I’ve been asked this question several times and want to take a moment to explain how the cholesterol found in foods relates to your blood cholesterol levels.

Dietary Cholesterol

Cholesterol is found in animal products, such as cheese, steak, and eggs. You will not find cholesterol from plant sources. The cholesterol in foods is simply “dietary cholesterol”. It is neither “good” nor “bad”. When you consume a food containing cholesterol the different components of the food are processed by the body. The liver packages the dietary cholesterol into low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. This is where the labels “good” and “bad” come into play. (FYI – There are other packages, such as very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol, but for simplicity we’ll stick with LDL and HDL.)

Continue reading ‘Cholesterol in Food – Good or Bad?’ »

You are invited to the FREE teleclass on TOMORROW, Tuesday, August 31!

“5 Biggest Dieting Myths Revealed“

On this call, we’re revealing EXACTLY which dieting strategies will help you shed the pounds once and for all, so you can look good, feel great, and enjoy life!

In this information packed call, you’ll discover:

Continue reading ‘5 Biggest Dieting Myths – Free Teleclass TOMORROW’ »

It’s important to know that heart failure may be linked to nutritional deficiencies. The right supplements can drastically improve your condition.

If you are diagnosed with heart failure here are four supplements to discuss with your doctor:

1. Coenyzme Q10

CoQ10 is a fat-soluble vitamin and powerful antioxidant. CoQ10 is directly involved in the production of energy and removes many free radicals from circulation. Free radicals lead to the oxidation of LDL and the subsequent chain of events that result in arterial plaque formation and narrowed arteries.

Continue reading ‘Heart Failure and Nutritient Deficiency’ »

Losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight is a key step towards heart health. Later this month I’m hosting a free teleclass with fellow dietitian Ursula Ridens if you want to know how to lose we1ght and keep it off – permanently!

You are invited to the FREE teleclass on Tuesday, August 31, titled

“5 Biggest Dieting Myths Revealed“

On this call, we’re revealing EXACTLY which dieting strategies will help you shed the pounds once and for all, so you can look good, feel great, and enjoy life!

(And more importantly, how YOU can lose we1ght and keep it off – permanently!)

In this information packed call, you’ll discover:

Continue reading ‘Diet Myths – 5 Biggest Diet Myths Revealed!’ »

The label given to LDL cholesterol of “bad” and HDL “good” cholesterol tends to be misunderstood.

“Good” and “Bad” Cholesterol

LDL cholesterols potential for oxidation which leads to the development of arterial plaque has given it the rap of being “bad”. While HDL cholesterol contains more protein and tends to pick up cholesterol dropped throughout your arteries and returns it to the liver giving it the role of being “good”.

However, I think it’s very important for you to realize that there are “good” and “bad” forms of LDL cholesterol and “good” and “bad” forms of HDL cholesterol.

Continue reading ‘Cholesterol – Good versus Bad’ »

For some background info on this issue review “Agent Orange and Heart Disease”.

New Coverage for Vets

On March 25, 2010, the Department of Veterans Affairs published a proposed regulation to establish ischemic heart disease as linked to Agent Orange exposure.

This meant until regulation becomes final, eligible Vietnam Veterans may receive disability compensation for these disease.

Controversy

Continue reading ‘Veteran Coverage for Agent Orange Exposure with Link to Heart Disease’ »

Here’s a few details on how the Health Care Reform Bill impacts Medicaid from a nutrition standpoint.

Medicaid

A 5 year grant will be established to provide incentives for implementing a healthy lifestyle. This includes weight loss, cholesterol reduction, diabetes prevention, and diabetes management. The grant will cover preventive services that are recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and will eliminate cost sharing for prevention services. The grant won’t be effective until January 1, 2011. (FYI – The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is established with the passing of the bill into law.)

Continue reading ‘Health Care Reform Bill – Medicaid Changes’ »

It’s well known high blood pressure increases your risk for stroke. A stroke occurs when blood flow to an area of the brain is blocked and brain cells become deprived of oxygen and die. Individuals with high blood pressure are 4-6 times more likely to have a stroke. An individual’s risk of having a stroke is directly related to how elevated their blood pressure is.

Now there is evidence linking high blood pressure with dementia and the risk is also directly related to how high your blood pressure is.

Continue reading ‘High Blood Pressure Linked to Dementia’ »

A few steps you can take right now to promote a lower blood pressure include:

1. Quit smoking
2. Lose and/or maintain a healthy weight
3. Decrease salt intake to less than 2400 mg sodium per day
4. Restrict alcohol to less than 1 drink/day for women and 2 drinks or less per day for men
5. Exercise 30 or more minutes daily
6. Following a heart healthy diet, such as the DASH diet to lower blood pressure

Be sure to sign up for the free e-course 7 Natural Ways to Lower Blood Pressure and http://www.lowerbloodpressurewithlisa.com.

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

There are some changes you may make in an attempt to be healthier than can actually be sabotaging your weight loss efforts. Let’s discuss some hidden calories that may hide in some supposedly “healthy” choices.

Bagels and Muffins

Muffins and bagels have changed drastically over the years. In the past, if you grabbed a muffin at your local coffee shop they would’ve been about the size of a tennis ball. Nowadays muffins are closer to softball size, while bagels have increased an average of 4-6 inches in diameter.

The increased size equals a dramatic calorie increase. One standard muffin or bagel can provide 400-600 calories.

If you’re in a hurry and the only option is to grab breakfast on the run, choose to eat half the muffin or bagel and save the rest for another day.

Salads

Just because it’s a salad doesn’t mean it’s the best choice on the menu.

Continue reading ‘Hidden Calories: Watch out!’ »