Karen Marschel, RD, LD, CDE asked:


 

1.     Omega 6 Fats: This type of fat is found in corn oil and soybean oil and the amount we use has increased over the years because we eat more processed foods. Go check a few boxed foods in your kitchen cupboard and you will likely find soybean oil in the ingredient list. Too much omega-6 fat can increase inflammation.

2.      Omega 3 Fats: There are 3 omega-3 fats – DHA, EPA and ALA.  The first two are found in fatty fish such as tuna, salmon, trout, mackerel, and herring. ALA is the plant source of omega-3 and is found in flax seed and walnuts.  Omega-3 fats help reduce inflammation.  If you can eat fish high in omega 3 twice a week you can get a good base amount for heart health. If you don’t like fish then you can take fish oil capsules. Remember to read the dosage directions on your supplement bottle. If your doctor recommends 1000mg or 1gram fish oil daily, that actually means 1000mg EPA/DHA. What you need to do is add the EPA and DHA amounts. Most bottles have about 300mg of these once you add them together so that means you need 3-4 pills to get 1000mg of omega-3. You also want to buy a brand you feel has good quality. Since supplements are not regulated you have no guarantee what is actually in the bottle. Flax seed is a grain and can be purchased as seed or milled. You need to eat the ground form to get the health benefits because the body can not break down the seed form. Once it is ground be sure to keep it refrigerated. Add 1-2 tablespoons to cereal, yogurt, or any dish you are having. You will get the benefit of the omega-3 and the fiber! 

3.     Monounsaturated fats are also anti-inflammatory and good for our heart and cholesterol. The Mediterranean Diet is high in monounsaturated fats and includes regular intake of foods like olive oil, canola oil, avocados and nuts. Eating these good fats can lower blood pressure, cholesterol and reduce risk for diabetes.

4.     Trans fats are not good for our health. Some trans fats are naturally found in animal foods but most of our excess trans fats are from processed fat in packaged foods. Stick margarine is the classic example of trans fats. When stick margarine is made, oil is processed to become solid. This process is called hydrogenation and you will often see the words “partially hydrogenated” on ingredient labels. The chemical process of making oil turn solid creates trans fats which have been found to raise artery clogging cholesterol (LDL) and lower artery cleaning cholesterol (HDL).  Trans fat amounts are required to be on labels by FDA and you want to try to keep your intake as close to zero as possible. The simplest way to keep trans fat intake low is to eat less processed food.

5.     Saturated fats can also raise cholesterol.  Just think of saturated fat as solid fat like lard or butter.  Whole and 2% milk, cheese and fatty meats are also high in saturated fat. Some snack foods and bakery products are high in saturated fats as well. Check the labels and try to keep saturated fat less than 20 grams daily.  You do not need to quit eating cheese and eggs. My recommendation is to choose small portions of less processed cheese. I personally don’t like fat-free cheese for the taste or texture. Eggs have a little saturated fat but are also a very good protein source. They have gotten a bad reputation over the years due to their higher cholesterol content. Reducing processed foods will do much more for your health than cutting out the eggs.



heart health

Steven A Johnson asked:


The average human heart will beat approximately 2.5 billion times during a 66 year lifespan, which is roughly 72 beats per minute! It is the most important muscle in the body, so it is vital for your health to keep it functioning at its best! Heart disease is the number one cause of death among Americans, and obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol can increase the risk of developing hearth disease!

The heart functions in four parts, and is referred to as a four-chambered heart in warm blooded animals. The right side of the heart serves to collect de-oxygenated (carbon-dioxide rich) blood in the right atrium from the body. Blood leaves the right atrium and flows into the right ventricle where it is pumped into the lungs, leaving behind carbon-dioxide and picking up oxygen. The left side of the heart then collects the oxygenated blood from the lungs into the left atrium, from there the oxygen rich blood moves into the left ventricle which pumps it out to the body.

Changing bad lifestyle habits can help to reduce the risk of heart attacks! It is important to be aware of how many calories that you take in, and use up at least that amount daily. Try not to eat more calories than you know you can burn up everyday. Performing physical activity for at least thirty minutes on most days of the week, or everyday, can help you maintain a healthy weight. The thirty minutes a day can be broken down into three ten minute sessions throughout the day as well!

Vegetables and fruits are low in calories and high in vitamins, minerals and fiber! By eating a variety of fruits and vegetables instead of junk food, you can control your weight and maintain healthy blood pressure. Another source of fiber is un-refined whole grain foods, they help maintain blood cholesterol and make you feel full after eating less! It is good habit to try and eat fish twice a week. Recent studies have shown that oily fish such as salmon, trout and herring contain omega 3 fatty acids, which can help to lower the risk of death from coronary artery disease.

Some recommendations for a healthy eating pattern are:

• Eating meats and poultry without the skin and prepare them without adding saturated and trans fats.

• Choose low fat and fat free dairy products.

• To reduce the amount of trans fat in your diet cut back on foods containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils

• Try to reduce cholesterol intake by eating less than 300 milligrams each day.

• Cut back on foods and beverages with added sugars.

• Reduce your salt intake; try to eat less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day.

• Drink alcohol in moderation- one drink daily for women, two drinks daily for men.

Clear Heart™ Advanced Cardio Therapy is a doctor formulated supplement that offers support for optimal heart health. This can be taken in conjuction with healthy diet and exercise habits to prevent problems such as heart disease, high cholesterol and heart attacks. Clear Heart™ Advanced Cardio Therapy is reported to diminish and eliminate chronic, painful, and even deadly heart associated health problems. For more information, or to purchase this product, please visit our website at: www.alternative-health-supplements.com/clear-heart.htm



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