Health | life-in-brazil.info

Six Foods That Boost Heart Health

The majorities of baby boomers are looking for a way to loose weight and lower their cholesterol. Both of these are two important factors in heart disease, which still remains the number one killer in the United States. The good news is that you can dodge heart disease through your food choices. Below are six foods that can help boost your heart health.

Many studies have proven the variety of health benefits given by fish, ranging from joint inflammation in arthritis sufferers to brain development in babies. The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish support circulation and improve blood vessel function. Researchers have also determined that omega-3s can prevent heart-attack deaths as they stop the electrical disturbance that causes death and half of all heart attacks are due to these arrhythmias. Each week, you should eat one to two 3-ounce servings of fatty fish such as an Alaskan salmon, anchovies, herring or mackerel. By baking or poaching these fish at low heart you can help to preserve the omega-3s. For vegetarians, omega-3 rich flaxseeds can be added to oatmeal, smoothies, or salads. For those who don’t care for fish there are omega-3 oil supplements available as well.

Have you ever wondered why oatmeal is so good for you? In your body, this gluey beta-glucan, which is soluble fiber, binds to bile acids found in the intestines and stomach and excretes them as waste. In order to make more bile acids, the liver needs cholesterol and takes it from the blood. This results in lower blood cholesterol levels. You need 3 grams of soluble fiber each day to reduce your cholesterol by five percent. A cup and a half of cooked oatmeal is a good size serving that can be jazzed up in flavor with frozen berries, non-fat plain yogurt, almonds and much more.

High-glycemic foods like potatoes, white bread, and white rice should be avoided because you get a harmful burst of glucose and insulin that’s harmful immediately after eating them. These bursts tire out the pancreas in the long run and increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Research also shows that having high-glycemic foods at one meal will make you even hungrier and eat more at the next, which is why these foods are associated with weight gain. People with excess fat are much more likely to develop heart disease and stroke even if there are no other risk factors. Because of this, focusing on true grains such as brown rice, quinoa, and barley and choosing them over refined grains as much as possible.

Nuts are important for their unsaturated fats and their ability to help lower cholesterol. Walnuts actually contain omega-3 fatty acids, while almonds boost calcium, helping the heart muscle to contract, and Brazil nuts have selenium, which is a heart-protective antioxidant. About one ounce each day of nuts is good for you, but they do have a lot of calories so make sure to go easy on them. If you have a nut allergy, topping you salad with olives is a good alternative, as they contain unsaturated fats.

Beans also contain soluble fiber like oatmeal which helps to reduce cholesterol and keep arteries clear. By choosing the protein from beans instead of meat, you can cut back on saturated fats which raise cholesterol. Eating beans four to five times a week is recommended, as they can be added to a lot of meals. If you don’t tolerate beans well, try adding kombu, a sea vegetable, to them to help break down the components that cause gas. Your body also does adapt to beans over time, so try building up your bean servings slowly. Food enzymes can help reduce gas as well so don’t forget to take your enzymes.

Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and other berries all have strong antioxidant properties that can help fight heart disease and are also low in calories and high in fiber. Eating two cups of fruit each day for general health is recommended, but you should eat as many berries as you can tolerate. Free radicals can break down cholesterol that is flowing in your blood and make them sticky so to deposit on the arterial walls of your blood vessels. Fight this with antioxidant rich foods to reduce cholesterol build up.

Eating healthy is one step in boosting heart health and overall cardiovascular health. Exercise is also important in keeping your body strong and vibrant so one can live a healthier longer life.

More information on Heart Health Supplements is available at VitaNet

Antioxidant Health Drink-what to Look for

Antioxidant health drinks are the newest rage in the nutritional products world. Everywhere you look there are countless choices of mediocre products that it becomes very confusing. It is important to know exactly what you are looking for when choosing the best product

Let’s begin with understanding what exactly an antioxidant is. During cellular metabolism there are byproducts that are resultant in the same fashion as a car emits exhaust. This auto exhaust is damaging to its environment as are the left over free radical components are to their environment (the body) by damaging the cells walls and possibly corrupting the DNA. The damage done to the cell wall can lead to cellular death, or even worse, cellular DNA damage.

Let’s pretend, for example, that the continuous cell renewal process of creating 300 billion new cells every day to replace dying cells is akin to building a home. One day the blueprints that are lying on the desk has coffee spilled on them by one of the contractors. The following week the general contractor notices that the garage door was installed on the roof. His inquiry with the door company yields the explanation of, “well, that is where the blueprints indicated to put the door”.

The human body is the same way except the corrupted blue prints lead to abnormal cells that, through replication, spin out of proliferate at a speed that results in cancer. Free radical damage also leads to the inflammation that is responsible for (according to Time Magazine, Feb, 2005) Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, arthritis, heart disease, and many other maladies.

Antioxidants have properties that eradicate these free radicals. The magnitude of free radical damage in our day is one pass of a bus on a city street while you are breathing emits more free radicals into your lungs than your ancestors experienced in an entire lifetime. And that is why antioxidants are critically important to our health.

There are bizarre antioxidant claims made by antioxidant health drink companies than don’t measure up. One of the newest gimmick companies in the marketplace touts their chocolate drink as an antioxidant. This is lunacy considering the damaging effects of all the sugar that may lead to insulin resistance or Type II diabetes. Another makes a claim that the Acai berry, discovered in Brazil and marketed in an expensive bottle, is a totally complete antioxidant source with wicked healing powers. It is important to know that, because of the evolutionary nature of the human DNA, the antioxidant compounds that exist in nature are from a wide variety of foods and accomplish differnt things.

Blueberries, for example, contain an antioxidant that has been scientifically proven to be the most powerful brain protector of any known food at this time. Pomegranate has known antioxidant properties that positively impact cardiac blood flow, prostate protection, and erectile dysfunction.

When we are talking in terms of fruit juice as an antioxidant health drink there is a downside to them. The challenge is that the removal of the pulp from the fruit eliminates the barriers that slows sugar absorption into the bloodstream, thereby, allowing insulin spikes to happen. When choosing an antioxidant health drink you need to be sure to evaluate the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) factor. The USDA claims that 7000 ORAC units, daily, are necessary just to keep cancer at bay. The basic American diet yields approximately 1700. It is, therefore, crucial to remember to ingest the proper food and/or an antioxidant health drink everyday to minimize the damage.

The best overall purchase is a well rounded product that consists of many different antioxidant sources from herbs, berries, and other known natural foods.

Using your Health Savings Account to Pay for International Travel

Medical tourism first began to get popular in the 1990’s, when people began traveling in large numbers to Brazil for cosmetic surgery. But as costs have continued to rise, thousands of Americans have been traveling overseas for real medical conditions, such as knee replacements, by-pass operations, heart valve replacements, and other serious issues. Many countries are seeing medical tourism as a good way to bring in foreign money.

In many cases the quality of medicine available overseas is equal to the top hospitals in the U.S. Patients are showing up at places like the Apollo Hospital in Hyderabad, India, part of a 36-hospital chain founded by a cardiologist from Massachusetts General. A heart valve replacement may cost $50,000 to $100,000 in the U.S., and only $12,000 in India, including travel costs.

Escorts Heart Institute and Research Center, in Delhi, India, is another popular medical tourist destination. It was founded by Dr. Naresh Trehan, an authority on robotic cardiac surgery formerly based at New York University.

Blue Cross Blue Shield has just announced that they will pay for treatment at Bumrungrad International Hospital, in Bangkok, Thailand for individuals from South Carolina. Over 80,000 Americans received treatment there last year. The hospital boasts that over 200 of its doctors are board-certified in the U.S, and will perform a knee replacement operation for 20 percent of what it would cost in the U.S.

Who Does This?

Dodie Gilmore is a 60 year-old rodeo barrel-racing champ from Oklahoma. She runs a 180 acre ranch, but could no longer ride a horse because she needed a hip replacement. Her health insurance plan had an exclusion that wouldn’t cover her operation, and she really didn’t feel like paying the $35,000 it would cost her. Instead she and her partner flew to India where she had the surgery at the Max Institute of Orthopedics and Joint Replacement.

Her physician was Dr. S.K.S. Marya, who averages one American hip-replacement patient every week. Dodie’s total coast, including travel, was only $11,000. She even managed to take in a tour of the Taj Mahal.

Forty to Sixty percent of those surveyed say they would consider surgery abroad if it could save them $5,000 or more. Going out of the U.S. (perhaps even just to Mexico), could be a worthwhile strategy if you have an exclusionary waiver on your policy, if you’ll be having elective surgery not covered by your health insurance policy, or if you have a high deductible plan.

What is the Risk?

According to the Institute of Medicine, over 100,000 accidental deaths occur in hospitals every year. And that’s here in the U.S. Hospitals are a dangerous place to be, and you want to spend as little of your life in one as possible. So there are risks everywhere, and probably greater risks outside the U.S.

But the magic of the free-market does give you some protection. There is a lot of money flowing to countries and international hospitals that practice high-quality medicine. If a hospital does not provide quality service, you can bet its customers will go elsewhere, particularly if they are choosing among anywhere in the world.

The influx of foreign patients (and money) is enticing more western-trained doctors to return home, so the choices are actually increasing, and the quality and prices continue to improve. I believe that if you use care in choosing your provider and structuring your treatment, the risks are no greater than having surgery here in the U.S.

How to Research Your Options

Keep in mind that most health insurance plans still will not cover for treatment outside the U.S., particularly if you are traveling specifically to receive medical care. So check with your insurer if the cost of the treatment is going to exceed your deductible.

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations certifies hospitals here in the U.S. Their international division, Joint Commission International, certifies hospitals throughout the rest of the world. Make sure the facility that you are considering has been certified by them.

Then check out your doctor. Confirm that he or she is English speaking, and was trained in the U.S., U.K., Australia, or Germany.

Finally, consider hiring a consultant to help you choose the best hospital and surgeon for your needs. A good service will not only set up the treatment, but can also arrange all travel plans, meet you at the airport, and act as your liaison while you are being treated.

If you spend money from your Health Savings Account to pay for international medical care, the amount you withdraw is tax-free. Health Savings Account regulations also allow you to cover the cost of your travel if the reason you are traveling to get medical care is not “for purely personal reasons.”

When choosing how to manage your health, you should carefully consider all your options. International travel is a great option for people with Health Savings Accounts.

Antioxidant Health Drink Decisions Made Easier

Antioxidant health drink- the latest trend in healthy aging… The abundance of choices can be so confusing that many people simply throw their hands in the air and grab a soft drink or caffeine/ephedra laced energy drink (both of which are terribly harmful to the body). On other occasions they pick the first choice that is in front of them. The solution in making the best choice is to first have all the facts.

Let’s begin with understanding what exactly an antioxidant is. During cellular metabolism there are byproducts that are resultant in the same fashion as a car emits exhaust. This auto exhaust is damaging to its environment as are the left over free radical components are to their environment (the body) by damaging the cells walls and possibly corrupting the DNA. Damaging the cell wall is bad enough as the cell can be destroyed but damaging the DNA is even worse.

Let’s pretend, for example, that the continuous cell renewal process of creating 300 billion new cells every day to replace dying cells is akin to building a home. And let’s say one day a contractor comes into the office, sits on the desk where the blueprints are laying, then spills coffee onto those blue prints. The following week the general contractor notices that the garage door was installed on the roof. His inquiry with the door company yields the explanation of, “well, that is where the blueprints indicated to put the door”.

Most antioxidant health drinks on the market today make amazing claims that simply don’t stand scrutiny. There is one company that markets its chocolate drinks and foods as an antioxidant choice. This is lunacy considering the damaging effects of all the sugar that may lead to insulin resistance or Type II diabetes. Another makes a claim that the Acai berry, discovered in Brazil and marketed in an expensive bottle, is a totally complete antioxidant source with wicked healing powers. Again, when understanding the evolution of the human DNA, there is no one food that accomplishes everything the body needs in terms of antioxidants as there are countless antioxidants that accomplish various things.

Blueberries, for example, contain an antioxidant that has been scientifically proven to essential to a top brain fitness program. Pomegranate has known antioxidant properties that positively impact cardiac blood flow, prostate protection, and erectile dysfunction.

When we are talking in terms of fruit juice as an antioxidant health drink there is a downside to them. That problem is that the pulp that slows the absorption of the sugars and helps avoid insulin spikes has been removed from the fruit. When choosing an antioxidant health drink you need to be sure to evaluate the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) factor. The USDA claims that 7000 ORAC units, daily, are necessary just to keep cancer at bay. The basic American diet yields approximately 1700. It is, therefore, crucial to remember to ingest the proper food and/or an antioxidant health drink everyday to minimize the damage.

The best overall purchase is a well rounded product that consists of many different antioxidant sources from herbs, berries, and other known natural foods.

Are you interested in receiving a free customized health analysis and anti-aging report? By going to the website you will gain first access to the most powerful Anti-Aging drink on the market “AgelessXtra”. Go to http://naturalcellrenewal.com, pickup up this valuable information while gaining access to the newest Health Drink and Energy Drink AgelessXtra.

Baby Boomer Health and Wellness Starts With a Healthy Brain

You are a baby boomer and you desire health and wellness throughout your senior years. You know that you need some sort of a plan, but how do you get started? I propose that you start at the top…the head…and focus on keeping your brain sharp. Although this focus has the added attraction of perhaps reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s (a HUGE bonus for starting here), you begin with the head because you need a brain that functions well in order to reach your goal of overall health and well-being. Also remember that medical research has linked cardiovascular problems to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s, so things that are good for your heart will also be good for your brain.

Now grab a piece of paper and start to write your brain health and wellness plan down.

1. Assess your heart’s health – Write down the following conditions. Place a P beside each condition you do not have – you will take steps to prevent developing the condition. Place an A next to the conditions you have – you will take steps to address the condition.

* Heart disease

* High blood pressure

* Diabetes

* Stroke

2. Find out some numbers that indicate heart and brain health. Write down the following and place your numbers beside each. Maintaining healthy numbers can improve brain performance. If any of your numbers are not in the healthy range, take steps to correct them.

* Cholesterol – needs to be less than 200 mg/dL

* Blood sugar – needs to be less than 100mg/dL (fasting)

* Blood pressure – needs to be less than 120/80

* Weight – compute your body mass index, BMI, to learn if your weight is in a healthy range. A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered normal weight. The BMI formula is: weight / [height (in inches)]2 x 703. First change the height to inches and then square the results (5 feet five inches becomes 65 inches; then 65 x 65 = 4225.) If you weigh 140 pounds, this is the calculation: 140 / 4225 = 0.033136 and then .033136 x 703 = 23.295. Your BMI is 23.295.

3. Eat a diet rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids – All of the foods listed below are good for the brain. Read the suggested foods and then write down four or five foods you need to eat less often and four or five you need to eat more often. Remember that a healthy diet avoids saturated fat and cholesterol while it includes:

* Dark-skinned fruits and vegetables – eggplant, red bell peppers, beets, broccoli, spinach, Brussels sprouts, red grapes, cherries, oranges, and all kinds of berries (blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, strawberries, and raspberries). Dark-skinned fruits and vegetables have the highest levels of naturally occurring antioxidants and protect the brain from free radicals.

* Cold water fish – tuna, mackerel, anchovies, trout, herring, salmon, sardines, and whitefish. With omega 3 fatty acids that are beneficial to cell membranes.

* Other foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids – green leafy vegetables, avocados, Brazil nuts, cashews, pistachios, walnuts, canola oil, flax seed oil, olive oil, and peanut oil. Nuts also contain vitamin E, which is a potent antioxidant.

4. Exercise your body — Physical activity makes the heart pump faster and increases blood flow to the brain. This increased flow brings more nourishment to brain cells so that they function better. Any kind of exercise is acceptable as long as it is a moderate to vigorous activity, like brisk walking, yoga, biking, or gardening, and you do it for 30 minutes every day. Write down 2 or 3 kinds of exercise you want to try and the time you plan to exercise each day.

5. Exercise your brain – staying mentally active will generate new brain cells and connections (even in the older brain). Try new things: play mind games, do crossword or number puzzles, take a class, go to a play, read challenging articles and books, get a new hobby. Now get your paper, list 3 things you do to stay mentally active, and write down one new thing you will try.

6. Stay socially active – research has shown that the lonely, isolated individual is more likely to eventually develop Alzheimer’s or dementia. Stay plugged in to social activities like joining a club, seeing friends often, volunteering, traveling, etc. Grab your paper and write down one new way you will try to connect with other people socially.

7. Work to reduce stress – Learn a relaxation technique like meditation or yoga and perform it regularly. Grab your paper and write down which technique you will learn and the time you will set aside to practice the technique.

8. Stop unhealthy behavior – Substance abuse damages the brain and other systems in the body. Write down the following unhealthy behaviors. Place an A beside each behavior you do not participate in – you will continue to Avoid it. Place an E beside each behavior you take part in – you will take steps to Eliminate it.:

* Smoking

* Too much alcohol use

* Use of illegal drugs

* Abuse of prescription drugs

Take a look at your paper and you will see a workable plan for improving brain health. Remember that empowering the brain is very important if a baby boomer is going to achieve health and wellness. Follow the plan you have created. Change it when the need arises. You will find that you are on your way to health and wellness – baby boomer style.

Nutrition that Supports Eye Health

Your vision is one the most precious gifts you have. Maintaining good vision and eye health throughout your lifetime is important. There are a number of proactive tips that can help you to take care of your most delicate sensory organ—your eyes.

If you are concerned about your eyes you should be mindful of the sun’s rays, working long hours staring at your computer, watching television, pollution and environment, and a poor diet—all which can affect eye health. Simple eye care health tips can help you to protect your eyes from possible damage due to environment and the stress of everyday life.

Wear sunglasses when you’re out. The UV rays of the sun can harm your eyes as well as your skin. Optometrists say you should wear sunglasses on a sunny day or a cloudy day. Clouds may partially block the sunlight, but UV rays can penetrate clouds. Even if you wear UV-protected contact lenses, you should wear sunglasses to protect the whites of your eyes.

Computer tips. Keep your monitor about five to nine inches below eye level. This position offers the least strain on the eyes and is conducive to blinking. Most people working on the computer do not blink as often as they should. Blinking helps retain moisture levels in the eyes and is good exercise for the eyes. Following the “20/20/20 rule” may also help relieve eye strain caused by too much time on the computer. Every twenty minutes look away from the computer and fix your gaze about 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This will help keep the eyes focused. Splashing cold water over your eyes during breaks can ease eye tension.

Regular exercise. Engage in a regular exercise program. Exercise helps to maintain optimal blood circulation and ensures that the eyes receive a supply of oxygenated blood.

A healthy digestive system. Eye health, as with overall health, depends on the proper absorption of nutrients.

Drink plenty of water. Drink about 8 to 12 glasses of water a day. Cloudiness in the white of the eyes may be due to insufficient water intake.

Get sufficient rest. Getting a good night’s sleep refreshes the eyes. Lack of sleep can cause the eyes to appear tired and lacking in luster. Tired eyes may not perform at optimal levels during the day.

Smoking and alcohol consumption. Smoking can have adverse affects on overall health and, particularly on eye health. Smoke irritates the eyes and eventually may effect the proper functioning of the eye. The same is true for alcohol. Too much alcohol can also diminish your body’s ability to absorb Vitamin A.

Do not rub eyes. Do not rub tired eyes, as any irritant in the eye can damage the surface of the eye. Instead, palm your eyes and massage in circulation motion.

Contact lens wearers. Most contact-lens wearers make the mistake of overusing their contacts. Contact lenses are not designed to be worn for more than twelve hours a day, as it can cause discomfort and may lead to eye damage.

Eye nutrition. Including plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet is a good way to get the proper nutrition to support eye health. Vitamins and minerals, such as, Vitamins A, C and E, zinc, selenium, folic acid benefit overall health, but are especially beneficial to eye health.
Cabbage, carrots,, papayas, green peas, spinach and other green leafy vegetables such as lettuce, collard greens, turnips, broccoli, and kale are all rich in beta carotene and other eye nutrients. Liver, lean ground beef, egg yolks and seafood are also healthy for the eyes.
Eye nutrients you should consider incorporating in your diet include:
Bilberry:Bilberry has been used for centuries to support eye health. Its nutrients can help protect against eyestrain and fatigue. Bilberry also supports a healthy blood circulation to the eyes.
Vitamins: Vitamins A, C and E are antioxidants. Vitamin A is well-known for its role in supporting eye health. Vitamin C nutritionally helps in tissue cell regeneration and supports healthy blood vessels. All three of these vitamins can help to protect the body, including the eyes, from free radicals. Vitamin A supports the regeneration of rhodopsin—which is found in the rod cells of the human eye.
Carotenoids are powerful antioxidants, too. They also nutritionally protect cells from free radicals. Carotenoids, specifically beta-carotene, are believed to enhance the function of the immune system. Beta-carotene is the precursor of vitamin A in the body. High concentrations of certain carotenoids are found in the eyes. Eating foods which have greater amounts of these carotenoids may help maintain eye health.

For Eye Health Try to Eat Foods that Contain:

Lycopene helps to maintain optimal vision. Lycopene is found in tomatoes; processed tomatoes contain higher concentration of lycopene.
Lutein is found in the center of the retina, called the macula. Lutein is found in food sources such as spinach, broccoli, and peas. Often called, “nature’s sunglasses”, lutein protects the eyes from blue light present in sunlight, fluorescent light, welding light, and light emitted from television and computer screens.
Zeaxanthin, like lutein, is found in the macula in high concentration. Lutein and zeaxanthin are often found in combination in the same vegetables, likespinach, broccoli and peas.
Selenium is necessary for the absorption of Vitamin E. Mixed nuts, especially Brazil nuts, are rich in selenium. Fish is another good source.
Zinc is highly concentrated in the retina. It is essential for oxidation and metabolism. Zinc is also responsible for the release of Vitamin A from the liver. Zinc is found in abundance in protein-rich foods. All kinds of meat and fish contain zinc. Dairy products and pumpkin seeds also contain zinc.
Copper is needed for the assimilation of zinc. Food sources that contain copper include green leafy vegetables, whole grain cereals, organ meats and nuts.
It is important to begin the right eye health care regimen as early as you can to maintain eye health. As you age your body’s ability to absorb nutrients that are required to support eye health may change.If you are not able to maintain a balanced diet, you may want to consider eye health supplements for a consistent supply of nutrition that will promote eye healthcare. Taking a supplement like Crystal Vision Matrix to nutritionally support eye health can help to close the gaps your diet may leave. Ask your doctor whether a supplement, like Crystal Vision Matrix, is the right choice for you.

life-in-brazil.info

Categories

Site Sponsor

Blogroll

Revitalize Your Health With Acai Puree

Health Supplements and Natural Beauty Products-Acai Berry

Find Out the Amazing Health Benefits with Natures Best Acai Berry

Ph Balance and your Health! Please Read to save your health!