Blog - Page 67 of 121 - Lower Cholesterol and Blood Pressure with Lisa Nelson RD

Lower CholesterolHere's another omega 3 option – Calamarine

Published December 22, 2010

The typical American diet tends to be low in omega 3 fatty acids, approximately 120 mg DHA/day, which is an omega 3 supplement may be beneficial. Some benefits omega 3’s have been linked to improvement in arrhythmias, blood pressure, lipoprotein(a) levels, arterial inflammation, HDL cholesterol, and endothelial function.

Fish oil is a very common source individuals choose to supplement to boost their intake of omega 3 fatty acids. Tuna, salmon, sardines, herring, and anchovies are common fish used for the production of fish oil supplements. Fish oil tends to have equal levels of EPA and DHA or in some cases may be slightly higher in EPA content.

A New Option

A new option produced by Pharma Marine Group is Calamarine. Calamarine is obtained from calamari, or squid, and contains higher levels of DHA. The company is also able to market Calamarine as “eco-friendly” because squid have a brief life cycle, breed rapidly, and are not endangered. Especially important with concerns regarding over-harvesting of our marine life, which fish oil production may play a part.

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Posted in Heart Health, Lower Blood Pressure, Lower Cholesterol | Tagged calamarine, dha, epa, fish oil, heart health, increase hdl cholesterol, lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, omega 3, omega 3 fatty acids, reduce inflammation, supplements

Lower Blood PressureAre you young, active, consuming a healthy diet, AND still diagnosed with high blood pressure?

Published December 21, 2010

I’ve been receiving several questions related to this recently, so wanted to address it. Here’s an example of a question:

I am and always have been thin. I do not smoke, do not drink alcohol, eat a very healthy diet high in fruits/vegetables and low in processed foods, exercise daily, and get plenty of rest. I have been diagnosed with high blood pressure. What do I do?

In this situation the standard steps you need to take to lower high blood pressure do not necessarily apply. That doesn’t mean be lazy, don’t exercise, and eat a high fat diet. That means you need to work with your physician for a full evaluation/lab work to determine the cause of your high blood pressure, since you do not have the typical causes of high blood pressure (overweight, poor diet, etc.). Once this is known you’ll be able to outline a plan of action appropriate for your situation.

All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
7 Natural Ways to Lower High Blood Pressure
http://lowerbloodpressurewithlisa.com

Posted in Heart Health, Lower Blood Pressure | Tagged doctor, essential hypertension, exercise, fruits and vegetables, healthy diet, high blood pressure, hypertension, lower high blood pressure, physician

Lower Blood PressureLower Blood Pressure and Fight Cancer with Broccoli

Published December 16, 2010

Back in 2004, researchers conducting an animal study linked glucoraphanin, a compound present in broccoli sprouts, to reduced blood pressure risk, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. The broccoli sprouts were found to increase tissue antioxidant defense mechanisms, lower inflammatory response, and improve cardiovascular health.

This was especially interesting since most research on broccoli has been in connection with anti-cancer properties, which is actually what I want to share today.

More potent broccoli

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Posted in Heart Health, Lower Blood Pressure | Tagged broccoli, lower blood pressure

Heart HealthHealthy Holidays – How to Make Heart Healthy Choices When Traveling

Published December 8, 2010

Christmas is just around the corner which may mean a road trip for you. Here are a few tips on how to make heart healthy choices when on the road this holiday.

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Posted in Heart Health | Tagged healthy eating, holiday, road trip, travel snacks

Heart HealthShould food stamps be used to purchase soda?

Published December 7, 2010

Mayor Bloomberg requested permission from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prevent food stamps be spent on sugary drinks in an effort to counter rising rates of obesity. This would then provide families with additional money for the purchase of more nutritious foods and drinks.

This could be seen as “picking on” individuals that struggle to make ends meet and rely on foods stamps.

What do you think?

Are the rising rates of obesity and increasing health care costs linked to people not knowing how to purchase healthy foods? Should the government be able to regulate what individuals using food stamps purchase?

My opinion:

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Posted in Heart Health | Tagged ban, beverages, food stamps, restrictions, soda, soft drinks

Lose WeightBreastfeeding Protects Against Childhood Obesity

Published December 2, 2010

Breastfeeding and moderate maternal weight gain during pregnancy can both play an important role in preventing childhood obesity, according to a review of the medical literature highlighted in the current issue of the new bimonthly, print and online journal Childhood Obesity, published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

About 1 in 3 children in the United States older than two years of age is overweight or obese. Clinical researchers are taking a close look at maternal and nutritional factors during pregnancy and infancy that could contribute to an increased risk of obesity during childhood.

Ruth Lawrence, MD, DD (Hon), Professor of Pediatrics, Obstetrics, and Gynecology at the University of Rochester (NY), describes the “strong” and “consistent” evidence that maternal weight gain of 40 pounds or more during pregnancy increases the risk of childhood obesity. She also reviews studies that demonstrate a link between breastfeeding and a reduced risk of obesity compared to infant formula. Dr. Lawrence explores the possible mechanisms that could explain this protective effect of breastfeeding in the paper entitled, “Does Breastfeeding Protect Against Overweight and Obesity in Children?” These include differences in feeding patterns and the act of suckling, milk volume consumed and satiety cues, and the nutritional and hormonal contents of breast milk compared to formula and how they regulate metabolism and energy balance.

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Posted in Heart Health, Lose Weight | Tagged breastfeed, breastfeeding, child, childhood obesity, feeding, infant, nutrition