I previously shared some information on the potential link between choline and coronary artery disease. Here’s a little more info on choline you may find useful:

Acetylcholine and lecithin are derived from the B vitamin choline. Acetylcholine may protect against some forms of age related dementia. In the early 1970′s and 1980′s, abnormal uptake of acetylcholine, synthesis, and release was identified in individuals with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. However, there has been a lacks of strong experimental support to validate these findings in recent years.

All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
How to Lower Cholesterol in 8 Simple Steps
http://lisanelsonrd.com/howtolowercholesterol.html

A proposed link between the B vitamin choline and coronary artery disease is being explored. The relationship between choline and coronary artery disease (CAD) may involve the accumulation of homocysteine and the effect these concentrated homocysteine levels have on endothelial cells (inner layer of blood vessels).

Several studies indicate that homocysteine levels are a key contributor and primary risk factor for CAD. While on the flip side, several studies have shown no decreased CAD risk with a reduction in homocysteine levels.

So, the importance of choline in reducing the risk of coronary artery disease is debatable. Regardless, choline plays important roles in metabolism and normal cell function, so it’s worth knowing a little about this B vitamin.

Continue reading ‘Heart Disease and the B Vitamin Choline’ »

1. Increase your life span

Individuals who stay in shape as they age live longer, particularly when evaluating heart disease risk. An Archives of Internal Medicine study showed a workout a day may add ~4 years to your life. A sample from the Framingham Heart Study found individuals who walked 30 minutes 5 days a week lived 1.3 to 1.5 years longer than sedentary individuals. Boost your exercise intensity and studies show you may add 3.5 to 3.7 years to your lifespan.

2. Improve your quality of life as you age

Continue reading ‘4 More Reasons to Exericse (. . .if you needed more!)’ »

If you’ve ever tried to make a diet or lifestyle change you know it’s not an easy process. You need a compelling reason to keep moving forward.

What is your compelling reason?

There are two different types of motivators – intrinsic and extrinsic.

Intrinsic motivation is when you are motivated by internal factors. This form of motivation drives you to take action for the fun of it or just because you know it’s good for you and the right thing to do. Intrinsic motivation means you do something because of the satisfaction you feel from completing a task. Hobbies are usually motivated by intrinsic factors.

Extrinsic motivation is when you are spurred to change your habits due to external forces, such as wanting to lose weight or lower your cholesterol for your family so they worry less. Another form of extrinsic motivation may be tangible rewards you give yourself for achieving a goal. The Biggest Loser provides a great example of external motivation – lose the greatest percent body weight and win $’s. Other forms of rewards you can use for extrinsic motivation may include new clothes or a new CD/book when a goal is accomplished.

Typically, intrinsic motivators tend to keep you going in the long run, but using both forms of motivation can be essential to your success. Extrinsic motivators may keep you moving forward in the short term, while intrinsic motivators are the reason you stick with it long term.

Take a step back from the craziness of everyday life and really look at the “why” behind your desire to start walking in the evenings or your goal of packing a lunch instead of eating out.

Ask yourself . . .

Have you taken action and started to move forward towards your goal? Are you just thinking about it? What type of reward could you put in place to spur you on from an external point of view? What reminder could you put in place to keep you moving forward internally?

Here’s a quick example for someone trying to lose weight:

Goal: Walk after supper for at least 20 minutes 5 nights a week.
Extrinsic Motivator: Achieve walking goal for 2 weeks and reward yourself with a new book.
Intrinsic Motivator: Place picture of yourself from 10 years ago (when you were at your ideal body weight) on the refrigerator door as a constant reminder of how great you’ll feel once you reach your goal weight.

All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
Heart Health Made Easy

The type of heart failure you have may determine the effectiveness of a statin medication.

Types of Heart Failure

Systolic heart failure is when the heart does not contract forcefully enough to pump blood out of the aorta and into circulation.

Diastolic heart failure is when the heart does not relax properly to allow an adequate volume of blood to fill the left ventricle.

Statin Drug Treatment and Potential Complications

Continue reading ‘Heart Failure and Statin Drugs’ »

Physical activity, especially aerobic exercise, is beneficial for your cardiovascular system.

Here are 7 reasons to add physical activity to your daily routine starting today:

1. Lowers LDL cholesterol

Continue reading ‘3 Reasons to Exercise’ »

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’ »

A study conducted in the Netherlands found some obese individuals to not be at increased risk for heart disease due to their weight. I’m going to share what they learned because I don’t want you to start seeing headlines saying you can be fat and still be fit and start thinking it’s okay to remain a couch potato.

The Study

Dutch researchers identified a subset of 1,325 obese individuals, between the ages of 28 to 75 years-old, from the 8,356 participants in the Dutch Prevention of Renal and Vascular Endstage Disease study. Out of the 1,325 obese individuals only 90 were determined to be “metabolically healthy”.

Metabolically healthy means the participants did not have risk factors for diabetes and heart disease, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, or the use of cholesterol lowering medication. The Dutch study found only 6.8 percent of obese individuals in a larger population are metabolically healthy.

The Results

Continue reading ‘Can You Be Fat and Fit?’ »

Here are a few steps to promote weight loss:

1. Increase physical activity throughout your daily routine (i.e. park further from your office door, take the stairs instead of the elevator)
2. Cut back on dining out (i.e. pack a lunch for work)
3. Keep fresh fruits and vegetables within reach
4. Clean out your cupboards and eliminate foods that don’t support heart health
5. Cut back on TV time (just how many hours do you log each day in front of the tv?)

The list of steps you can take to promote weight loss and reduce heart disease risk goes on and on. Take it one step and a time!

Receive 1-A-Week Weight Loss Tips at http://www.weightlosswithlisa.com.

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