I’m thrilled to announce the kick off of the inaugural teleseminar intensive – Conversations with the Masters of Healing – starting next month!

Conversations with the Masters of Healing is a rare opportunity for you to listen, learn, change your life, and speak to the most incredible practitioners of healthcare and healing. To register click here.

This complimentary Program will run from July 13 to August 3rd, 2010 and includes an absolutely INCREDIBLE line-up of the top names in prevention and wellness . . .

Continue reading ‘Conversations with the Masters of Healing – FREE Teleseminar Intensive’ »

Back in September 2008 a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found 1-2 handfuls of pistachio each day to lower LDL cholesterol levels. Adding 1.5 ounces of pistachios daily resulted in a 9% reduction in LDL cholesterol and 3 ounces lowered LDL cholesterol levels 12%. The study also found HDL cholesterol levels to increase in women who added 3 ounces of pistachios to their daily diet.

Here’s another reason to consider including pistachios as part of your heart healthy diet plan. A 1 ounce serving of pistachios provides 49 nuts, while a 1 ounce serving of almonds equals 23 nuts, pecans 19 nuts, and walnuts 14 nuts. You may feel like you are “getting” a little more when you enjoy a serving of pistachios for a heart healthy snack.

Just keep in mind that nuts, including pistachios, are high in calories. Watch your portion size!

All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
http://www.lisanelsonrd.com

New research indicates using body mass index (BMI) as a tool to measure health risk in older individuals may not be so accurate.

What is BMI

Body mass index is calculated using an individual’s height and weight. Weight in kilograms is divided by height in centimeters squared. BMI is frequently used to assess overall health. The World Health Organization established four BMI categories:

Continue reading ‘Benefit to Being Overweight and Over 70’ »

Take your fitness routine outside! Here are three activities you can add to your week for fun with friends/family and calorie burning to reach your health goals.

Calories burned for each of these warm-weather activities:

Freestyle Fitness – Swim laps

Take you kids to the pool and swim laps while they play. Swimming works the entire body, toning your chest, back, abs, arms, and shoulders.

Calories Burned per 30 minutes = 238 calories

Continue reading ‘3 Activities to Burn Calories in the Great Outdoors’ »

Here are three foods you can incorporate into your diet to promote a lower cholesterol.

1. Navy Beans

Navy beans are a great source of dietary fiber. Dietary fiber promotes a lower cholesterol level, specifically soluble fiber which can lower LDL cholesterol 1% for every 1-2 grams of soluble fiber consumed daily. Aim for 25-35 grams of dietary fiber daily. Cooked navy beans provide 6 grams of fiber per ½ cup.

Some additional sources of dietary fiber include broccoli, oatmeal, blueberries, and brown rice.

Continue reading ‘3 Foods to Lower Cholesterol’ »

Here are 5 foods containing nutrients that promote a lower blood pressure:

1. Sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes are a rick source of potassium. Adequate potassium intake is essential to balance sodium and promote a lower blood pressure. The recommended ratio of potassium to sodium is 5:1. Increasing potassium intake can result in a blood pressure reduction of ~5 mm Hg systolic and ~2.5 mm Hg diastolic.

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High blood pressure is a serious condition that requires treatment. Here are answers to four frequently asked questions you need to know.

What is high blood pressure?

Blood pressure equals the force pushing against your artery walls when your heart beats and when it rests. The systolic pressure is the force against artery walls when your heart beats (contracts), while the diastolic pressure is the pressure against your artery walls when the heart relaxes (between beats).

High blood pressure is a reading equal to or greater than 140/90 mm Hg. A reading between 120-139/80-89 mm Hg falls within the pre-hypertension category. A blood pressure below 120/80 mm Hg is considered normal. High blood pressure is typically diagnosed after more than one elevated blood pressure reading.

Why is high blood pressure dangerous?

Continue reading ‘High Blood Pressure – 4 Frequently Asked Questions’ »

To begin promoting lower cholesterol you want to replace these less healthy food choices with heart healthy options.

Here are 2 foods you can add to your diet to promote a lower cholesterol:

1. Atlantic Salmon

Salmon is a rich source of omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3’s have many benefits, some of which include decreased lipoprotein A, lowered triglycerides, reduced blood pressure, elevated HDL cholesterol, and decreased risk of blot clots.

Some additional sources of omega 3 include fish, ground flaxseed, and walnuts.

Continue reading ‘2 Foods to Lower Cholesterol’ »

Here’s a guest post from Eva Alexander providing answers to some frequently asked questions about the Mediterranean diet.

Most people say the Mediterranean diet is high in fat. Can people still lose or maintain weight on a Mediterranean diet?

The Mediterranean diet is high in fats. But these consist of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. These are healthy fats needed by your body. In contrast, the typical American diet is rich in saturated fats. It should be noted also that fat content in your diet does not determine weight loss. It is your calorie consumption that will generally influence weight loss and optimum weight management. Mediterranean diet provides lots of healthy benefits but it is still essential to lower your calorie consumption to achieve better results.

What’s the major difference of American and Mediterranean diets?

Continue reading ‘Mediterranean Diet – Common Questions Answered’ »

Health care reform has a direct impact on nutrition information available at restaurant chains.

Nutrition Labeling of Menu Items at Restaurants

This provision requires restaurant chains (those with 20 or more outlets) to include calories on menus, menu boards (such as drive through menus), and food display tags. Additional nutrition information will have to be available and provided upon customer request, such as fat, saturated fat, carbohydrates, sodium, protein, and fiber. The intent is for the information to be uniform and consistent within a restaurant chain and between different restaurants to reduce confusion and make the information consistent. It doesn’t look like this will go into affect until 1 year after bill passed into law.

All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
Heart Healthy Tips
http://www.hearthealthmadeeasy.com