How To Follow Cholesterol Readings By A Diet To Lower Cholesterol

August 7, 2008 by Delynda Lardone  
Filed under Good Health Tips

by Delynda Lardone

Cholesterol is often misunderstood by the majority of people due to lack of knowledge. Generally cholesterol is beneficial because it helps our bodies operate but it can be bad. Learning the difference concerning the bad cholesterol and the good cholesterol will help keep us healthy. So, it’s very important that we learn all about cholesterol readings in regards to our diet to lower cholesterol.

Our good cholesterol is identified as HDL cholesterol which is commonly known as high-density lipoprotein. Its main goal is to make our body parts function properly by taking the cholesterol that we have and flushing it from our system. This keeps our arteries clean and helps us avoid experiencing a heart attack in addition to a stroke.

Then we have the bad cholesterol, which is also know as LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein). This cholesterol is bad, especially when we have large quantities in our bodies. Its main job is to slowly build up in our arteries which eventually clogs them up and can cause us to experience a heart attack and possibly a stroke.

This is why people should obtain a cholesterol reading, especially if they have a family history of high cholesterol. Typically there are three cholesterol readings people will receive: the LDL cholesterol reading, the total cholesterol reading, and the HDL cholesterol reading. All three need to be looked at to make sure you are in the normal ranges as most people usually only consider the total cholesterol reading.

It is good to know the normal cholesterol reading so when you get your cholesterol reading back from your doctor, you will know exactly what your cholesterol levels are. You HDL cholesterol levels should be over 45 and you will need to consult your doctor if they fall below 40. Your LDL cholesterol levels should be under 130 and if they reach 160 or higher, then you will need to start on a diet to lower cholesterol. Your total cholesterol levels should be less than 200 and if they reach 140 you should check with your doctor because it can be extremely dangerous.

To get your cholesterol tested, you should consult your doctor and he will be able to test your cholesterol levels. If you do wind up having a high cholesterol level, then you can change some things in your diet to lower cholesterol which will help in reducing cholesterol before your next visit. Make sure your diet has plenty of protein which you can find in dark meat and fish. Also include 6 servings of fruit and vegetables in your daily means and try to stay away from foods high in fat.

Once you learn the difference between good cholesterol and bad cholesterol it is easier to understand what the doctor is talking about when you go and get a cholesterol reading. You want more HDL cholesterol and less LDL cholesterol. Knowing the test results will help you determine if you need to be on medication or if you can just control it with a diet to lower cholesterol.

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How To Lower Cholesterol Through A Diet To Lower Cholesterol

August 5, 2008 by Delynda Lardone  
Filed under Good Health Tips

by Delynda Lardone

The newest craze these days that is going around is everyone being concerned with high cholesterol. There is nothing to really be concerned about unless you already have a high cholesterol level, are overweight, or have a family member who has a high cholesterol level. If you have any of these signs, then you should consider going on a diet to lower cholesterol so you can start a reducing cholesterol plan.

Many people believe that if they are diagnosed with high cholesterol then they have to start taking medication but this is not always the case. You can start implementing some changes into your diet now that will help ensure that you keep your cholesterol levels normal. Some things you can start doing now are to stop smoking, drink less alcohol, and start getting some daily exercise.

Making sure that your cholesterol levels remain low is very important to your health in the long run because it can help prevent any heart problems that may arise. Along with the three methods mentioned above, there are other steps you can take right now that will also help reduce cholesterol in your body to normal levels.

One way of lowering your cholesterol is to start your day off with a nutritious breakfast filled with fiber. Studies have shown that the best way of reducing cholesterol levels is to eat a breakfast with at least 10 grams of fiber. A great meal that has the fiber you need which you can eat in the morning is oatmeal.

If you don’t really like oatmeal or need a variety in your morning meals, you can also find some cold cereal that has the fiber you need. You can also add some produce to your meals to spice up the taste like bananas and apples. Kellogg’s Special K Red Berries cereal is one of my favorite breakfast meals.

Another way is to switch out your normal oils you use for cooking and start using olive oil. Olive oil is a much healthier option and is widely known as the best vegetable oil on the market. All you need in your daily diet to lower cholesterol is two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil which will help reduce the bad cholesterol while leaving your good cholesterol levels normal.

Adding some walnuts to your daily diet is another way to help your body get rid of the bad cholesterol. Studies have shown that you can lower your cholesterol levels in four weeks just be eating some walnuts on a daily basis. Walnuts not only help lower your cholesterol, they also help keep your blood vessels in good shape.

Reducing cholesterol levels is something everyone should strive for, especially if they have a high cholesterol level or have family member that do. If you make a few simple changes in your diet to lower cholesterol, you will be able to lower your cholesterol significantly enough to keep your body healthy. All is takes is making sure you eat a fiber filled breakfast, exchanging your regular oil for olive oil, and munching on some walnuts daily.

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Six Advantages of a Nutritious Diabetic Diet

August 5, 2008 by Delynda Lardone  
Filed under Diabetes

by Delynda Lardone

To achieve a healthier standard of living many people often implement a special diet, but for a diabetic, embracing a diabetic diet is something they do. This is because a diabetic diet helps people sustain a normal level of blood sugar. Presented below are six rewards for the diabetic who improves his health with a diabetic diet.

One additional benefit is that it helps diabetics keep a normal level of blood sugar. Maintaining a steady blood sugar level helps lessen the health problems that can come up in the future. This is why having a steady blood sugar level is very essential to a diabetic.

Another benefit is that it helps trim down the amount of medication one might need in their normal day to day life, whether it is insulin or pills that help produce insulin. Insulin is needed by our bodies to maintain a normal level of blood sugar. The insulin carries the sugar into our cells which produces energy. By maintaining a diabetic diet with foods like good carbohydrates, fiber, and lean meats, you can actually reduce how much insulin your body needs.

An additional advantage is that a diabetic diet can help you avoid hyperglycemia which is when your blood sugar level gets too low. If you do not have the sugar in your system that your body needs to function, it can cause serious damage to your organs which can lead to coma and death.

One other advantage to a diabetic diet is that it can also help you avoid getting hypoglycemia which is when your blood sugar level gets too high. This is mainly caused by eating too much the wrong foods like cookies and cake. If your blood sugar level gets too high it can cause serious damage by destroying the vessels that carry blood to your vital organs and can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, kidney problems, vision problems and nerve damage.

An added benefit is that you can actually lose a little bit of weight. More often than not, type 2 diabetics have developed diabetes just because they were overweight. So, if they go on a diabetic diet and lose the additional weight, they may also overcome diabetes.

A further benefit is that it can raise your metabolism which will help your body manage the foods you eat. By simply adding a mild workout routine to your daily schedule, you can help your body become much healthier and manage your diabetes much better.

There are many advantages for everyone from diabetics to non diabetics to start on a diabetic diet. It can help provide a normal level of blood sugar, reduce the amount of insulin that your body needs, help you avoid getting hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, help you lose excess body weight, and helps you process foods much better. The sooner you start on this diet, the sooner you can start living a healthier lifestyle.

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Diabetic Diets: How To Select Food At The Grocery Store

July 25, 2008 by Delynda Lardone  
Filed under Diabetes

by Delynda Lardone

How many times have you tried to go on a so called diet and failed? Most likely everyone has and the main reason people fail is because they are forced to eat foods they do not like to eat and are not used to eating. Eventually people on these kinds of diets will quit and then feel like a failure but this does not need to be the case if you are a diabetic. You need to follow a diabetic diet to save your life. You can still enjoy all the foods you normally eat now, all you have to do is learn how shop differently for the same foods.

The simple truth of the matter is that diets don’t work because people are forced to eat foods that they do not normally eat. I can show you how you can still eat the meals you normally eat simply by showing you how to shop. Here I will explain 5 ways in which you can shop for a “diabetic diet” without compromising the foods you normally eat and love.

One way to shop for food on a diabetic diet is to watch the amount total carbohydrates that the food items contain. Many diabetics believe that eating sugar items is the only thing that will raise your blood sugar level, but carbohydrates will also do that very same job. This is why you need to keep a close eye on the total carbohydrates that are in each serving. A good guide is to only purchase items with 10 total carbohydrates or less because it only takes 1 carbohydrate to raise your blood sugar level by 5 points.

A second way to shop for food on a diabetic diet is to try to buy products that are high in dietary fiber. Fiber, even though it is counted as a carbohydrate, actually works on your behalf to help slow down your body’s consumption of the carbohydrates and sugar that enter your body. Thus fiber helps keep your blood sugar level at a normal rate. A good guide is to try and purchase products that contain 5 grams or more of dietary fiber.

A third way to shop for food on a diabetic diet is to look for products that have as little sugar as possible. Sugar, as with carbohydrates, are a diabetics worse nightmare because they help raise our blood sugar levels to a dangerous level. Our body still needs these carbohydrates and sugars to help it function. You have to be very careful though, as some sugar free products actually may seem like they have less sugar but they will have a higher amount of carbohydrates which eventually turns into sugar. A good guide to follow is to try to purchase products that have 5 grams or less of sugar.

A fourth way is to keep an eye on what experts call free foods. Free foods are items that contain a total of 20 calories and 5 grams of carbohydrates or less per serving. Even though these foods are called free foods, this does not mean we can eat as much as we want. You are still limited to eating your free foods to at least three times a day over the course of your day and not all at once. Some examples of free foods are water, lettuce, diet soda, sugar free gelatin, sugar free drink mixes, decaf coffee, and a dill pickle (which can actually lower your blood sugar level).

A fifth way to shop for food on a diabetic diet is to look for products that are low in fat or contain no fat at all. You should try to purchase meats that contain at least 7 percent or less in fat. Some good meats that you can buy are skinless poultry, shellfish, and fish.

As you can see, it is possible to go on a diabetic diet and still enjoy the foods and meals you are accustomed to eating. All you have to learn to do is read the food labels a little more carefully and purchase the products that have fewer carbohydrates, more fiber, less sugar, more free foods, and better quality meats. Once you start implementing these food purchasing habits into your meal planning, your meals that you and your family love will become healthier you will enjoy them more knowing that it is now a diabetic diet meal.

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The Meaning Of A Diet To Lower Cholesterol To Your Health

July 15, 2008 by Delynda Lardone  
Filed under Diet Facts

by Delynda Lardone

In order to promote a healthier lifestyle for those with a high level of cholesterol, it is important to start on a diet to lower cholesterol along with a daily exercise schedule. Whether you already know that you have a high level of cholesterol or your doctor has told you that you do, you need to learn about the factors that can lower and raise your cholesterol levels so you can begin eating more balanced meals.

One of the first things you need to do is to find out exactly what your cholesterol level is by having your doctor perform a blood chemistry analysis test. Sometimes the doctor will have the laboratory close by and you can obtain your results on the same visit. But often times, you will need to reschedule another consultation with your doctor as he will have to wait for the laboratory to deliver the results.

The Crucial Reason To Be On A Diet To Lower Cholesterol.

If you maintain a high level of cholesterol over a period of time, it can lead to major health problems and diseases. One of these health problems is that it can stop the function of many of your organs. Another problem, which is far more serious, is that it can lead to your death. This is why many doctors stress that people with high cholesterol need to go on a diet to lower cholesterol and accompany that with a exercise routine.

Fundamentals to Lower Cholesterol

There are some items which you need to take out of your daily meals as much as possible. The main items you need to get rid of are fatty foods, salt and unnecessary carbohydrates. There are more things you need to avoid in your daily meals, but these are just the main ones that you need to be aware of.

On the flip side, there are some items which you need to implement into your daily meals in order to have a successful diet to lower cholesterol. These foods are those high in fiber and complex carbohydrates which include wholegrain foods, beans, brown rice, fruits and vegetables. By having more of these good cholesterol foods in your daily diet, they will help your body get rid of the bad cholesterol.

To help your body have a continual stabilized balance, you will need to eat more foods that are high in good cholesterol and cease from eating foods that are high in bad cholesterol. By doing so, you will be providing your body the energy it needs to expel the bad cholesterol from your body.

When you begin on your diet to lower cholesterol, you need to keep in mind that you will not see any instantaneous results as the change will happen gradually. You will also be avoiding some major health problems like your organs shutting down and even death. To make your diet easy to remember, just include more foods high in fiber and try to get rid of the fatty foods and salt.

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