Are All Zone Diet Products Compliant To The Zone Diet?

Posted on May 19, 2012 by admin

The ZonePerfect Nutrition Company has continued to expand and is expected to sell in excess of one hundred million dollars worth of ZonePerfect foods this year. These include Zone diet bars, Zone diet meals, protein shakes and powders, supplements and fish oil capsules to be used as supplements. While these products are labeled as Zone Diet products, Dr. Sears does not agree that they are following the Zone Diet principles, and he is not endorsing several of the products.

In fact, Dr. Barry Sears is endorsing a new product called Smart Zone which is a meal supplement bar produced by Hersheys. There have been several lawsuits regarding the use of the Dr. Sears implied endorsement of ZonePerfect products. Dr. Sears is very clear that he does not endorse these products despite the fact that they use the ZonePerfect name.

What is the issue?

Dr. Barry Sears now operates a company called Zone Labs. They have the only Zone Diet products that Dr. Sears endorses at this time. The Hershey SmartZone bars will also carry Dr. Sears stamp of approval as soon as they are marketed.

The concern with the non-endorsed products is that while they appear to be the Zone products, they are not correctly chemically balanced to control insulin. Since the whole premise of the Zone Diet is to eat foods that will help your body control the hormones that produce and regular insulin it is very important that the chemical composition of the food is exactly correct.

Dr. Sears explains that a diet bar can be a prime example of how things can appear to be Zone foods but are not chemically balanced to work with the program. There are many nutrition bars that are composed of a 40/30/30 balance of proteins, carbohydrates and fat. The fat in Zone bars comes from a patented fish oil product that actually helps the body slow down the production of insulin and prevents hunger and cravings. Other bars marketed as Zone products have the 40/30/30 ratio but they use flaxseed or soybean oils that don’t have the same chemical composition. This oil does nothing to help the body with insulin control and will result in hunger and cravings.

What does Dr. Sears endorse?

Currently Dr. Sears endorses his own line of supplements that include:

* OmegaRx Fish Oil Concentrates that act to optimize heart, brain and immune system functions as well as help with the hormonal control of insulin production.
* Zone Bars and Shakes that are available for on-the-go meals and snacks. These bars and shakes follow the 40/30/30 ratio and have the added benefit of the omega fish oil for insulin control.
* Zone Ribose is another supplement that is used to increase energy and decrease muscle stiffness and fatigue after exercise.
* SeaHealth Plus is a liquid supplement that provides the vitamins and minerals found in 2-3 servings of fruit and vegetables. It is high in anti-oxidants that rid the body of free radicals.
* An additional line of supplements for body and skeletal health that includes cardio support, bone supplement, hepatic support for detoxification and Zone foundation and micro nutritional support.

The only meal that is endorsed by Dr. Sears as a Zone diet product is the new line of frozen dinners he has developed with Cedarlane, a producer of organic and natural frozen dinners. These Zone endorsed meals include pizza, omelets, enchiladas and burritos. They are designed to be cooked in a microwave and enjoyed.

Dr. Sears continues to develop more supplements and meals that fit into the Zone Diet. Be careful to check that the product you’re buying does have Dr. Sears endorsement to ensure that you are truly staying in the Zone.

Posted in Weight-Loss | Tagged bars, diet, insulin, sears, zone | Leave a comment

This Winter, Help Maintain Your Immune System With Regular Consumption Of Probiotics

Posted on May 18, 2012 by admin

Ah-choo! The cold winter months are here. To help keep your immune system working at its optimal level, it’s key to keep up good eating habits and a healthy lifestyle. And part of good eating is incorporating probiotics–also known as “good” bacteria–into your diet.

Probiotics are defined as “living microorganisms that confer a health benefit to the host when administered in adequate amounts,” according to the World Health Organization. These benefits include improving bodily functions such as immune function, regularity, digestion and detoxification.

“A lot of press is given to the ‘bad’ bacteria, so many people don’t realize that some bacteria are good for you and should be consumed on a daily basis,” explained Densie Webb, Ph.D., R.D., registered dietitian, columnist and co-author of the book “The Dish on Eating Healthy and Being Fabulous!”

Our bodies have their own natural defense mechanisms, which protect us from invading “bad” bacteria and viruses. One major component of the body’s defense system is immune function. About 70 percent of the body’s immune system is located in the digestive tract, where specialized cells play an important role as a first line of defense against invading bacteria.

“Research suggests that probiotics may have a beneficial impact on the function of the intestinal lining and the regulation of critical components of the immune system,” said Miguel Freitas, Ph.D., Medical Marketing Manager, The Dannon Company Inc. The ecosystem of bacteria-also known as microflora-that occupies the lining of the intestinal tract also acts as a physical barrier. “Regular consumption of probiotics, therefore, helps regulate the level of ‘friendly’ bacteria, reinforcing this barrier and maintaining intestinal health,” he added.

We caught up with Dr. Webb to learn more.

Q. How can I incorporate probiotics into my diet?

A. There are several delicious fermented products, such as smoothies, yogurts and cultured dairy drinks like DanActive, that contain probiotic bacteria and can easily be incorporated into your daily diet. Not only are they a source of probiotics, they make great calcium-rich snacks, providing about 10 percent to 25 percent of the Daily Value for calcium per serving.

Q. Should I only take probiotics when I’m feeling under the weather?

A. It’s best to help keep your immune system strong all year round. Certain probiotics may help strengthen the body’s natural defenses while providing a regular source of “friendly” bacteria. Though benefits vary depending on the type and amount of probiotic bacteria you consume, experts agree that daily consumption of probiotics is the most beneficial.

Q. What tips do you have for keeping my immune system strong?

A. First, eat a healthful diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables, which contain plant compounds called phytonutrients that may play a role in boosting immunity. Eat foods like fish that are rich in omega-3 fats, vitamin E-rich foods like nuts, avocados and vegetable oils, and foods rich in zinc (seafood and lean red meat) and vitamin C (oranges, grapefruit, kiwifruit, bell peppers). A daily source of certain probiotics in the form of a cultured dairy product may also help strengthen your body’s natural defenses. In addition, exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight and get plenty of sleep.

Posted in Nutrition | Tagged bacteria, body, daily, immune, probiotics | Leave a comment

Fishy Diet – Healthy Eating

Posted on May 17, 2012 by admin

Include fish in your healthy eating plan.
Many nutrition experts recommend eating fish at least once or twice every week. The most nutritious varieties of fish, and those that contain the greatest amounts of heart protecting omega-3 fatty acids, tend to be those that live in cold ocean waters. These varieties of fish include salmon and sardines.

It is hard to beat fish and seafood for high protein and low fat. Fish has been shown in study after study to have a positive impact on health, and to lower the risk of heart disease and other diseases. In addition, fish is delicious and easy to prepare.

There is little doubt that fish is a healthy food, containing significant levels of protein and smaller amounts of fat and calories than other types of meat.

As a matter of fact, fish is one of the best sources of protein there is. Everyone needs protein for building muscles and repairing damaged body tissues. In addition, protein plays a vital role in the growth of nails and hair, in hormone production and in many other vital bodily processes.

The key to getting sufficient protein in the diet is to balance the healthy effects of protein on the diet against the large amounts of fat and cholesterol that protein rich foods often contain. The combination of high protein and low fat is one of the things that makes a diet rich in fish so appealing.

With the exception of salmon, almost all commonly eaten varieties of fish are very low in fat, and even salmon contains lower levels of fat than many varieties of meats. In addition, fish is low in saturated fat, the type of fat that is most associated with heart disease and clogged arteries.

Fish is low in unsaturated fat because of the nature of where and how they live. Instead of storing energy in the form of saturated fat as land animals do, fish store their fat in the form of polyunsaturated oils. That adaptation allows their bodies to function normally in the cool oceans and streams where they swim. It also makes them a great choice for anyone seeking to cut levels of saturated fat in the diet.

For all these reasons, fish remains an important part of any low fat, heart healthy lifestyle. Substituting high fat, greasy foods like hamburgers and ribs is a great way to make a change for healthy living.

One note about fish and pollution, however. It is true that many fish caught in polluted waters contain high levels of mercury. While most commercially caught and grown fish is low in mercury, it is important for fisherman to limit their consumption of locally caught fish. Pregnant women are also advised to limit their intake of fish, due to the potential harm to the baby.

Even those who do not cook can enjoy the many benefits of fish in the diet. Many people avoid fish because they do not know how to prepare and cook it. While it is true that fish can present more of a challenge for the inexperienced, there are many recipes and cookbooks that make preparation easier.
In addition, many packaged seafood products contain cooking tips and serving suggestions that take some of the mystery out of preparing a nutritious and delicious meal of fresh fish.

So there is every reason fit fish into your diet and healthy eating plan.

This article is an extract from http://www.healthyeatingadvice.com

Posted in Nutrition | Tagged diet, fat, fish, healthy, protein | Leave a comment

Crockpot Recipes For Low-fat Dieters

Posted on May 14, 2012 by admin

You may not believe this but there are actually a countless number of crock pot recipes for people who are on a low-fat diet. Apparently, such low fat crock pot recipes are intended for people who are watching their health and their weight very carefully. In this regard, we would want to share at least two of the low fat crock pot recipes that most dieters prefer to prepare.

Arroz Con Pollo is one type of a low fat crock pot recipe that we highly suggest. You will need to prepare such ingredients as two tablespoons of freshly chopped cilantro, two cups of cooked rice, ten ounces of frozen peas that have been thawed, two tablespoons of red wine, one half cup of chicken broth, eight pieces of chicken thighs that do not have skin, two teaspoons of chili powder, one teaspoon of oregano, one clove of crushed garlic, one fourth teaspoon of pepper, and one half teaspoon of salt.

Mix such ingredients as chili powder, oregano, garlic, pepper, and salt together in a bowl. Such spice mixture should be sprinkled all over the chicken pieces. Once each of the chicken pieces is sprinkled with the spice mixture, you may place all of them in a crock pot. The wine and the broth should then be poured all over the chicken pieces. Cover the crock pot and let it cook for at least five to six hours using low temperature. After five to six hours, remove the chicken and set the crock pot on high temperature. Add the peas soon thereafter and cover the crock pot again and let the ingredients be cooked for another seven to ten minutes. The cooked rice as well as the chicken should then be added into the crock pot. Before serving, make sure to sprinkle the freshly chopped cilantro on the dish.

Another low fat crock pot recipe that we suggest is the recipe for Basil Chicken. This is also an easy-to-prepare dish as it only requires few ingredients and can also be cooked while the crock pot is running unattended.

The ingredients include one half whole green pepper that is sliced, one can of cream of celery soup, one half teaspoon basil, one half teaspoon of pepper, and four whole chicken breasts that are skinless.

To begin the procedure for this low fat crock pot recipe, you must place first the skinless chicken breasts in the crock pot. The chicken should then be sprinkled with basil and pepper. The cream of celery soup should then be poured over the chicken pieces. Afterwards, the sliced green pepper should be placed on top of the chicken that is covered with soup. Cover the crock pot and let it cook for approximately eight hours. The crock pot should be set on low temperature for this low fat crock pot recipe. You do not have to wait for eight hours for this recipe to be cooked. There are instances when six or seven hours will do. This recipe only contains four grams of fat and is composed of 55 grams of protein and three grams of carbohydrates.

Posted in Weight-Loss | Tagged chicken, crock, fat, pot, recipe | Leave a comment

The Brain Food Recipe

Posted on May 12, 2012 by admin

In the past it was believed that your intelligence was something that was inherited or that was a genetic thing that had to do with your parents but that may not be a total truth. It is now believed that your intelligence can be determined by your environment, life experiences and your diet. So is there a brain food recipe that one can start eating to make them more intelligent?

Well I dont know if there is a exact recipe but from my research on foods and supplements it continually amazes me how foods and supplements can actually stimulate chemical reactions or add natural chemicals into your body and affect you in amazing ways.

So can food actually have a positive or negative effect on your brain function and brain power?

Well the answer is Yes! Egyptians have long thought that fish was brain food. Well actually fish is high in omega 3 fatty acids. The neurons in your brain are rich in omega 3 fatty acids so adding fish or omega 3 into your diet does indeed give your brain a boost in its function. It has been found that fish will help create a healthy emotional environment and a more balanced and positive mood.

Proteins are also a very good substance for the brain. Proteins such as chicken and beef contain tyrosine, an amino acid. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and cells and may also help the neurotransmitter within your brain to send and receive signal and information. They can also assist one in handling stress and help the body maintain a balanced blood sugar level.

Food such as avocados, raisins, apples and nuts contain a substance called boron which has the potential to increase your memory and attention.

Choline which has also been proven to improve brain function can be found in such foods as eggs and milk. Fruits and vegetables are also extremely important in protecting your brain. Fruits and vegetables have a high degree of anti-oxidants which protect your cells and brain from free radicals which cause your cells to be damaged and age faster.

Blueberry and blackberry are especially good for your brain since they contain Anthocyanins which is the most powerful form of anti-oxidant.

Other fruits and vegetable that have been found to have a high amount of anti-oxidants are strawberries, cranberries spinach, raspberries, brussel sprouts, plums, broccoli, oranges, red grapes, red bell pepper, cherries and kiwis.

Probably the number one ingredient for proper brain function is water. Since your brain is 80% water it is imperative that one keeps themselves and their brain hydrated. Even a slightly dehydrated brain can raise the stress hormone in a person causing them to not have clarity of thought. Just observe people living in the desert in to summertime and see the stressful actions of people and one can see how dehydrated people are stressed.

There are also foods to avoid and foods that can actually slow down the brain function. Food which are high in sugar and simple carbohydrates which can give you an instantaneous surge of energy but then leave you in an daze.

It is also recommend not to consume food high is saturated fats. Sure your body needs fats, but it needs the good fats found in avocados, nuts and fish.

Also avoid eating heavy meals. It has been proven that reducing your calories will extend your life and the quality of you life. It is also a benefit for your brain function. The digestion process takes a lot of energy which in turn take the energy away from your brain functions.

So as you can see there is a brain food recipe. By eating the correct foods you can actually protect your brain and keep it healthy. You can also provide the added substances the brain needs to improve your memory, mood and the speed in which your brain functions.

Posted in Nutrition | Tagged actually, brain, cells, fish, foods | Leave a comment

A Weighty Issue: Does Soda Promote Weight Gain?

Posted on May 10, 2012 by admin

As childhood obesity continues to increase, researchers are looking at a link between what kids drink and their expanding waistlines.

While experts stop short of laying the blame completely at the feet of soda makers, most acknowledge that people in general, and kids specifically, consume too many soft drinks.

In an effort to curb the problem, some school districts are removing soda machines from school campuses -; and, some say, for good reason. One 12-ounce can of soda has 150 calories; a 20-ounce can has 250 calories.

According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, “Carbonated soft drinks are the single biggest source of calories in the American diet, providing about 7 percent of calories.” Non-carbonated drinks (such as fruit juice and iced teas) push that figure to 9 percent.

One study of 548 sixth and seventh-graders in Boston showed that each 12-ounce can of soda consumed increased their risk for becoming overweight by 60 percent, according to an article in the Journal of Pediatrics.

Besides having a high-sugar content – which can contribute to weight gain and promote tooth decay – there is little nutritional value in a can of soda, just empty calories.

So what’s a parent to do?

A diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains should be the first line of defense. But because what they drink matters just as much as what they eat, one option may be to consider replacing soda with a health beverage like NuVim, which contains a variety of vitamins, minerals, calcium; low amounts of sugar; and no caffeine.

Tested and proven effective in 19 clinical studies for its muscle flexibility and immune-boosting properties, this beverage contains the antioxidant vitamins A, C and E, along with B-12, zinc, calcium and essential amino acids.

NuVim comes in a variety of fruit flavors and is located in the refrigerated juice section of your local supermarket.

Posted in Weight-Loss | Tagged beverage, calories, drinks, ounce, soda | Leave a comment

Diet

Posted on May 8, 2012 by admin

What is a diet? Does a diet really help you lose weight? Are they healthy? Why would anyone want to go on one?

These are questions that almost everybody is asking these days.

First of all, despite my normal advice against “diets”, I do have to admit that in some circumstances, for some people, they can help a person’s weight loss program. Let me explain a couple of things, however.

People today get confused when they hear the word “diet”. They usually think that it always applies to some special plan of eating which is intended to help people lose weight. This isn’t always so, and there was a time when the word was simply used to indicate a list of what a person ate. Scholars would, and still do, talk about the “diet” of a tribe, nation, or cultural group. Doctors would prepare a list of foods intended to accomplish some goal other than weight loss, and the word would be applied to that list of foods. Heck, I was placed on one as a small child in order to determine what food might be causing an allergy I had at the time.

Today the word has come to mean a special list of foods you can or cannot eat if you wish to lose weight. Many of these have achieved almost mystical status and many have their own followings. Just witness how far the Atkins and South Beach Diets have extended themselves in our society.

Before Dr. Atkins came along and South Beach was discovered, I am sure you remember such exciting diets as those centered around specific foods which practically guaranteed weight loss success. You could eat grapefruit, cabbage soup, or you could enjoy the promised effects of the negative calorie diet. Most have these have faded away for three basic reasons:

1. People got tired of eating the same thing meal after meal.

2. They were unrealistic in their expectations. How could you get cabbage soup when on vacation, or at a business luncheon.

3. Most of the time, they simply didn’t work.

While “going on a diet” for a short period may produce a small loss for some people, dieting is simply not the answer to a lifelong weight loss problem. If you are just a few pounds overweight and want to drop a few dress sizes by the wedding in two weeks, a diet just might do the trick, and, for that short time, you will probably be able to stick with it as long as you keep your goal in sight.

The downside of a diet is threefold:

* The effects are not permanent or life changing

* It does not contribute to health and vitality

* It may actually contribute to weight gain

I have covered these subjects in more depth in other articles I have written, and, because of limited space, I will just provide a quick overview of these topics.

Most people will not stay on a diet for a myriad of reasons, and it normally cannot be adapted to a new style of eating – a lifestyle change. Admittedly, some people have hereditary or genetic situations that they cannot overcome, but which cause them to become overweight. However, for anyone, at least a portion of what made someone overweight is a part of their life choices, and it is these choices which must be changed in order for permanent weight loss to occur.

Limiting nutritional intake or restricting one’s access to a wide selection of nutritional options, such as in the grapefruit or cabbage soup diet, also limits the individual’s access to nutrients necessary to normal health. Eating some foods, or types of foods, in excess may contribute to other health problems in some people.

Our bodies have been designed to operate and react in certain ways, and this includes how they react and function when changes occur in our diet. One of the effects of a failed attempt is that the body may actually put back on more weight than it originally had to contend with, and may even continue to gain over a prolonged period of time following coming off the program.

True, permanent weight loss for health and fitness hinges on three central points:

* Regular physical activity

* Periods of rest

* A sensible diet

Diet if you must, but realize that for your health and for permanent weight loss, you must do more. One last point. If you do choose to go on a diet, please take a daily multivitamin to help replace the nutrients you are missing.

Posted in Nutrition | Tagged diet, eating, foods, permanent, weight | Leave a comment

Food Combining: Learn The Tips On This Necessity For Better Health Today (part 1)

Posted on May 7, 2012 by admin

Eating is one of the many sources of enjoyment given to us by Nature. Though it was intended for this activity to be a source of nourishment for the body, since most modern day dietetic innovations avoid proper food combining methods, they tend to do the exact opposite.

In a traditional diet, everything is mixed together in every possible way. Ease of digestion is not the goal, but rather the excitement of the senses in one meal. Dr. Tilden used to say that Nature never produced a sandwich-a modern dietetic abomination. Such protein-starch combinations are of recent origin and like most modern meals today, instead of feeding the body, they actually poison it.

Bad Food combining creates indigestion, fermentation and gas. Food is fermenting and putrefying in the intestines, which is one of the main causes of constipation, a clogging up of the bodily tissues.

Therefore, simplicity of a meal should be the goal when eating for health. This includes first and foremost, proper food combining principles, consuming the right quantity at a time and eating only when truly hungry.

Certain foods take longer to digest than others and therefore should not be eaten at the same time as ones that would leave the stomach quicker. Ideally, eating one kind of food (fruit or vegetable) at a time would be the most ideal, but granted, we live in a society where success at certain things might hinge on enjoyment of the practice.

Variety is one sure way of increasing enjoyment but when it comes to food, especially for the health seeker, this should be approached with care.

Food combining: Classification of Foods

Foods (when eating for health) can be classified as follows.

-Fruit:
1. Sweet Fruits: Tropical fruits, Bananas, Mangoes, Papaya, Dates, Dried fruits, Sweet apples.
2. Acid Fruit: Citrus, Lemon, Tomatoes, Berries, Pineapples.
3. Sub-Acid Fruit: Most tart apples, Pears, Grapes,
4. Melons: Cantaloupe, Honey-Dew, Water Melon etc
5. Fatty: Avocadoes, Olives, Durian, Young coconuts

-Nuts and Seeds

1. Non-Starchy Foods:
Green leaves, Carrots, Fruit Vegetables e.g. Cucumber, Bell Peppers, Zucchini
2. Starchy: Cooked Vegetables (roots), Grains (if necessary)

3. Lettuce and Celery:

Listed above are foods in their various categories, in the next part of the article on:
Food combining: Learn the tips on this necessity for better health today.
I will ensure to go over the details of food combining principles for eating right.

Boy, would it have been easier if we just ate like apes eh? Eat a mono-meal of fruit and a few leaves and call it a day. Well, in this present age, that is close to impossible for most people, hence the need to at least learn better food combining methods for health.

See you in part 2 of this article.

Posted in Nutrition | Tagged combining, eating, foods, fruit, fruits | Leave a comment

Green Tea And Its Numerous Health Benefits

Posted on May 7, 2012 by admin

The Asian community has used different teas and herbal remedies since before the Great wall of China (over 3000 years ago) and green tea has stood out as one of its hallmark and most helpful constituents. Green tea has been used to treat everything from heart attacks, stroke to infections like sepsis (blood infection) and numerous other conditions and maladies.

Many studies have been undertaken to research and extract the helpful and beneficial compounds in Green tea that exhibit these medicinal qualities. Recent scientific studies listed in Chemical & Engineering News (produced by the American Chemical Society) show numerous benefits from the different compounds contained in green tea leaves (polyphenols like EGCG, a powerful antioxidant that inhibits the rapid growth of cancer cells without harming healthy cells).

Studies done at Harvard and Cornell Universities on these polyphenols have shown a marked decline in carcinogen activity (up to 60% blocking reduction in oxidation capabilities) and even a biocide or antiseptic quality (hence the current research on green tea polyphenols and tooth and gum disease). Green tea has shown and evidenced antibacterial properties and more research in this area is needed.

Green tea polyphenols inhibit and retard cancer growth in every study and form of cancer from liver cancer to uterine and breast cancer. It is important to note, that although no cancer in these studies was completely cured, duration of survival and quality of life were increased in every circumstance. EGCG, due to its abilities to retard cancer with no known side effects is currently being researched to see if higher concentrations and / or more powerful synthetic derivatives could be used as a replacement for the current highly toxic chemotherapy.

Study after study shows a vast reduction in onset and risk of various cancers and disease. Other green tea findings included a study of smokers at the Arizona Cancer Center in Tucson showing that four cups of decaffeinated green tea every day for four months provided some protection against potentially carcinogenic damage to DNA, as measured by the amount of an enzyme in the urine. Many studies have linked green tea to lower risk for breast, pancreatic, colon, esophageal, and lung cancers. University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol. The polyphenols inhibit the absorption of cholesterol in the digestive tract, which actually helps lower the amount of LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream.

Basically, to sum this up, green tea has been proven to reduce the risk of cancer and retard the growth of cancer cells in every case and for this reason alone should be incorporated into every diet. Just 4 cups of green tea per day has been found to slow and retard breast cancer in women (Japanese scientists at the Saitama Cancer Research Institute). 4 cups of green tea daily gives the optimal amount of polyphenols for the best results.

Posted in Nutrition | Tagged cancer, cholesterol, green, polyphenols, tea | Leave a comment

Take Low Cholesterol Diets To Reduce Cholesterol

Posted on May 6, 2012 by admin

Cholesterol is a fatty lipid, steroid and an alcohol found in the body tissues and blood plasma of vertebrates. It is the cardinal part of the outer membranes of human body cells and it circulates in the blood of humans. Cholesterol in the human body comes from two major sources diet, and the liver, where it is produced internally.

High cholesterol in the blood is considered to be unhealthy. The cholesterol levels in the bloodstream can influence the pathogenesis of certain conditions, such as the development of atherosclerotic plaque and coronary artery disease. It gets collected on the walls of arteries and interferes with the flow of blood. This buildup of cholesterol in the blood vessels may constrict the passages considerably and inhibit the flow of blood to and from the heart.

Recent researches have revealed that the abundance of protein complexes, called lipoproteins are responsible for the cholesterol build-up in the blood vessels. Elevated levels of bad cholesterol (low density lipoprotein or LDL), are responsible for heart disease.

Cholesterol in your diet:

A high cholesterol diet is considered an unwholesome diet. Diets which are rich in animal fats, meat, poultry, fish, oils, egg yolks and dairy products, are a rich source of cholesterol. Organ meats, such as liver, are extremely rich in cholesterol. A diet high in cholesterol is fatal for the heart.

Healthy diets are considered effective to lower cholesterol. A low cholesterol diet contains extremely low or no cholesterol at all. Diets of plant origin are the best low cholesterol diets.

Fat is the major source of energy for the body, but excessive fat in the diet is dangerous. The excess fat raises blood cholesterol levels. Its bad for the circulatory system and causes heart attack or stroke. The amount of fat and cholesterol in a diet should just be according to the daily calories required by the body. Thus a perfectly balanced diet is considered a healthy diet.

A perfect low cholesterol diet has the following features:

Its low in fat (especially saturated fat).
It contains low cholesterol.
It contains low sodium contents.
Its rich in fiber and complex carbohydrates.
Its usually a low calorie diet.

Besides taking low cholesterol diets, sugar and alcohol consumption should also be reduced, as they contribute to high cholesterol levels.

Avoid eating at fast food restaurants, because fast foods are usually high in fats and sodium.

Regular exercise can also reduce cholesterol levels.

Recent studies have revealed that certain deep-sea fish — mackerel, salmon, herring, albacore tuna, and lake trout — contain an oil called Omega-3 fatty acid that may help to lower blood cholesterol.

Posted in Nutrition | Tagged blood, body, cholesterol, diet, fat | Leave a comment

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