any goal you choose to seek after, but none more so that the goal to get yourself fit and healthy.

So how do you go about strengthening your self-image? Well fortunately your self-image, just like your muscles, will respond well to a regular work out. You can actually strengthen your self-image with a few daily exercises.

Exercise One – Self Examination

Start by compiling a list of all those negative thoughts your have about yourselfI’m undisciplined, I can’t manage my time, I let people down, I can’t succeed, I don’t exercise enough. You will need to decide before you start this process that you won’t get discouraged.these are things that you will admit to yourself but they most certainly don’t have to control your life.

Next, compile a second list including everything you LIKE about yourself. Keep going until this list is LONGER than the first list you compiled. You might include things such as, I am a good cook, I can make people laugh, I contribute to the soccer club, my daughter loves the way I decorate her room.

Then, take your ‘negatives’ list and turn it into your ‘potentials’ list. You do this by creating a positive self-image to every ‘negative’ you listed. Instead of “I can’t succeed”, write a counter belief, “I will succeed”.

Ceremonially throw out the ‘negatives’ list – you are saying goodbye forever! Burn them, trash them, destroy them.they are no longer going to be a part of your thinking about yourself.

Now, keep your list of potentials in a prominent place. On your refrigerator door, in your daily journal, or in a picture frame on your desk. Make sure you have them in front on your every single day so that you are reading them constantly and reprogramming your daily thoughts.

Exercise Two You Can Be What You Want to Be

Now that you have your list of potentials run your own visualisation stories so that you can ‘see’ yourself in a new light. For example, if your list of potential includes “I eat just the right portions”, visualise yourself with a moderate portion on your plate, and feeling completely satisfied at the conclusion of your meal.

Read through your list of potentials every day taking a few moments of personal quiet time to reflect strongly on your visualisations. Try starting your day first thing in the morning and finishing as the last thing at night with visualising yourself being the person on your list, and doing the things you want to do.

Exercise Three Keep a Journal of Your Daily Successes

Keep a record of all the positive changes in thoughts you have about yourself. We all have triumphs and ‘failures’. You must record and remind yourself of the positive changes because our human nature will replay the negatives – sometimes blowing them out of proportion. It’s important to nurture and celebrate the small steps you make every day.

Exercise Four Go Easy On Yourself – You Are Beautiful Work In Progress

Don’t listen to the criticismnot your own nor that of others! Remember you are the designer of your self-esteem, do not hand this over to other people. You are way too important to give this away. Protect your role as creator of your own self-image and do not, take on board negative criticisms. We all make mistakes, and mistakes can be used to help us learn. Do not criticise yourself for being human and making a mistake. The only last mistake in the one from which we never learn to grow.

Exercise Five Forget About The Past

The only moment you can live is the current one. You can’t live in the future and you most certainly shouldn’t live in the past.the challenge is to take charge of our thinking so that we think in the same time zone in which we live!

For example we may be tempted to think about yesterday’s failures”If only I hadn’t eaten second helpings”, “If only I didn’t reach for the chocolate cookies”. If we concentrate on the mistakes of yesterday this will our brains to replay our failures and reinforce them to us.

Yesterday is over, today is where you live.make sure that today you do NOT replay yesterday’s failures and make your resolve to change TODAY.

Exercise Six Resolve to Change Today

Just as you shouldn’t live in the past, you can’t live in the future. You can only live or change today. The oldest clich in the world is perhaps one of the greatest truisms of all’tomorrow NEVER comes!’

There is no better time than now. So, no matter what excuses you may have to wait to take those healthy steps you know you should take, none of them are valid. Do it now, do it today. Resolve to make a different in your own life before you go to sleep tonight.

Exercise Seven Write a Plan For your Life

This is your success plan. If you have not already done so it is time for you to create direction and purpose in your plans for yourself. Review your list of potentials and record next to each potential when you want to achieve this by.

Exercise Eight Carry Affirmation Cards About Yourself

This is one of the fastest tools for your success. You are what you think. Strengthen your self-image every day by reviewing your thoughts. One of the easiest ways to do this is to carry affirmation cards in your wallet and review regularly. Affirmation cards are short bursts of words in business card that prompt and remind your self-image of your intentions. An example might be

I can achieve anything that I put my mind to.

I will be satisfied with single helpings.

Try it, you have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain!

Exercise Nine Change Your Eating Habits

Now that you have set the groundwork in place, you are now ready to change your physical habits. You are ready to add a balanced nutritious diet, healthy eating habits, regular exercise and relaxation.

By using these nine exercises daily to change your thinking habits, you will be strengthening your self esteem and unlocking your internal power to make a change in your life. Before you can change lifelong eating habits, you must first change life long thinking habits. We are what we think. We can’t be something other than what we believe we can be!

So, do yourself a favour, liberate your self-image and then, see how much more effective your healthy living plan becomes!

Related posts:

1. Bust Through the Weight Loss Plateau!
2. The Dieters Survival Guide For Holiday Parties
3. Is Your Diet Risking Your Health?