Does omega 3 supplements lower cholesterol?

When we think of omega fatty acid supplements, we usually relate it to some sort of pill, but I see a supplement as a superfood that adds value to your health. This being said, I thought I'd share this article about superfoods which have shown to improve cholesterol levels and reduce cardiovascular disease. Enjoy!

Super foods are foods which contain unusually high levels of two or more nutrients not found in mainstream foods. Including the superfoods mentioned in this article to your daily regime will allow you to live out your life in glowing good health, at least nutritionally.

The first food in this super group is definitely cold-water seafood, specifically salmon, sardines and tuna. These fishes are extremely rich in the fatty acids DHA and EPA Omega 3, which for one thing is essential for optimal brain health.

The brain is about 60% fat. The membranes of neurons, specialized brain cells that form the nucleus for all thought and communication are composed of two layers of fatty acid molecules. Fatty Omegas are used to build and protect neurons, keeping the brain well lubed and running at peak performance, Also, fatty omegas have been shown to control the bad cholesterols in the blood stream, aiding in cardiovascular health.

The next group is nuts, such as hemp, walnuts, peanuts, macadamias and most other nuts. Nuts are loaded with Omega fatty acids as well as phytonutrients, needed for cellular health and metabolism. Just 5 small handfuls of nuts per week, especially hemp seeds, can improve cholesterol levels dramatically. That beats most drugs and it's safer too.

Click here for more info on the benefits of adding hemp hearts to your diet!

The berry family, especially blueberries, are extremely high in vitamins and antioxidants which are essential in controlling free radicals, nasty little compounds that eventually destroy cell walls, contributing to aging and a whole host of illnesses. Berries are also high in water and low in calories, making them a great choice for your waistline.

Whole grains are definitely in the super food category. You've probably heard the old adage that "Bread is the staff of Life"? It's not hard to see why as whole grains are excellent sources of B vitamins as well as E, folic acid, magnesium, iron, fiber and antioxidants, even more so than some fruits and vegetables. Whole wheat, brown rice, wild rice and popcorn, yes popcorn, are good examples of whole grains.

Legumes or beans are nutritional powerhouses in every sense. If you think about it, beans are seeds, containing the genetic code and all of the chemicals and nutrients to produce a plant. To begin with, beans are loaded with high quality protein and amino acids with a low caloric count. Toss in B vitamins, folate, magnesium, potassium and most other trace minerals and large amounts of fiber as well.

Including any or all of these superfoods to your diet will improve your health, body and mind. The alternatives to leading a healthier lifestyle are readily available and the final choice as to whether or not they are to be utilized rest entirely with yourself.

Anti-Aging: Good nutrition and a healthy brain

Greetings fellow health friends

The skin care industry is flooded with anti-aging products, services and treatments. This growth is continually risingas more and more people search for that elusive fountain of youth. However instead of looking outward , people should realize that nutrition within is the key to winning the anti-aging battle.

Going beyond cosmetic treatments as a sound anti-aging strategy is quite reliable and based on science. As we age, our body's ability to function at optimal levels decreases, so it's important to fuel our bodies with nutrients that promote regeneration and performance.

For example, our skin's elasticity dwindles, our sebum production slows down and we lose the ability to retain moisture and flush out toxins through our pores. It is true that beauty is skin deep because it is our skin or our outward appearance that indicate the fact that we are no longer youthful.

Beneath the skin tissues are processes and bodily functions that need to be maintained in order to preserve youthfulness. We can't simply expect to fill our bodies with junk and expect it to run at optimum levels. If you have difficulty understanding this concept, you may want to use the analogy of a car. A car runs on gasoline. If you put other types of fuel in it such as diesel or kerosene, the car won't work and the engine may be damaged.

There are different types of gasoline that you can use for your car. To get the most out of your car's performance you need to understand the octane rating of your engine and use the appropriate type of gasoline.

Just like a car, the body needs the proper types of food as fuel, which can be achieved by maintaining a proper and healthy diet. Combined with just the right amounts of exercise, our body can metabolize our diet properly and it is then supplied with the proper fuel which it requires.

One way to restore your youthfulness, prevent any further damage or give you extra brain power is to consume a healthy dose of essential fatty acids. These can be found in hemp, flax and fish. If you're not crazy about fish or if mercury is a concern than hemp and flax is the way to go. However, hemp provides you with much greater flexibility than flax. Hemp seeds can be eaten raw (the best way), or added to your favorite dishes. Hemp oil is also excellent in dressings.

Visit this site for more info on hemp seeds and their benefits to your health

In addition to keeping us physically fit, exercise is also an excellent way to keep our brain healthy. Exercise promotes a healthy supply of oxygen to the brain. As you can see, beyond cosmetics, proper nutrition and a healthy brain are keys to truly winning the anti-aging battle.
More and more people experience dementia and other forms of brain degradation as they get older and keeping the brain healthy through proper nutrition and exercise helps stave off this phenomenon.

So remember, essential fatty acids, excercise, a snesible regime and drinking plenty of water equals brain power, good health and beautiful skin.

Hope you enjoyed this article and cheers to your age and health!

Chantel

10 Easy Tips to Lower Cholesterol

So here it is, my first offial post. Enjoy!

Do you have high cholesterol and need to lower it? Look no further than these top tips to help you regain a healthy cholesterol level and maintain it.

As with anything health related, a sensible diet and adequate exercise are crucial components to healthy living. The foods you eat are critical to your well being. The choices you make really do have consequences, some bad and some good.

Here is the breakdown of the top 10 tips to lowering your bad cholesterol levels and improving your lifestyle!

1. Toss refined foods and replace them with wholewheat breads, pitas, pastas, rice, and flour.

2. If you're a meat and potato person, stick with extra lean. Avoid highly processed meats like wieners and bologna.

3. Skip the mayo on that juicy burger. This stuff is loaded with fat and sugar. Opt for homemade if you can, this way you can decide what goes in and you can add your favorite spices for some kick.

4. Choose foods that are fortified with omega-3 or better yet choose ones that are naturally high in these essentila fatty acids. One food that offers the right balance of omega-3, 6, and 9 is the underestimated hemp seed. Try them, they taste good and are loaded with other nutrients.

To learn more about hemp seeds, click here!

Other good choices include fish like wild red salmon, flax and walnuts.

5. Avoid Trans fats and limit saturated fats! Not only do they raise the bad LDL cholesterol, they can also lower your HDL levels! Foods like margarine, shortening, and processed foods that contain partially hydrogenated oils are all culprits of ill health.

6. Limit your intake of desserts. Too much sugar leads to diabetes which then turns the sugar into fat. Bad combination.

7. Eat foods that are high in fiber like oatmeal, fruits, vegetables, beans, and some cereals.

8. Grilling your food is a plus. You retain much of the nutrients through this cooking process. So if that steak is calling your name, stick it on the grill with some roasted peppers drizzled with olive oil and voila! a healthy meal even a kingwould appreciate. Avoid deep frying.

9. Create your own salad dressings infused with your favorite herbs. Again, hemp oil serves as an excellent base ingredient.Just look it up on the net and you'll find lots of basic oil dressing recipes that you embellish.

10. Load up on the veggies and fruits. Fruits are naturally low in sodium, fat and sugar and contain no cholesterol. Vegetables are also low in sodium and calories. They also contain fiber.

And there you have it folks, ten tips to lowering your cholesterol. I know it sounds a bit overwhelming, but the reality is, as we age, our body's metabolism slow downs and our ability to maintain a healthy weight is much harder, presenting us with an array of health problems. Don't fret though, adjusting our lifestyle as you age and getting plenty of excersise will do wonders and your body will reward you for it.

Until the next post, utilize these tips and good health to you!

Chantel

Greetings!

Hello and welcome to my blog.

My name is Chantel and I have created this blog to bring you important health tid bits that may or may not apply to you but nevertheless, could prove to be valuable at some point in your life. I am not physician, however, I try to be accurate in my reports. When in doubt, I strongly suggest you seek medical advice on any of the topics discussed here.

I hope you enjoy this blog and look forward to your comments and questions!

Chantel