Archive for August, 2009
One way to lower bad cholesterol
Posted by: | CommentsIndulge in This Creamy Snack for Better Cholesterol
Next time you’re yearning for something rich and creamy, here’s an almost guilt-free indulgence your ticker will love: peanut butter.
Grab a spoonful. Not only will you be enjoying rich and satisfying taste, but also you could be helping to lower both your bad cholesterol and your risk of heart disease.
Spread a Little Joy
In one long-term study, women with type 2 diabetes enjoyed an almost 45 percent lower risk for cardiovascular disease and heart attack when they gave in and ate at least five servings of peanut butter and mixed nuts each week. This was compared with women who noshed less often on nutty snacks. And those five weekly 1-ounce helpings seemed to knock down the women’s total and LDL cholesterol levels, too. Are your cholesterol levels putting your heart in danger? Find out here.
Nuts for All Hearts
Nutrients in peanuts and nuts may help hearts in a couple of ways. They may minimize inflammation — something your heart really could do without — and they may help your body use insulin better. Because of this, women with type 2 diabetes probably aren’t the only ones who can benefit from eating nuts and peanut butter. In fact, research suggests that nuts may lower heart disease risk for everyone — regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, or health status. Try these other heart-healthy changes, too:
Bonus: Nuts may stave off diabetes, too.
RealAge Benefit: Lowering your bad (LDL) cholesterol can make your RealAge 3.3 years younger if you are a man and 0.6 years younger if you are a woman.
What is Cholesterol Anyway?
Posted by: | CommentsWhat is Cholesterol Anyway?
Cholesterol, a soft, fat-like substance, is a building block of your cells, hormones and nervous system, and is necessary for metabolism. In moderate amounts, it is essential to good health. Studies show that both high and low cholesterol levels can be harmful. The key seems to be making sure your body has enough–not too much, not too little.
Cholesterol comes from two sources:
- Serum (blood) cholesterol flows through the bloodstream. Your body manufactures most of its blood cholesterol, but it absorbs some from the foods you eat. When your doctor conducts a cholesterol test, he is testing your serum cholesterol levels. A total blood cholesterol level of less than 200 mg/dL is a healthy goal. The amount of cholesterol you have in your blood is partly genetic, but your habits (smoking, diet, exercise, etc.) affect the level of cholesterol in your blood too.
- Dietary cholesterol is found only in foods of animal origin, such as meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products. This source is easier to control than the naturally-occurring cholesterol in your body. Individuals should limit their intake of dietary cholesterol to less than 300 milligrams daily. But as you’ll soon learn, limiting your dietary cholesterol intake is only part of the cholesterol-lowering picture.