Heart Health

Take Care of Your Heart Like You Take Care of Your Family

By Allie Moxley

There are things we do for those we love, whether it is a child or a pet: we feed them well, we walk them (if they are the four legged breed), and we make sure everything is running well. A healthy heart can be taken care of in the same way. "No more heart disease" can be a mantra that seems like an impossible feat, but when broken down, it can also be pretty simple: eat well, exercise, don't stress out, and ditch the (smoking) sticks.

A healthy lifestyle is one of the best ways you can ensure your heart health, but what does it mean to lead a healthy life. It starts with food and exercise, but also encompasses other healthy habits like knowing your heart related numbers and controlling diabetes if you have it.

When heading to the grocery store, clearly it is easier to buy canned and bagged, processed and precooked "food," but the real food is hanging out in the fruits and veggies section. It is easier than you think to cook fresh. For breakfast, ditch the eggs and bacon or the sugary cereals and instead try oatmeal with a spoonful of honey, cut up bananas, and a dollop of cinnamon. For dinner, try tossing together quinoa with corn, onions, tomatoes, and whatever other vegetable suits your fancy and let them simmer with a bay leaf, oregano, and a pinch of salt for 20 minutes and bam you have a soup. The American Heart Association helps in the important journey to no more heart disease by publishing recipes delicious as they are heart-healthy. Mushroom Quesadilla, Fudgy Chocolate Walnut Pie, Spicy Baked Pork Chops, and a delicious Banana Walnut Bread are just a few. Another simple tip, shop with lists and make lists from recipes that you will cook. Also, instead of white [insert product: sugar, bread, rice, pasta], buy it brown.

Exercise also doesn't need to be a headache. Instead of driving to the corner store, walk; instead of busing to the park on Saturday, bike. Make family outings on foot and teach your family that physical activity is a part of healthy lifestyle. Start with 30 minutes of activity, 5 days a week and build up as your schedule allows. There should always be time for health!

Other decisions that can help bring to fruition the mantra of "no more heart disease": stopping smoking and stopping overly stressing. Instead of fuming, start meditating, instead of lighting up, start knitting. Whatever it takes to prioritize your hearth health today will surely pay off tomorrow.

Alaska is home to an abundant variety of seafood, and offers some of the purest marine, freshwater, and upland habitats on the planet. From the clear crystal waters comes seafood that is delicious and healthy. Alaskan seafood is low in fat but big on flavor and Omega-3 oils. You can study thousands of pages of nutritional research. Or, simply observe the amazing health and longevity of people in countries where seafood is the most important part of their diet. Either way, Alaska seafood is as healthy as it is delicious. Are you are looking for a meal that is low in saturated fat, filled with nutrients and packed with good heart healthy Omega-3s oils? Then you should start with Alaska Seafood. http://www.alaskaseafood.org Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Allie_Moxley

Heart Health

High Cholesterol Information
By Jason Hunter

The heart is a very impressive organ; it beats an average of one hundred thousand times a day. There is two to three ounces of blood that flows through your vascular system with every beat. The vascular system consists of some sixty thousand miles of arteries, veins and capillaries.

However, no matter how impressive the heart is, its efforts will not do much good if the great vascular highway is clogged up. Unfortunately, millions of people have a build-up of cholesterol and other fatty substances in the arteries that hamper the flow of blood and promote the development of blood clots. Over a long period, it can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and other diseases of the vascular system.

Cholesterol itself is not harmful. Actually, this waxy substance plays a big role in our health and well-being. The body produces cholesterol daily to manufacture cell membranes, bile acids, a range of sex hormones, and vitamin D. Cholesterol only becomes a problem when it rises to unhealthy levels in the blood.

There are two types of cholesterol:

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is the dangerous one. When high levels of LDL are present in the blood, it promotes the development of a dense, fatty layer called plaque on the artery walls. Over the years, the plaque gets thicker and makes it harder for blood to flow through the arteries. Plaque is also a promoter of blood clots that can slow or stop the flow of blood. Try to keep your LDL level below 100.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is the good one. It is responsible for removing the excess LDL from the blood and transferring it to the liver for discarding. Try to keep HDL above 40.

To avoid trouble, do your best to keep your total cholesterol level, which is the sum of HDL, LDL, and other blood fats, below 200.

Seeking professional care

As you know, uncontrolled high cholesterol can be a serious health problem. If possible, try to have your cholesterol tested at least every six months. If your total cholesterol reading is above 200, your physician may want to test you every three months, while he or she works with you to try to get it within a healthier range.

Unfortunately, many doctors put their patients on cholesterol lowering medications before trying to lower the numbers through natural means. You can have success with a combination of diet, nutritional supplements and lifestyle changes.

High cholesterol is one of the lifestyle diseases that can be cured and reversed naturally. Therefore, try to find a natural health oriented physician to treat this condition. Most cholesterol lowering drugs take months to lower your cholesterol levels only a few points, while people who use diet and lifestyle changes could drop their levels by a whopping 100 points in a matter of weeks. Cholesterol lowering medication also does damage to the liver.

Find out how to lower your high cholesterol naturally without harmful drugs:

Natural Remedies For High Cholesterol -or- Cholesterol Natural Remedies

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Hunter

Heart Health

Heart Healthy Living During an Economic Crisis
By Kirsten Whittaker

Even before the full force of the economic downturn became part of the nightly news, the levels of stress Americans were feeling about our finances were pretty intense making heart healthy living more difficult.

The American Psychological Association completed a survey called Stress in America, released in October 2008 (with data collected as late as September, just as the stock market was heading downward) found a full 46% of us were already worried about providing for our families basic needs.

Money was a concern for 72%, work for 68%, housing for 47% and job insecurity by 34%.

What's worse, more of us are reporting physical symptoms from all that stress compared to a year ago. The sleepless nights and a shorter fuse. The wrangling and worry are chipping away at our health.

At these unhealthy (and constant) stress levels, coupled with eating fat and calorie laden foods and dropping workout sessions to take on more hours at work, we're all taking a pretty big chance with the health of one of our most vital organs - our heart.

What can you do to help yourself?

One of the first, best things you can do is to take better care of your body by eating a healthy diet that gives you the 5 servings of fruits and vegetables experts recommend we eat each day.

Cooking foods at home, instead of using prepared ones or eating out, can help you save money and give your body good-for-you basics at the same time.

Food closer to it's natural state is almost always more affordable than a prepared alternative - think salad in a bag vs. the old fashioned head of lettuce, tomatoes, radishes and such. Convenience is expensive, and it isn't always good for us.

But diet is only one part of the heart health picture.

You also need to know the risks your body has for heart disease.

- Do you have a family history of heart disease?
- What are your cholesterol numbers?
- Do you have low enough LDL (bad) cholesterol and high enough HDL (good) cholesterol?
- And what about your blood pressure, is it high or low?

Recognize too that the heart is a muscle, and like other muscles, to stay strong and healthy it must be exercised and exercised regularly. Even just half an hour of walking a day is a good start.

Almost as important, finding a way to manage your stress level is another key to keeping your heart healthy.

You need a positive outlet for all that nervous energy - rigorous workouts or cleaning, meditation or relaxation breathing, hobbies or laughter - all are great for reducing the stress in your life.

The American Psychological Association also offers some wonderful, common sense tips for managing your stress level during these uncertain economic times.

During times when money is tight, you might be tempted to put off your healthcare or cut your gym memberships.

But doing this hurts you more in the long run as you feel bad for longer than you have to, and end up spending more time and money getting yourself well (or in healthy shape) again.

If you're having trouble affording your prescription medications, talk with your doctor.

Often the pharmaceutical companies have programs to help patients get the medicine they need at no cost, or the doctor might be able to supply samples to help you out.

Good heart health also comes, as we all know, from not smoking, and avoiding second hand smoke as much as possible.

Smoking, beyond the expense, greatly increases your risk of heart problems, as well as other dangerous diseases. Quitting now will start you on the road to reduced risk and saving some money too.

It's easy to allow the bad news to take over and sabotage your health. The trick is to remember this isn't the first time we've faced tough times, and it probably won't be the last.

We may not be able to control what happens in the economy or the world around us, but we can control the toll it takes (or doesn't take) on our heart and our health and ensure we stick to heart healthy living.

Next just head on over to the Daily Health Bulletin for more health tips showing you effective ways for heart healthy living and get 5 free revealing health reports.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kirsten_Whittaker