Posts Tagged ‘Good’

The Good, The Bad And The Ugly Facts About Fats

January 28th, 2010 admin

Fats, The Good…The Bad and Omega 3.

This has become a hot topic lately. There is so much talk of fats, the healthy fats, the bad fats, the trans fats. I have done some research on fats, trying to keep it simple for us. Here is some important information I have come up with. Omega 3 has become a favorite topic of mine. It has such amazing health improvement qualities. Remember, this is for your information only, and not meant as gospel nor is it meant for diagnostic purposes.

Saturated fats
Saturated fat is the main dietary cause of high blood cholesterol. The American Heart Association recommends that you limit your saturated fat intake to 7–10 percent of total calories (or less) each day. If you have coronary heart disease or your LDL cholesterol level is 100 mg/dL or greater, your doctor should recommend the Therapeutic Lifestyle Change (TLC) Diet. It recommends 25–35 percent of calories from fat, with less than 7 percent coming from saturated fat. Cholesterol is limited to less than 200 milligrams a day.

Saturated fat is found mostly in foods from animals and some plants.
Foods from animals — These include beef, beef fat, veal, lamb, pork, lard, poultry fat, butter, cream, milk, cheeses and other dairy products made from whole milk. These foods also contain dietary cholesterol.
Foods from plants — These include coconut oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil (often called tropical oils), and cocoa butter.

Hydrogenated fats
During food processing, fats may undergo a chemical process called hydrogenation. This is common in margarine and shortening. These fats also raise blood cholesterol. Use hydrogenated fats only if they contain no more than two grams of saturated fat per tablespoon. The saturated fat content of most margarines and spreads is printed on the package or Nutrition Facts label.

Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats — Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are the two unsaturated fats. They’re found primarily in oils from plants.

Polyunsaturated fats — These include safflower, sesame and sunflower seeds, corn and soybeans, many nuts and seeds, and their oils.

Monounsaturated fats — These include canola, olive and peanut oils, and avocados.

Both polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats may help lower your blood cholesterol level when you use them in place of saturated fats in your diet. But a moderate intake of all types of fat is best. Use polyunsaturated or monounsaturated oils — and margarines and spreads made from them — in limited amounts. This is recommended in place of using fats with a high saturated fat content, such as butter, lard or hydrogenated shortenings.

Since their discovery in the 1970s, the omega-3 essential fatty acids have generated thousands of studies and clinical trials. Essential to life and good health, they protect against disease and can treat illness.
Dr. Barry Sears is a research scientist and creator of the world famous Zone Diet. His most recent book, The OmegaRx Zone – The Miracle of the New High-Dose Fish Oil, is the culmination of 20 years of research on the benefits of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids contained in fish oil. In fact, Dr. Sears pioneered the development of pharmaceutical-grade fish oil, a highly refined nutritional supplement rich in DHA and EPA. This work continues his life long dedication to using diet to help people maintain their state of wellness.
Yet few people understand what they are, what they do.

When it comes to heart disease, prevention is your best bet. High blood pressure and hypertension put undue stress on the heart, blood vessels and other organs. A person can get excellent heart health through a variety of ways, especially through a good diet.

Certain foods have been shown to be healthy for the heart. Fish has the proven benefits of omega-3 oil. Omega-3 may lower the risk of abnormal heart rhythms and reduce the cohesion of blood cells, which make them less likely to form clots and block arteries. Omega-3 seems to be particularly beneficial to people already at risk for heart disease and those who have experienced a heart attack.

Olive oil is a healthy choice over other fats such as butter, palm and coconut oils because olive oil is a monounsaturated fat that does not increase levels of cholesterol and triglycerides

The following information on trans fatty acids is Information from the Food and Drug Administration

Q: What are trans fatty acids?

A: Trans fatty acids (or “trans fat”) are fats found in foods such as vegetable shortening, some margarines, crackers, candies, baked goods, cookies, snack foods, fried foods, salad dressings, and many processed foods.

*-additional information from me: Fats that are artificially created through a chemical process of the hydrogenation of oils. This solidifies the oil and limits the body’s ability to regulate cholesterol. These fats are considered to be the most harmful to one’s health. The Federal Drug Administration has mandated that the amount of trans fats be labeled on food products by 2005.

Q: Why should We care about trans fat?

A: It’s important to know about trans fat because there is a direct, proven relationship between diets high in trans fat content and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels and, therefore, and increased risk of coronary heart disease – a leading cause of death in the US.

Q: Aren’t all fats bad?

A: No. There are “good” fats and “bad” ones, just like there’s good and bad blood cholesterol. Saturated fats and trans fat have bad effects on cholesterol levels. Polyunsaturated fats and monosaturated fats (such as olive oil, canola oil, soybean oil, and corn oil) have good effects.

Q: How much trans fat is too much?

A: There is research currently under way to determine this. However, it is true and accurate to say that the less saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol consumed the better. Trans fat while pervasive in many of the foods we eat is not “essential” to any healthy diet.

Q: How can consumers know if a product contains trans fat if it’s not identified on the nutrition label?

A: Consumers can know if a food contains trans fat by looking at the ingredient list on the food label. If the ingredient list includes the words “shortening,” “partially hydrogenated vegetable oil” or “hydrogenated vegetable oil,” the food contains trans fat. Because ingredients are listed in descending order of predominance, smaller amounts are present when the ingredient is close to the end of the list.

Q: Do restaurants have to list the fat content of their foods?

A: No. But it’s a good tip to always ask which fats are being used to prepare the food you order. (I read in the rumour mill that Restaurants in New York are being asked to voluntarily cut down on their trans fat usage* my own comments)

Q: Why is it important to read labels?

A: Labels provide valuable information. An informed consumer is able to make better, healthier choices.
“The American Heart Association recommends healthy people eat omega-3 fatty acids from fish and plant sources to protect their hearts. Have you heard of this miracle?
OmegaRx Fish Oil, quoted as being close to a Medical Miracle in our Century! Omega 3, The Good Fat, Is on your side, they contribute to your good health. They are also a big part of Dr Barry Sears Zone Diet.
Omega-3 (you may sometimes see it written as n-3 or w-3) is the name given to a family of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The parent omega-3 – alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) – is described as ‘essential’ as, like vitamins, it must be obtained from diet. It is polyunsaturated and has 18 carbon atoms and 3 double bonds (18:3).

There is no doubt that the omega-3 fatty acids are essential to health.

Omega-3 oils — found in fatty fish, like salmon and tuna — help lower blood pressure, fight heart disea
se and even battle depression.

Omega-3 fatty acids work against depression. Recent studies suggested that consuming omega-3 rich foods such as oily fish can help prevent depression. Omega-3 fatty acids have already been found to offer a myriad benefits to human health. Notably, intake of omega-3 fatty acids or use of oily fish reduces the cardiovascular disease. Omega-3 fatty acids are found richly in oily fish such as salmon fish and tuna. Plant sources such as flaxseed oil and canola oil also offer certain amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids or oil can be purchased as nutrient supplements.

There is no doubt that the omega-3 fatty acids are essential to health.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and drug Administration. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure any disease.

It is very definitely to your advantage to study further the wonderful benefits of Omega3.

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Good Beauty Skin Care Products With Unisex Appeal

January 25th, 2010 admin

There was a time, not too long back, when it was not considered macho for men to be using skin care products. However, in modern times, it is quite acceptable by men as well as women to be using skin care products because men are equally aware about their skin requirements. Nowadays there is a plethora of beauty skin care products available for both men and women and for all possible skin types, soft, sensitive, rough, dry and even hypoallergenic products. So you will have no difficulty in finding a beauty skin care product which will suit your skin type, whether you are male or female and whatever your skin type may be.

What Kind Of Skin Type Do You Have?

If you do not know what type of skin type you have, you should find out. If your skin feels constantly oily, even a little while after you have washed it, you will know that you have oily skin and so you do not want to use a beauty skin care product which is oil based. If you do, you might just break out with pimples or acne. You will require something which will reduce the oiliness of your skin. On the other hand, if you have a dry skin, you will need a beauty skin care product which will replenish the moisture in your skin and help keep it supple and soft. If you have normal skin you should use a beauty skin care product for normal skin. There are also beauty skin care products which have herbs in them or those which are fragrance free for sensitive skins.
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Seek Help

If you are still confused as to what skin type you have you can check out at your nearest department store or supermarket which has a cosmetic counter. Most people manning these counters or sections know about beauty skin care products and they usually have a wide range of products to choose from. They can guide you after checking your skin type. Most beauty skin care products of good quality are not cheap, so you don’t want to buy something which will not suit your skin type. Alternatively, you can even check out at any beauty or skin care salon that you visit – the staff there will be able to help explain what your skin type is and what health and beauty skin care product you should use.

A Dermatologist Can Guide You

In case you have already been through the above steps are still not satisfied with the results, it would be best to seek the advice of a beauty skin care specialist, a dermatologist who is a medical expert. If you have never been to one then ask your doctor to refer you to one. It is worth spending the money on a dermatologist who will guide you as to your skin type and the best health beauty skin care product which will be ideal for your skin. Beauty may not just be skin deep, but it pays in the long run to take care of your skin and use a good beauty skin care product.

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Guide To Good And Bad Cholesterol

January 25th, 2010 admin

Cholesterol have both good and bad, and hence this is why it is so very vital to learn what cholesterol is, and how it affects your health, as well as what you can do to lower it if the needed. There are basically two different types of cholesterol, the LDL and the HDL.


LDL is the bad form of cholesterol, when too much of it found in a person’s blood, it can slowly build up on the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain, and together with other substances it is able to shape plaque in the body, which is a thick, hard deposit that can block these arteries; a circumstance which is known as atherosclerosis.


Then there is HDL is the good form of cholesterol, and this is due to a high level of it seems to protect against heart attacks. A low level of HDL levels in a person’s body will in fact increase the risk of having a heart attack on a human body.


There is also another factor which must be raised in this discussion, and that is in regards to triglyceride, a form of fat that comes from food and it also made in your body. The reason that it is involved in this particular subject matter is because people with high triglycerides often found to have high total cholesterol, high LDL cholesterol and a low HDL cholesterol level.


Good Cholesterol (High Density Lipoprotein)


The cholesterol test you normally take actually measures lipoproteins. These lipoproteins are sorted by their density: the measure of fat versus protein in the combination. High density means that there is more protein ratio compared to fat. High density lipoproteins (HDL) are good cholesterol. They do the necessary work assigned to cholesterol, they help to un-clog your arteries and help flush excess fat from your body.


Bad Cholesterol (Low Density Lipoprotein)


Low density lipoproteins (LDL), very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and triglycerides (a type of fat carried by LDL and VLDL) are the main component of the bad cholesterol. If you have high number of these that they can clog your arteries thus, causing a heart attack or other heart related diseases. The normal level of bad cholesterol is 200mg/dL or less.


Bad and good cholesterol levels vary from person to person. Factors that affect cholesterol levels like being overweight, a diet with too much saturated fat and cholesterol, not enough exercise, heredity and certain medical conditions or medicines. Cholesterol tends to increase with age as well.


How you can Control and Lower Bad Cholesterol


If you have normal levels of good and bad cholesterol all you should to do is ensure that you stay that way and you can do that by taking the following steps: eating healthy and exercising. Eating healthy such as having food items that are low in saturated and trans fat as well as cholesterol.


Also, get in the habit of reading your food labels as they provide all the above mentioned data by law and hence it is easy for you to choose which food items are good and which are damaging for your health.


Some food items that contain high levels of cholesterol are: egg yolks, poultry, meat, shellfish, butter and cheese.


If you already have high levels of the bad cholesterol then the best thing to do is consult your doctor to prescribe you a drug that will help you lower it gradually. There are many cholesterol drugs that are available over the counter and many natural remedies as well. However, it is strongly suggested that you should not self medicate as some of the cholesterol drugs may have serious side effects, which only your doctor can point out as he is familiar with your medical history and conditions.


In general, you can always increase good cholesterol and decrease bad cholesterol by watching your food intake, exercising regularly and losing weight. You’ll also need your doctor’s help with the other factors. Don’t worry about having too little cholesterol. That’s un-likely to happen. Concentrate on building enough good cholesterol, less bad cholesterol and the rest will take care of itself.


Take a minute and learn about your good and bad cholesterol levels, watch closely your food intake and that of your family making them aware as well of the importance of staying below the limits of the bad cholesterol. Just a few minutes of self-education can save your life or one of your family member’s.

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How To Choose The Herbal Supplements that Is Good For Women's Health

January 25th, 2010 admin

If women just take a precise good balanced diet that contains all of the nourishment they need then a lot of them would not lack any anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals. They will be able to get these nutrients from various food resources and would not need to complain.

There is only a “good” balanced diet; there is no “perfect” balanced diet so still women’s health is not also perfect. That is the reason why doctors and medical experts recommend the use of health supplements like multivitamins. It helps our body supply nutrients that are not present or lacking in amount in the foods we eat. We cannot always eat the perfect meal that consists of about five servings of fruits and veggies, low fat dairy, whole grains and quality rich poultry, lean meat or fish.

If at all possible, individuals must eat farm fresh and organic foods that are affluent in nutrients, which come from soil not infected by harmful toxins and pesticides. Fresh foods must not be exposed by preservatives as well as long-transit period. Now, how must women choose the appropriate types of women’s health products optimal health from the broad range of vitamin products and health supplements on hand nowadays?Obviously, we are all aware that herbals, vitamins, minerals and health supplements are not an alternative for any prescription and the guidance of a doctor. Still, they can be very useful in particular health issues.

Women should pick for multivitamins that is specifically formulated to enhance their certain nutritional needs. Choose a multivitamin that is largely absorbent nutritional supplement particularly formulated to provide a helpful and effective alternative to traditional mass generate multivitamins.

As we all know, herbals, vitamins, minerals, and health supplements are not a substitute for doctor’s prescription and advice. However, the use of those can still be convenient in certain health issues and body strengthening.

To be able to stay healthy women as well as men must take high quality health supplements everyday. But remember to take the right dose only and do not take more amount than prescribed. Instead of benefiting, over dosage is not good for your health and may even be fatal. Read carefully and follow the instructions accurately.

Ultra Potent – Opt for a multivitamin that merely use premium naturally contained vitamins and minerals that are easily absorbed by your body. For example greatly green foods such as chlorella, green barley and spirulina.

Your multivitamin must have high nutritional content to be effective. It must also be ultra potent meaning it contains premium natural vitamins and minerals that can be easily absorbed by your body such as chlorella, green barley, or spirulina. It is also necessary that your supplements contains highest quality of natural ingredients and do not have additives such as dyes or fillers. It must be easily absorbed by the body and most of all it must be safe and proven to be effective.

Natural – make sure that multivitamins contain the highest quality natural components. It should not have unwanted additives colors, dyes or fillers. Also, it must be free from food allergens like corn, dairy, soy, wheat, etc.Safe – Obviously, the product must be safe.

These are helpful tips to consider when choosing the right health supplement for you. Your health should be your main and primary concern. With those foods and supplements available, you can be sure to stay healthy everyday.

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Cholesterol – Good, Bad and to Keep Cholesterol Level Low

January 25th, 2010 admin

When you hear the word cholesterol, what is your immediate reaction, or what comes first in your mind? Many people worry when they hear the word cholesterol. They perceive it as something that is always bad for the health. It is always associated with heart problems like hypertension and heart attack. But what cholesterol really is what it does to our body and health.

Cholesterol Defined

Cholesterol is a kind of fat or lipid found in the bloodstream and almost all parts of the body. It is a soft waxy substance in the bodyâ??s cells. Cholesterol is very useful because it is a component in forming cell membranes, some hormones. It is also needed for other body functions. Many of this substance is produced naturally inside of our bodies and some are from the food that we eat.

Cholesterol is not really a dangerous substance but it is actually one of those substances that our body needs to keep us healthy. However, it should be understood that there are two kinds of which, the good and bad cholesterol.

The Good and Bad

Since cholesterol is a kind of fat, it can not be directly dissolved in the blood. This substance is carried into and from the cell by another substance called lipoproteins. High-density lipoproteins or HDL is the good ones. This kind protects the body from heart diseases because the cholesterol is carried away from the arteries where fats could build up. It is also believed to remove other cholesterol from the arteries. This kind of cholesterol, however, should be maintained and monitored, because low level of this can also increase the risk of heart problems.

Bad cholesterol is known as the low-density lipoproteins or LDL. This kind highly contributes to the build up of plaque in the inner walls of the arteries. High levels of both compounds in the blood causes major risk of coronary diseases that could lead to heart attack.

Sources of Cholesterol

Though LDL is primarily produced in the body, the cholesterol from our food intake still contributes a lot to the total cholesterol count. Seventy five percent of our body cholesterol is produced inside and the remaining 25 percent comes from food. Almost all food that we take in everyday contains cholesterol and many of these foods contain large amounts.

Topmost of the list of food that contains large amounts of cholesterol is a food familiar to all and could be bought in almost all fast food chains and restaurants. Chicken and egg contains the highest count. These two are followed by livers, sea foods and Thanksgiving Day favorite turkey.

Unknowingly, our body cholesterol is also affected by hereditary means. There are some genes inherited from our parents or even grandparents that cause the cholesterol in our body to be too much produced.

Cholesterol Levels

Everyone should monitor cholesterol count because too much or too low cholesterol in the body bring a lot of sickness. The cholesterol count includes both the good and bad, both those produced inside the body and those that are acquired from food intake.

Cholesterol counts are determined through a blood test. Each person has a unique physicality that is why an individual should consult a doctor to know the cholesterol count that should be maintained. It is recommended especially people ages 20 and older to have lipoprotein fasting and test at least once in every five years. Consult a doctor for necessary medical routine before your cholesterol would be tested. Usually, doctors ask their patients to go on 10 to 12 hour fasting, meaning no food or pills taken. This determines the exact amount of good and bad cholesterol present in your blood and cells.

There are a lot of misconceptions about cholesterol especially with the food in take that make self-diagnosing patients worry about their health. As such, the best option is consultation to experts and living a healthy lifestyle.

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Difference Between Good Cholesterol and Bad Cholesterol

January 24th, 2010 admin

Cholesterol is a component of lipid rafts, this helps to secure proteins involved in cell signaling. When sleeping at night, our brain synthesizes cholesterol to benefit our mood and increase our memory. Cholesterol supports the nervous system, in which cholesterol is a vital component of the myelin sheath. The myelin sheath allows neurons to conduct impulses with each other. Cholesterol has been found to be the rate limiting factor found in the formation of synapses, this formation is necessary for learning and the formation of memories.

How many of you know that besides the cholesterol that causes many medical conditions there is also a “good ” cholesterol. In your body there are two types of cholesterol: HDL, which is the good cholesterol and LDL, the bad cholesterol. For many years now, having a high level of HDL was thought to be very beneficial to your health. This high level of cholesterol was thought to give you some kind of protection against heart conditions. However, lately there have been some attention to lowering all cholesterol levels, not only the LDL cholesterol level, known as the bad cholesterol.

Good Cholesterol (High Density Lipoprotein)

HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is also known as the “good” cholesterol. HDL removes cholesterol from your bloodstream and carries it back to the liver. I like to think of HDL as a vacuum cleaner, picking up cholesterol LDL leaves behind in your arteries. HDL should be greater than 40 mg/dL, ideally greater than 60 mg/dL.

The cholesterol test you normally take actually measures lipoproteins. These lipoproteins are sorted by their density: the measure of fat versus protein in the combination. High density means that there is more protein ratio compared to fat. High density lipoproteins (HDL) are good cholesterol. They do the necessary work assigned to cholesterol, they help to un-clog your arteries and help flush excess fat from your body.

Bad Cholesterol

The bad cholesterol is Low Density Lipoprotein or LDL. This is the way cholesterol is carried into the bloodstream and it is one of the major causes of the dangerous fatty build up in the arteries. The higher the levels of LDL are in your blood, the higher you are at risk of developing heart disease.

The LDL is considered as bad or damaging cholesterol while the HDL is the good and protective cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is made up of larger particles and are more likely to get caught in the artery’s lining. It is carries the cholesterol from the liver to the cells of the body and blood vessels and ends up inside the cells that line the artery walls. HDL cholesterol is made up of smaller particles and hence are less likely to get caught in the artery’s lining. It is responsible for the transportations of cholesterol from the arterial walls to the liver where it is broken down for removal from the body. The higher the level of LDL cholesterol, the greater the risk of developing coronary heart disease.

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