Posts Tagged ‘Cholesterol Levels’

Fat Burning Foods – Patience is a Virtue!

Comments: 0July 9th, 2011 by admin

Are you self-conscious about your body? Do you want to burn up your extra fats and have the body you’ve been dreaming of? Try the magic of these fat burning foods.

Fat burning foods – the name itself already gives its meaning. However, you need to know some of the key terms related to nutrition in order to completely comprehend this topic. You can categorize these foods into two: the thermal effect of the foods and the boosting effect in your metabolism.

Chili peppers such as the Capsaicin in hot peppers, Cayenne pepper, Habanero, Scotch bonnet and even Jalapeno are some of the most common foods that have thermal effect in your body. But, never underestimate the effect of garlic; it is also very potent as thermal food. These spices aid in decreasing the cholesterol level and it can also help in controlling early hypertension (specifically, the garlic).

These seasonings/spices help in burning fats through its thermal effect. You may not even notice the change in your size but they do work in burning fats. Moreover, they do not only effect thermodynamic burn and control hypertension and cholesterol levels; but they are also great aids in speeding up your metabolism.

Foods that can help boost your metabolism are easy to find. Cinnamon, Apples & berries, other Citrus fruits, and foods that are rich in fiber are among them. Each of them has its own specific effect in our bodies.

• Cinnamon metabolizes sugar twenty (20) times faster and lowers down the glucose levels in our blood.

• Apples and berries contain pectin. They inhibit the fat absorption into the body and bind with water to flush fats out of the cells.

• Citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C, which dilutes fat; thus, it can be easily excreted.

• Foods rich in fiber aids in the peristaltic movement of our gastrointestinal tract. Hence, the bolus or the chewed food can easily be digested in our small intestine and the stomach only absorbs the needed nutrients our body needs. The body can now easily excrete and eliminate the toxic substances.

If your plan is only restricted on fat burning foods, however, it might not be that effective. Regular exercise such as alternating aerobics and cardio-exercises is also one of the best ways to have a fit and healthy body. Exercise can help you lose fats and can even prevent cardiovascular diseases.

Keep in mind that it could take some time before you can see the results. Having patience and being determined are keys to reach your goal. The effect sometimes varies from person to person. Don’t let your resolve easily shatter into pieces. Keep going and stick to eating the right fat burning foods. In the end, you can have the body you have always been dreaming of. Remember that “Patience is a virtue.”

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Posted in Diabetes

Diabetes Blood Sugar – The Normal Blood Glucose Ranges

Comments: 0February 5th, 2010 by admin



It is a fact of life for diabetics; they need to spend quite a bit of time pricking their fingers and measuring the amount of sugar, or glucose, found in their blood. There are a number of different tests that can be done, and it is now recommended that if you have diabetes you should check your blood glucose levels several times a day. But how do you know whether or not you have normal blood glucose levels? What exactly are normal blood glucose ranges? Are they the same for everyone or are they different once you have been diagnosed with diabetes?

It would be best for everyone, including diabetics, to have their blood sugar levels fall into the normal category. Some people with diabetes, however, find that to be an unrealistic goal. If you have diabetes, you should use the charts as a guide, but you should also make a plan with your doctor that includes realistic goals for you. It is also necessary that you monitor your glucose as your doctor tells you to; it is your best tool for keeping your diabetes in check.

The American Diabetes Association has a diabetes blood sugar chart that includes normal blood glucose ranges for diabetics. The goal is to keep your sugar levels within those ranges all the time.

A1C test.. below 7%
Before meal… 70-130
After meal… less than 180

Included in this diabetes blood sugar chart is the American Diabetes Associations recommends for proper blood pressure. Diabetes is known to affect the cardiovascular system, so maintaining your blood pressure at less than 130/80 is important, too. It is also important to know your cholesterol levels, and to adjust your lifestyle or medications if necessary.

The American Diabetes Association advises:

HDL: greater than 40
LDL: less than 100

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Posted in anemia

Heart Disease And Blood Tests Could You Be in Danger?

Comments: 0August 13th, 2009 by admin



The blood is your body’s life line. It carries food to every cell in your body and helps to remove wastes from those cells. Blood tests offer many clues about your health and your risk for heart disease.

All too often people don’t have any clue anything is wrong until its too late and heart problems occur. There is a way to know if you’re in a danger zone for heart disease.

And blood tests are the primary way to detect potential problems.

If you have relatives with heart disease or if certain factors increase your chance for heart disease, blood tests should be performed at least annually to determine your heart health.

When your doctor is concerned about heart disease and blood tests results, it means that certain levels of specific components found in the blood are not within normal ranges.

Some of the primary components are discussed here:

Heart Disease And Blood Tests Basics

Cholesterol levels are one key factor that can contribute to cardiovascular health. A lipid panel measures the fats (lipids) in your blood. These levels are a good indication of your risk of having a heart attack or other heart disease.

The panel typically includes:

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol or the bad cholesterol which increase the chance of fatty deposits in your arteries.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is the good cholesterol which helps clear excess cholesterol from your body. HDL helps keep your blood circulating freely.

Triglycerides help your body store fat and usually reside in the fat tissue.

Levels are normally low in your blood. Higher triglyceride levels increase your risk of heart disease.

Another blood test that can help to determine the possibility of heart disease is the level of homocysteine.

Homocysteine is an amino acid your body uses to make protein and build tissue. Higher than normal levels in the blood may increase your risk of heart disease.

Fibrinogen is a protein in your blood that can be revealed by blood tests. Higher than normal levels of fibrinogen can cause a clot to form in an artery.

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is another protein found in the blood. BNP is a natural diuretic that helps to eliminate fluid. If heart problems exist the levels of BNP in your bloodstream can be very high.

These are the primary components that are included in blood tests to help diagnose heart disease. Many times these tests are only performed after problems already exist.

Identifying heart disease early is very effective in the management to help promote a healthy heart.

If you have any suspicions at all that you may have heart disease or cardiovascular problems, get your physician to complete blood tests.

Your future could depend on it.

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Posted in anemia

Cinnamon and Diabetes – Can a Spice Really Help My Blood Sugar?

Comments: 0June 30th, 2009 by admin



Cinnamon has been used for thousand of years by many different cultures as a medicinal aid. Some studies have indicated that cinnamon might improve blood glucose and cholesterol levels in those suffering with type 2 diabetes. Cinnamon and diabetes may sound like an peculiar pairing because when we think of cinnamon we usually think of things we should be avoiding like rich pastries.

Researchers have believed for years that spices might help treat diabetes. Research has shown that cinnamon, cloves, bay leaves, and turmeric have each exhibited good results in raising the action of insulin in the body.

Some may think that this is a myth based on ancient beliefs or a rumor spread by the alternative health crowd. But there is actually an increasing amount of research data concerning the positive effects of cinnamomum cassia, the more common type of cinnamon found in the U.S.

While it has been demonstrated to be impressive in the control of blood sugar, those with type 2, (non-insulin dependent diabetes) appear to be the only beneficiaries. Those with type 1 (insulin dependent diabetes) appear to have received no real benefit.

Type 2 diabetes typically occurs in middle-age and causes the untimely death of 100 million people worldwide every year and has devastating affects on millions of other sufferers like heart disease, stroke and blindness.

It is important to note that cinnamon will not cure your diabetes. It may however provide a reduction in the quantity of insulin you take. It may as well benefit in the prevention of the disease.

Always be sure to check with you doctor or nutritionist before adding cinnamon to your diet. If recommended, use it exactly as suggested. Only a small, daily amount should be needed and can be added to foods and beverages you already consume. Many use the common powder or cinnamon stick. Cinnamon pills are available too, and can be purchased in stores or online.

While cinnamon and diabetes may initially seem like an odd couple, it could be beneficial to look into if you have type 2.

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Posted in Diabetes

Alternative Health – Will the Addition of Spices to Your Eating Plan Help Lower Blood Sugar Levels?

Comments: 0June 18th, 2009 by admin



Certain spices might be helpful for controlling type 2 diabetes… so who says healthful diets for diabetes have to be dull? Think again! And some spices could help you to have lower blood sugar levels.

Let’s look at some helpful spices for type 2 diabetes:

Cinnamon: Although study results are mixed, some recent research shows that the this popular spice contains certain water-soluble polyphenolic compounds called procyanidins (type A) which mimic the actions of insulin, chromium and polyphenols. A 2008 report in Proceedings of the Nutrition Society written by USDA researchers, looked at glucose control and cinnamon.

Cinnamon supplementation reportedly was shown to improve the metabolic syndrome. People with type 2 diabetes showed improvements in:

Blood glucose levels Insulin sensitivity Cholesterol levels Blood thinning and Their HbA1c level… which is a measure of blood glucose control over a three month period.

Cinnamon reportedly reduced fasting blood sugar 18 to 29%, total cholesterol 12 to 26%, and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol 7 to 27%. It is not time to throw away your medications and substitute them with cinnamon sticks but cinnamon might be a tasty way to help gain control of type 2 diabetes.

The history of cinnamon shows it to be one of the oldest used treatments in Chinese medicine. A therapeutic dose of cinnamon is between 1 and 6 grams a day… and the minimum time frame to show results is often about 40 days.

Ground cloves: These also contain anti-inflammatory polyphenols, so it might be an idea to include these on your grocery list also.

Oregano: Another herb found to be high in polyphenols.

Different spices have different kinds of polyphenols, so way not add a wide variety of spices to your eating plan? Having a healthy diet and lifestyle are the most important factors in preventing or reversing type 2 diabetes. However, there are several herbs and spices that have been shown to help people with diabetes.

Add Spices To:

Vegan eating plans, probably the best kind for diabetics, are best with liberal doses of spices, so try some new spices with your veggies, brown rice, and whole wheat pastas. Oregano has long been an important spice in Italian foods. Try some on your whole wheat spaghetti or linguine. When you cook brown rice, try to see which new and interesting combinations of spices you can come up with each time.

Curry powders are made up of different combinations of spices, so try various kinds of curry until you find some that you like.

Another way to use spices is in salad dressings. Mix your favorite herbs and spices with some olive oil and vinegar and see what you can come up with. Or simply buy the ready-made Italian or vinaigrette dressings after reading the labels to find the ones with the best quantity and variety of spices. Fresh herbs such as cilantro are great when added to a salad of lettuce, spinach, mushrooms, chopped carrots, chopped onions, and chopped walnuts.

There are may cookbooks available which cover a wide variety of ethnic cooking including Indian vegan recipes or even a taste of Thai vegan foods. There are many recipes from around the world which show you how to combine spices with your diabetic eating plan.

Combining a healthy eating plan with the right spices will give you a good chance of reversing type 2 diabetes and having lower blood sugar levels.

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Posted in Diabetes