Tips On Lowering Cholesterol
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I’m submitting a series of cholesterol-fighting tips.
I hope these little tips will help you and those who follow you. Enjoy!
Here are a few, quick definitions:
HDL
· HDL’s, or High Density Lipoproteins, are what’s known as “good cholesterol.” A HDL attaches itself to cholesterol and escorts it through your liver and out your body.
LDL
· LDL’s, or Low Density Lipoproteins, are the “bad cholesterol” that we don’t want in our bodies. It’s the LDL’s that clog our arteries and can cause heart disease.
Finding a good balance between HDL’s and LDL’s is very important.
Here’s what they should be:
· HDL Desirable: Above 45
· HDL Borderline: 35-45
· HDL Undesirable: Below 35
· LDL Desirable: Below 130
· LDL Borderline: 130-160
· LDL Undesirable: Above 160
(More tips to follow in future posts!)
Your metabolic rate, or your “metabolism,” is the rate that your body makes and consumes energy in order to support your life and vitality.
Someone with a high metabolism will burn more energy (calories) than someone with a slower metabolism will. Those who are overweight struggle to find ways to burn more calories. The factors that determine weight gain and weight loss are:
- How many calories you consume
- What kind of food you eat (100 calories from fatty foods are harder to burn than 100 calories from complex carbohydrates, for example)
- How many calories your body burns
- Your age
- Your genetic blueprint, which determines what your personal, “normal” metabolic rate is
Fortunately there are some specific things that you can do to rev up your metabolism a bit. Some of these tips may surprise you!
1. Obviously, exercise is critical for your body’s health. If you gain muscle through your exercise routine, this impacts your metabolism. You can gain this good muscle mass by having a resistance exercise routine 2 – 3 times a week. Nonresistance Read More→
Of the many factors that contribute to gaining belly fat, there is one kind of food that is a dietary nightmare that you should be aware of. I’m not counting foods that are rich in fat. It’s common knowledge that the body doesn’t metabolize fatty foods very well.
As a 
dieter, you no doubt know the fact that when you consume more calories than your body burns, eventually you will gain weight. What you may not know is that calories from some carbohydrates more readily end up as fat than others. Read More→
Swine Flu Protection: Should YOU Get Vaccinated?
By · CommentsThe swine flu virus, also known as the H1N1 virus, is not a new mutation. It has been among us before. It re-emerged in 1976, for example. If you were alive then, you may have been exposed to it. If so, then today your body may have immunity against it. This is one reason why today’s children are more vulnerable to this virus than middle-aged adults.
Children and seniors are both encouraged by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) to get an immunization shot. Those who were not exposed in 1976 to the H1N1 virus, who are seniors today, may not be able to survive the swine flu if they get it. In addition to children and seniors, the CDC also recommends the immunization shot for pregnant women, parents and caretakers of young children, and all health care workers.
Please be aware that the CDC is primarily concerned with Read More→
Extreme Dieting: A Recipe For Disaster
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Ever wonder why some people have a harder time than others when it comes to losing unnecessary weight?
I have a sister who is in her 40’s. She can eat all day and stay slim. How can she get away with this? Two words: high metabolism.
It is your thyroid gland that determines much of your metabolism. Anything causing this gland to malfunction may drastically affect your body’s ability to lose or gain weight. A condition called results from an overactive thyroid. If your thyroid is overactive, your metabolism is fast, and your body burns calories quickly and easily.hyperthyroidism
Hypothyroidism is the opposite. This condition causes your metabolism to work slower than it should. If your metabolism is slow, it seems like every calorie you eat turns into a fat cell. Read More→
You know the feeling. It’s hard to breathe through your nose. Your face hurts. You have a fever. Your breath stinks (or so you are told). You feel tenderness or pain in your eyes, your nose, cheeks or forehead. Your throat is sore. Unfortunately for you, you may have sinusitis (sinus infection.)
What causes your sinuses to become infected?
These infections are normally the result of viral influenza, the common cold. Colds cause your nasal passages to become congested, blocking the drainage. Read More→
10 Tips To Help You Avoid Getting Swine Flu
By · CommentsThe H1N1 virus, dubbed “swine flu,” is a dangerous virus especially for young children and for seniors. If you don’t want to get a flu shot, there are 10 simple and natural things you can do to beef up your immune system and to avoid getting the flu.
1) Eat food that has probiotics. Probiotics are the kind of bacteria contained in yogurt. These bacteria are good bacteria. Not only do they help your digestive system, but they also boost your immune system.
2) Make sure you are getting enough vitamin D, another powerful immune system booster. Read More→
When you are way out of shape, taking the first step toward better health can seem overwhelming. The finish line seems so far away, it’s discouraging to think about beginning. A wise man once said, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step”.
But what is that step?
May I suggest walking? If you get into a regular routine of taking a walk every day, or 3 – 4 times a week, you will do a lot for bettering your health. Start off with just 20 minute walks for one week. Each week following, add 5 minutes to your walk, until you are walking 1 hr a day on a regular basis. Read More→
The Atkins Diet and How It Works
By · CommentsThe Atkins diet really works, but is it a safe way to lose weight? Learn the facts about this dieting method and find out if it is right for you.
The Adkins Diet, AKA the low carb diet, was created and named after Dr. Robert Atkins. It really is an ingenious way to shed pounds fast. There is no question that it works. The real question is, Read More→
Emphysema and Cigarette Smoke
By · CommentsNot everyone who has emphysema got it from smoking cigarettes. And not every cigarette smoker will develop emphysema. But if you do smoke, you make yourself very vulnerable to this condition.
My dad hated the fact that I smoked cigarettes. At the time I was young and foolish, and I didn’t know anything about emphysema. His story about it is what eventually led me to quit smoking. My dad worked in an auto plant, along with this other guy who was a smoker. He told me how this guy was always “out of breath.” Even though he wasn’t doing anything physically strenuous, he breathed heavy Read More→