Lower CholesterolDr. Houston Answers Your Top Heart Health Questions – Part 4
All right, this is the final series of questions and answers from my interview with Dr. Mark Houston in February 2010.
Lisa Nelson RD: Does grape seed really help lower blood pressure?
Dr. Houston: Yes, systolic blood pressure is reduced about 8 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure 5 mm Hg. It is in the formulas mentioned above.
Lisa Nelson RD: What causes of an enlarged heart and are there ways to reverse an enlarged heart?
Lower Blood PressureDr. Houston Answers Your Top Heart Health Questions – Part 3
Here’s another four questions with answers from my interview with Dr. Mark Houston in February 2010.
Continue readingLower CholesterolWalnuts and Heart Health
There is some new evidence provided by a Yale University study linking walnuts to improved cardiovascular health. The findings show an improvement to the endothelial function in individuals with type II diabetes when study participants consumed a daily serving of 2 ounces of walnuts.
The study also found the addition of walnuts promoted increased fasting serum glucose levels, lower cholesterol levels, and lower LDL cholesterol.
Walnuts provide poly-unsaturated fatty acid omega 3’s, particularly alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). This fatty acid has been linked to many heart health benefits, such as decreased lipoprotein(a), lower triglycerides, and improved heart rhythm.
Here are a few ways to add walnuts to your diet:
- Mix walnuts with dried fruit for a nutritious snack
- Add toasted walnuts to a salad or pasta dish
- Sprinkle chopped walnuts on oatmeal or breakfast cereal
Keep in mind calories and portion control! A 1.5 ounce serving of walnuts provides ~278 calories. There are approximately 20 walnut halves in a 1.5 ounce serving.
All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
How to Lower Cholesterol in 8 Simple Steps
http://www.lowercholesterolwithlisa.com
Image courtesy of Aleksa D / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Lower CholesterolHeart Health – Eat Walnuts for Healthier Blood Vessels
A recent study found walnuts linked to improved cardiovascular health due to improved function of the endothelium (inner lining of blood vessels) in those with type II diabetes.
Not only was the walnut addition linked to improved endothelial function, but participants also experienced increased fasting serum glucose levels, reduced LDL cholesterol, and lower total cholesterol.
Back in 2004, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a label claim for walnut packages:
“Supportive but not conclusive research shows that eating 1.5 ounces of walnuts per day, as part of a low saturated fat and low cholesterol diet, and not resulting in increased caloric intake may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.”
One thing to keep in mind when it comes to walnuts (and nuts in general) is calories! Nuts are not low in calories, so you must watch your portion size. Going overboard can lead to weight gain and counteract the heart health benefit of adding walnuts to your daily diet. A 1.5 ounce serving of walnuts provides ~278 calories. There are approximately 20 walnut halves in a 1.5 ounce serving.
Here are a few simple ways to add walnuts to your daily diet:
- Sprinkle chopped walnuts on oatmeal or breakfast cereal
- Mix walnuts with dried fruit for a nutritious snack
- Add toasted walnuts to a salad or pasta dish
Do you eat walnuts regularly?
All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
How to Lower Cholesterol in 8 Simple Steps
http://www.lowercholesterolwithlisa.com
Image courtesy of Aleksa D / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Heart Health5 Tips to Prepare Healthy Meals Quickly
Do you need to get in and out of the kitchen fast? Here are 5 tips to speed up meal prep while still delivering a heart healthy meal:
- Purchase vegetables, such as baby carrots and salad greens, pre-washed and ready-to-eat.
- Select fruit packaged and pre-sliced.
- Use the microwave to cook vegetables quickly.
- Find recipes that require minimal cleaning and preparation of ingredients.
- Choose meats at the store with low levels of visible marbling (white, fatty streaks) to decrease time spent removing the fat.
If you have a good tip, feel free to share below!
All the best,
Lisa Nelson, RD
Heart HealthWhy is Heart Disease Overlooked in Women?
Did you know heart disease kills a woman nearly every minute in the U.S.?
If heart disease is responsible for so many female deaths why is it still being overlooked not only by women themselves, but by their physicians as well? Heart disease is not only the number one killer of men, but it’s also the number one killer of women.
Continue reading