Blog - Page 14 of 121 - Lower Cholesterol and Blood Pressure with Lisa Nelson RD

Heart Health3 Awesome Ways To Keep Your Heart Healthy

Published July 17, 2018

Contributed by Ryan Peterson.

Heart health is one of those seemingly mythical areas of medicine for the layperson. We cannot see our heart in the same way we can see our skin, our limbs, and our waistlines, so we aren’t sure how best to improve our heart health. When we eat a more nutritious diet, we see our waistline shrink, and if we try out a new moisturizer, we can feel a new softness to our epidermis. With heart health, we may try different ways to lower our risk of cardiovascular problems, but we cannot see the impact. Regardless, you should still do everything in your power to keep your heart healthy.

Eat Well

Although it may seem obvious, the food we put into our bodies has a profound impact on our heart health. We need to eat a variety of antioxidant-rich fruit and vegetables. As a rule of thumb, each color signifies a different antioxidant, so it pays to try and eat the rainbow every day. Nuts are the superfood of choice for the heart. Instead of reaching for a candy bar which is loaded with fat and refined sugars, the unsaturated fats in walnuts and almonds can help keep cholesterol low, decreasing chances of a heart attack.

Oily fish are exceptional sources of omega-3 fatty acids which can lower your risk of heart disease and stroke.

If your cholesterol is high, you may be prescribed statins to help it reach a safer level. Taking statin medication does not mean you can eat whatever you want. You must still eat a nutritious and balanced diet. You may also opt to try and change the way you age with new natural supplements to help promote heart health.
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Posted in Heart Health | Tagged keep your heart healthy

Lower CholesterolStatins for Cholesterol: Can You Eat Whatever You Want?

Published July 11, 2018

Statin drugs are commonly prescribed cholesterol medications and one of the pillars of preventing and treating heart disease. The other pillars, unfortunately, are too often overlooked. Diet modifications, increasing physical activity, stress management, and weight loss continue to be the base of the cardiovascular health pyramid however they are all too often cast aside in our “take a pill” society. The common misconception that a healthy lifestyle is not needed when taking statins is leading to less than optimal protection from heart attacks and strokes.

Statins to reduce risk

Health professionals prescribe statins when cholesterol levels are out of balance and/or a person is deemed to be at risk for a cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke. Statins work by blocking the liver’s production of cholesterol, therefore, lowering LDL cholesterol circulating in the bloodstream. They also have the beneficial effect of raising HDL cholesterol. Some types of statin drugs will also reabsorb cholesterol that has built up in the arteries forming plaque or blockages.

Statins give a false sense of security

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Heart Health5 Bad Habits That Won’t Help Your Heart

Published July 3, 2018

Contributed by Ryan Peterson.
heart habits

If you care at all about your health and your body, you’ll surely want to take good care of your heart. After all, it’s perhaps the most important organ in your body or one of them at least. And there are also many things that you can do that will impact on the overall health of your heart. This is certainly something you need to think about, so read on to find out about 5 of the bad habits that won’t do anything at all to help your heart.

1. A Salty Diet

Having too much salt in your diet will be really damaging in the long-term, and it’s something that you definitely need to try and avoid if you want to keep your heart healthy. Consuming too much salt is one of the major factors that can lead to high blood pressure, and this is a condition that can take its toll on your heart if it’s left untreated. You should start improving your life by consuming less salt.

2. A Sedentary Approach to Each Day

These days, many people do jobs that involve not much more than sitting in front of a computer. And then they get in the car, drive home and sit on the sofa until they feel like going to bed. The problem with this kind of lifestyle is that it’s incredibly sedentary. You should try to squeeze in at least a little exercise each day so that your lifestyle doesn’t become completely sedentary and lazy.

3. Taking Drugs

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Posted in Heart Health | Tagged bad heart habits

Heart HealthExercising Safely In The Summer Heat

Published June 27, 2018

exercise safely There are many reasons to exercise…

Chronic disease prevention (i.e. heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, cancers, etc.)
Manage weight
Manage stress and mood
Improve sleep quality
Build muscle
Boost immunity
Improve brain function
Strengthen bones

The list of benefits goes on.

Whether you are a regular exerciser or just getting started, you need to ensure you take steps to protect your heart when you exercise in the summer heat.

Drink plenty of fluids.

Drink water before, during, and after exercise to ensure you stay well-hydrated. Avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks.

If you dislike drinking plain water, add flavor by adding fruit slices to a pitcher of water and refrigerate for a couple hours. You can try water with berries, cucumber, melon, oranges, or mint.

Dress appropriately.
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Posted in Heart Health | Tagged Exercising Safely In The Summer Heat

Heart HealthHeart Healthy Tweaks To Your Life That You Should Make

Published June 21, 2018

This guest post is provided by Amanda Ohls.

Heart Healthy tweaks

Those who worry about heart health issues due to genetics or lifestyle can start helping themselves today. The best thing that anyone can do is to be proactive about the choices they are making with regards to their heart health. The truth is that a few tweaks over a long-term period can do wonders for those who think heart issues could become a problem for them. Nothing will change if you are not willing to change your habits and the changes are not always as revolutionary as one might think. The following are tweaks to your lifestyle you can make in order to put your heart in better health.

Cut Down On Your Alcohol Intake

Everyone has heard that one glass of red wine per night can help with blood pressure. This might be true but the same rings true for grape juice as the antioxidants are what can help with heart health. Those who drink too much put their entire body under stress as most people do not stay well-hydrated and the consuming alcohol and/or caffeine can further exacerbate the issue. Too much caffeine and alcohol can be deadly as the alcohol can wear off far before the caffeine leading to issues. Work to cut your alcohol intake in half as your first tweak to a healthy heart…and liver will be much better off.
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Posted in Heart Health | Tagged medicare, medicare and heart disease, medicare part b

Heart Health9 Tips to Grill Healthy

Published June 13, 2018

healthy grilling tips
Use these tips to grill healthy foods that are safe, nutritious, and flavorful all summer long.

1. Select the right protein.

Healthier protein choices include skinless poultry, fish, lean red meat, and lean pork.

All visible fat should be trimmed prior to grilling.

Select cuts of meat that are labeled loin, round, choice or select. You may also use leaner group chicken or turkey in place of traditional red meat burgers.

Avoid prime grade beef which has more marbling (i.e. fat).

Use a rack so fat drips away from food.

2. Make grilled fish a regular part of your summer.

Fish is rich in heart healthy omega-3’s.

Healthy types of fish include salmon, trout, and herring.

3. Use the right seasonings and sauces.

Marinate meats, poultry, and fish for amazing flavor, low salt flavor.

Use ~ 1/2 cup of marinade or a tablespoon of spice rub per pound of meat.

Use spices, such as chili powder, cinnamon, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, basil, rosemary, thyme, paprika, or rosemary. Avoid salty seasonings like teriyaki, barbecue, and soy sauce.

DO NOT REUSE MARINADE FROM RAW MEAT.

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Posted in Heart Health | Tagged grill, grill healthy, grilling, grilling tips