Eat Your Heart Out: The 10 Best Heart-Healthy Foods

 

Your heart is like the motor of your body. And like any motor, it has to be cared for, with the right ingredients going in to keep things at peak performance. And with heart disease remaining the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, adding a few heart-healthy substitutions to your daily diet is an easy way to start changing your lifestyle for the better.

 

10. Coffee

That’s right, coffeeholics, rejoice! Your favorite morning pick-me-up aids in natural fat burning and can even boost metabolism by 3-11%. In doing so, it becomes easier for your heart to do its job pumping on and on. Further research suggests moderate coffee consumption (1-3 cups/day) reduces the risk of a stroke, particularly in women.

 

9. Apples

The saying is right: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” on top of keeping your heart smiling. The fiber in apples blasts plaque buildup in your arteries and keeps further cholesterol from solidifying in its walls. Chomp away at the fruit as a lunch companion or an afternoon snack.

 

8. Sweet Potatoes

Topping the beta-carotene charts, sweet potatoes take vitamins A, C, and E and help reduce the risk of heart disease while delaying the bodily effects of aging. Low calorie, try baked sweet potato fries as a side, or pop in the microwave for a mindless meal.

 

7. Tomatoes

Rich in potassium and a great source of the antioxidant lycopene (a carotenoid believed to help keep blood vessels open and strong), tomatoes in any form will help fight your chances of a heart attack. On top of being low in sugar and high in folic acid, roasted tomatoes in garlic and olive oil is a spectacular side dish to pair with your next entree.

 

6. Oatmeal

There’s hardly a healthier way to start your day than with a bowl of hot oatmeal. A fantastic source of fiber, oatmeal lowers cholesterol and reduces the risk of heart disease. Avoid instant oatmeal, however, which tends to hide a lot of refined sugar, instead opting for steel cut or whole oat groats (a fancy name for oatmeal’s kernels).

 

5. Soy

Soy comes in a ton of varieties, from classic tofu to soy milk you can stir into that morning cup of Joe. It delivers an almost incomparable protein boost (half a cup can provide nearly 20% of your daily dose) while remaining low in sodium and cholesterol, common elements in many animal product alternatives.

 

4. Garlic

Not only does garlic make for killer flavoring, its cholesterol-reducing antioxidants lower blood pressure and increases overall blood flow. Keep it fresh, though. Processed garlic provides the same heart help, but not nearly to the same degree as full cloves nabbed in the produce section.

 

3. Red wine

The perks of an evening glass go beyond relaxation. Red wine contains the compound polyphenol resveratrol, an antioxidant that help clears bad toxins from blood and makes your heart’s job easier. The key here, though, rests in sticking with only one glass.

 

2. Seeds & Nuts

Nearly any kind of nut is your heart’s best buddy. From almonds and pistachios to a pinch of peanuts, most pack your heart’s necessary fiber and magnesium punch. Some, like walnuts, also carry the essential body fat, omega-3. As long as you avoid the kind with added salt, you’ve got a go-to, heart-healthy snack.

Likewise, sprinkling flax or chia seeds onto the foods you already eat delivers the same benefits of fiber and omega-3 acids. They’re a simple topping for salads, yogurt parfaits, fruit spreads, or even blended into a smoothie.

 

1. Salmon

Nothing compares to the levels of healthy, fatty acids you get from fish oils. Their omega-3 content goes hand-in-hand with lowering blood pressure and regulating good and bad cholesterol. Experts advise incorporating salmon (or other omega-3 rich fish like tuna and mackerels) into your diet at least 2-3 times a week. They work great as sandwiches for lunch or as the centerfold of a dinner pasta spread.

A specialist from ICE, Institute of Cardiovascular Excellence, says eating a healthy diet low in cholesterol, salt, and saturated fat can help you avoid heart disease. Combined with moderate exercise and lower stress levels, a heart-friendly diet will go a long way in keeping you at your best. And, with most of these delicious foods, your taste buds will thank you, too!

 

Categories: Blood, blood pressure, cholesterol, heart, heart disease, Heart-Healthy, nbsp, Red Wine, sweet potatoes

3 Major Signs Your Body is in Need of a Heart Transplant

 

The first successful heart transplant was done in 1967. Since that time, the procedure has been improved in a number of ways to allow patients to have a successful outcome. Heart transplants are generally done when patients fail to improve after all other medical procedures have been provided, but with good treatment and proper aftercare, these patients can enjoy greater longevity and quality of life. Heart transplants are usually suggested when three major signs are present:

 

1 – Imminent Heart Failure Despite Medical Treatment

Most heart transplant candidates have undergone a number of treatment options to improve their condition without success. In these cases, patients are carefully evaluated to determine if they are able to withstand the surgery and special treatment afterward that is necessary after a transplant procedure. Cardiomyopathy, which causes severe weakening in the heart muscle, is one type of condition that often does not respond to other treatments and may require a heart transplant.

 

2 – Severe Heart Pain

Patients with severe heart pain, called angina, may also require a heart transplant to relieve pain and allow them to engage in normal activities. This condition may be caused heart valve problems that cannot be corrected by other types of procedures. In these cases, medical conditions that could affect the outcome of surgery, such as liver, kidney or lung disease, may be a contraindication for heart transplant surgery. Cardiac specialists, such as those at ICE, Institute of Cardiac Excellence, administer echocardiograms, cardiac catheterizations, coronary angiograms and other diagnostic methods that are used to determine the severity of impairment.

 

3 – Heart Arrhythmias That Do Not Respond to Treatment

Another sign that indicates that a heart transplant may be necessary is chronic heart arrhythmias. Although a number of treatments are available to help regulate heart rhythm, such as medications and pacemakers, these may not be able to correct the underlying disturbance. These arrhythmias can occur in both the children and older people. Congenital heart defects in children that have not responded to other treatments may require heart transplantation to allow normal activities. A heart transplant may be the only way to ensure the child is able to live a normal life, free from the disability. Adults with severe arrhythmias must be free of severe vascular problems that might affect the outcome of heart transplant surgery.

 

If a patient has undergone a number of heart procedures and therapies and continues to have severe pain, fatigue, heart rhythm problems or physical defects in the heart that cannot be corrected by other means, a heart transplant may be necessary. Your cardiac specialist can advise you on the procedure, preparatory measures and what you will have to do after the transplant to continue your treatment.

 

Categories: healthy heart, heart, heart arrhythmias, Heart Attack, heart disease, heart health, heart pain, heart rhythm, Heart Risk, heart transplant, Heart Wellness, major signs

Testing Methods Your Doctor Might Use to Diagnose Your Condition

In the last several decades, numerous types of medical testing have helped doctors to make informed decisions about disease diagnosis and treatment. Today’s medical tests can diagnose everything from diabetes and hormonal deficiencies to cancer and genetic disorders. These five tests are the most common ones used by doctors in clinics and hospitals.

 

Biopsies

Some tests look directly at body tissue samples, called biopsies. During a biopsy, the doctor removes a small portion of tissue; the tissue may come from the skin, the mucous membranes or internal organs. Most often, a biopsy tests for cancer. This involves testing a small section of skin or of an abnormal growth.

 

Body Fluid Samples

The second test is a urinalysis, which tests the urine. Doctors can use this test for many reasons, including checking for drugs, pregnancy, infection, kidney disease and more. Another test that checks body fluids is blood work using hematology stains. Blood can be checked for the presence of drugs or infection. It also checks hormone, mineral, blood cell, glucose and oxygen levels and can determine the presence or extent of some diseases, such as kidney failure or heart attacks.

 

Radiography

Other tests help doctors look inside the body. Radiography uses electromagnetic waves to look at the bones, muscles and organs in the body. The most common type of radiation, the x-ray, is used to determine if bones are broken, teeth are decayed or tumors or other foreign objects are in the body. Other types of radiation include the mammogram, used to check breast tissue, and magnetic resonance imaging and computerized tomography, used to look at organs within the body, such as the brain, heart, kidneys and liver.

 

Stress Tests

Finally, a stress test uses a combination of exercise and monitoring to determine the health of the heart. This is a noninvasive test, meaning that no needles or probes will be inserted into the body. Instead, the patient’s blood pressure heart rate and rhythm will be monitored before during and after strenuous activity on a treadmill. This test helps doctors determine the strength of the heart and the extent of heart disease.

 

Many of these tests are truly modern marvels, some of which were not used until the 1900s. They help doctors understand what is happening to the cells and organs of the body, how effective treatments are and if a disease is progressing or has disappeared. This sampling of the five most common types of medical tests that may ordered will help patients and their family members be prepared for visits to their doctors.

Categories: body, doctor, Doctors, heart, medical tests, methods, Test, Testing, tests

Could Drinking Energy Drinks Give You a Heart Attack?

Energy drinks are part of the fasting growing area of the drinks market, but are they actually good for your wellness and wellbeing, or should you steer your family away from them as much as possible?

Energy drinks promise the user a quick burst of energy as soon as they down the liquid. Whilst this may be useful for various scenarios, such as a late night of studying or a challenging sports event, there is increasing concern that they could have worrying effects on the health of those who drink them on a regular basis. There is particular concern that these energy drinks may have a damaging effect on the health of the heart.

A team of researchers in Australia have been looking into this problem, using a group of participants. There were 50 participants in total and none of them had any underlying health problems. Each member of the research group was given either a can of an energy drink or the same amount of carbonated water. An hour after they had consumed these drinks, the group who had consumed the energy drinks were found to have experienced elevations in their blood pressure. Worryingly, the group who had had the energy drinks were also found to be experiencing something called endothelial dysfunction, which is a condition where the arteries of the heart are unable to relax properly and where there is an abnormal clumping of platelets. Both of these things increase the risk of the person suffering from a heart attack.

The researchers believe that the platelet clumping and the endothelial dysfunction are not down to the caffeine in the drinks (which is usually the ingredient that is suspected of causing harm) but down to the glucouronolactone that is contained in the drinks.

 

Categories: Drinks, endothelial dysfunction, energy, Energy Drinks, group, health, heart, Heart Attack

How Your Addiction May Be Affecting Your Health

A long term addiction can damage nearly every system in the body. Some drugs cause more damage to some bodily systems than others. Here are only a few of the ways that an addiction can badly impact your health:

 

Damage to the Nervous System

Drugs cause intoxication because they bind surprisingly well to the receptors on the surfaces of the nerve cells in the brain. Over time, the number of receptors, nerve cells and even the structure of the nerve cells are changed. Sometimes, these changes are permanent. Depressant drugs like opioids and alcohol also slow down bodily functions like breathing. An overdose occurs when a function like respiration is slowed down to the point of unconsciousness or death.

 

Pregnancy Complications

Women who are addicted to drugs while pregnant run the risk of premature delivery and complications like breech birth. However, the baby suffers the brunt of the mother’s addiction. Alcohol can stunt the growth of the brain and lead to fetal alcohol syndrome. Amphetamines and opioids cause babies to be born with underdeveloped brains, and cocaine can cause the placenta to separate prematurely.

 

Negative Impacts To the Circulatory System

Addiction can produce effects on the heart and the circulatory system that are more insidious than a sudden heart attack or stroke. Drugs that cross the blood/brain barrier like heroin can influence both the heart rate and the blood pressure. If the drug is taken to the point of addiction, the damage to the cardiovascular system can be permanent.

 

Drugs like amphetamines can be responsible for blood clots, which can lead to heart attack and stroke. Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is a scourge of people addicted to alcohol. Over years, the alcohol scars the heart muscle, and the heart begins to fail. The symptoms of this are fatigue, edema in the legs and feet and swollen veins in the neck. Alcohol can also react badly with medicines that are prescribed to treat a patient’s heart disease. One of the benefits of a drug addiction rehab center is that the staff is knowledgeable when it comes to the comorbidities that often accompany addiction.

 

Cognitive Damage

Addiction to drugs like amphetamines and marijuana can also impair thought processes like the ability to concentrate, decision making and planning and locating and reacting to objects in space. Some of these impairments are permanent.

 

As can be seen, the impact of addiction on a person’s health can be devastating. The sooner an addict joins a drug rehabilitation center, the higher his or her chances are of returning to good health.

Categories: addiction, Alcohol, drugs, Habits, health concerns, heart, Heart Attack, nbsp, nerve cells, permanent nbsp

The Health Benefits of Sex: 6 Doctor-Recommended Reasons

Having sex isn’t just good for your relationship or sexual health; it also has vast benefits for your wellbeing. According to Dr. Oz, the cardiothoracic surgeon and author who hosts The Dr. Oz Show, ‘When it comes to the topic of sex, I’ve been known to put it all out there. As a matter of fact, on the very first episode of The Dr. Oz Show, I jumped right in—to the point of telling the audience personal stories about my sex life with my wife, Lisa…I’m still passionate about this issue because taking care of yourself isn’t just about eating right and exercising. Being in a healthy, fulfilling sexual relationship can do wonders for your overall wellness.’ So what can having sex do for your wellness?

 

1. Heart Health: Dr. Oz notes, ‘We already know that sex can be a decent cardio workout (one 30-minute session can burn 70 calories); now research indicates it may protect your heart in other ways. A study in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy found that people who had sex an average of 12 times per month had greater heart rate variability (HRV)—a measure of how well the heart responds to subtle changes throughout the day (like standing versus sitting). Higher HRV is a good thing; it may lower your risk of developing heart disease, the leading cause of death for women.’

 

2. Anti-Ageing Wellness: ‘Have sex at least three times a week,’ Dr. Oz advises. ‘In a study at Scotland’s Royal Edinburgh Hospital, people in their 40s who reported having an average of 50 percent more sex than the typical person were judged by a panel of strangers to be about seven to 13 years younger than their actual age. Researchers believe the youthful glow comes in part from the release of the DHEA hormone during sex. DHEA, which is produced by your adrenal glands, has anti-ageing properties that can increase the production of collagen and may reduce wrinkles.’

 

3. Better Sleep: Dr. Oz explains, ‘Levels of the hormone oxytocin surge after sex, and its stress-reducing qualities may help you nod off more quickly. (The relationship between shut-eye and intimacy works the other way, too: One study found that women ages 42 to 52 who reported restless sleep patterns were less likely to get physical pleasure from sex than women who regularly got a good night’s rest.)’

 

4. Fewer Headaches: ‘Ever pass on sex because your head is pounding?,’ asks Dr. Oz. ‘You may be missing out on the very thing that could bring relief. A small study conducted at Southern Illinois University found that nearly half of female migraine sufferers felt better after orgasm. As endorphins flood the body, they may have an effect similar to morphine, muting your body’s pain response and increasing your threshold for discomfort.’

 

5. Fewer Colds: Dr. Oz details, ‘A study from Wilkes University in Pennsylvania found that people who had sex once or twice a week enjoyed a boost in their immune system, thanks to a 30% increase in immunoglobulin A, the infection-fighting antibody found in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. One caveat: Subjects who had sex more than three times a week actually had lower levels of the antibody than those who had less sex. Researchers believe that in moderation, the release of chemicals during orgasm may enhance your immune function, while too much of these chemicals may suppress it.’

 

6. Living Longer: ‘For women, quality trumps quantity when it comes to the lifesaving effects of sex,’ says Dr. Oz. ‘Simply having positive memories about your sexual past may add roughly four years to your life, according to research at the Duke Centre for the Study of Ageing and Human Development. Researchers found that these fond memories may encourage you to continue leading a happier, healthier life.’

 

Categories: anti ageing, health, Health Benefits, heart, heart health, nbsp, sleep, study, Women

About.com Yoga

In yoga, a heart opener is a pose in which the shoulders go back, allowing the chest to expand and blossom. It feels great to do these poses to counteract the hunched over, protective posture we often assume in cold weather. Here’s a list of chest expanding poses for beginning, intermediate, and advanced yoga students. Yes, some of these poses look a lot like backbends. As it turns out, backbending and heart-opening go hand in hand.

Categories: chest, hand, heart, poses, yoga

Could The Pill Be Damaging For Your Heart?

In the field of sexual health research, there has been a bit of bad news recently. Women who have been on the oral contraceptive pill for more than five years are facing a serious threat to their wellness and wellbeing through an increased risk of heart disease. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists have released a bulletin, warning the public about the risks that oral contraceptives could pose.

 

This report indicates that women who are on a high dose of oral contraceptives have a much greater risk of developing a blood clot in the vein (thromboembolism), the death of a heart muscle (myocardial infarction) or a stroke.

 

These complications are occurring less and less frequently, however, as a lower dose of hormonal contraceptives becomes more standard. The risk is also being lowered due to better screening of women who are deemed to be high risk. The rates of pill use in women over 35 has also dropped significantly recently, leading to fewer serious side effects.

 

It is rare to suffer from a pill-related heart attack. They occur in only around one in 14,000 people who take the pill and are aged between 30 and 39. Strike is more common, however, occurring around five times more frequently in women of this age group who are taking oral contraceptive pills.

 

Even strokes are a rare event, though, affecting around one in 2,700 women who take the pill. The pill can cause a blood clot to occur more often and thus cause heart attacks and strokes, but this is still a very uncommon side effect. Hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy cause far more blood clots than the hormonal contraceptive pill.

 

Most heart attacks and strokes amongst those who take the contraceptive pill occur in women who also smoke, so to reduce your risk dramatically then cut down on smoking, and quit, as soon as possible.

Categories: blood clot, contraceptive, contraceptive pill, heart, heart attacks, oral contraceptive, oral contraceptives, Pill, risk, Women

Exercise And Sex: How One Can Influence The Other

Everyone knows the benefits to regular exercise, from helping you to lose weight and lowering your risk of certain health conditions, but did you know that it can also benefit you sexually? Being fitter and healthier can obviously help you be more flexible, improve your stamina and help you last longer in bed, but there are also specific exercises you can do to make your time in the bedroom more enjoyable, from strengthening certain muscles to improving your fitness overall.

Kegel Exercises

If you’re female, you will have almost certainly heard of kegel exercises, but they aren’t just for women. These exercises strengthen your pubococcygeus or PC muscle, and this supports the pelvic organs including the bladder, rectum and reproductive organs. Kegel exercises are often prescribed to treat conditioned such as prostate pain or incontinence, and they can also make vaginal childbirth easier too. The PC muscle is what contracts during an orgasms, so doing your kegels regularly can make your orgasms more intense and pleasurable. In men, they can also lead to stronger and longer-lasting erections, and can treat erectile dysfunction. Kegels are simple to carry out and you can do them anywhere, from sitting in front of the TV or at your desk at work, to standing in the queue at the supermarket. Begin by tightening the muscle, holding for five seconds and then releasing. Do three sets of ten repetitions a day – most people find they see results within just a few months.

Core-strengthening Exercises

There’s a lot of talk in the fitness world about the importance of strengthening your core, which are a set of muscles in the centre of your body, in your middle and lower back, pelvis and abdomen. During sex, these muscles are important for your level of thrust Crunches are a great core exercises, as well as the quadruped. This takes place with you on your hands and knees, with your hands aligned under your shoulders and your knees aligned with your hips. Keep your abs tight and remember to breathe. Then lift and straighten your left arm and right leg so that they are level with your spine. Hold your position for a few seconds, then release and alternate using your right arm and left leg. Having a stronger core will help you to perform certain positions better and achieve a better sex life.

Cardiovascular Exercises

All exercise regimes should include some form of cardiovascular or aerobic activity which should be performed at a continuous and moderate pace for at least 20 minutes. This form of exercise increases your heart rate and strengthens your other organs too, such as your lungs. The more conditioned these organs are, the better they perform – during sex, this is tantamount to longer-lasting sessions, and better endurance and stamina. There are many exercises that can help with this, such as running, cycling and speed-walking. At the gym, you should aim to use the treadmills, elliptical machine or the rowing machine to get your heart rate up. You can monitor your heart rate at the gym as many machines now include the ability to check your heart rate as you’re working out, so you can ensure it is within a healthy range. Knowing the right heart rate that you need to maintain during exercise, which varies depending on your age, current health and fitness level, will help you stay safe during your gym sessions whilst still achieving the maximum benefit.

Categories: Core, exercise, exercises, fitness, heart, Heart Rate, Kegel Exercises, longer lasting, pc muscle, rate, Sex

Turning 50? Get Your Wellness On Track For the Next 50 Years

When you turn 50, you start blaming any wellness problem to turning “the big 5-0”. Sexual health and vigour not what it once was? It’s because you’re 50. Can’t run around after the kids anymore? Must be your 50s. While it’s true that each decade you age requires a greater need for health prevention strategies, those who have already taken steps to take care of their wellbeing will feel perfectly nifty at fifty, and so can you if you start taking certain steps. If you don’t look after yourself, you may put yourself at risk to age-related issues such as arthritis, diabetes and heart disease. Though it can take longer to see results the longer you wait, it is never too late to make positive changes.

 

1. Do your Diet Right: As developed nations rely more on food of convenience, and the quality of ingredients goes further down, it becomes more obvious than ever that you are the only one watching out for the state of your body. In terms of your diet, this means eating plenty of fruits and vegetables – at least five-a-day – and healthy proteins. If you focus on these food groups, you can reduce your risks of cancer and heart disease. Try to plan your grocery shopping in advance so you won’t be tempted by junk on shop shelves. The key to healthy eating is to have good options on hand at work and at home.

 

2. Edit your Exercise Programme: With each decade, the phrase “use it or lose it” becomes more and more applicable. In your 50s, many of your hormones – including progesterone, testosterone and growth hormone – really start to decline. This ageing process can really do a number on your wellness and, if you don’t exercise, you’ll only hurry that decline along. Exercise stimulates growth hormone, helping you to maintain a lean body mass. However, without enough physical activity, your metabolism will slow down, your bone density will decline, and you’ll be more stressed and depressed than you should be. If you find it hard to motivate yourself, why not go to a class or work with a personal trainer? If you’ve got it written on your calendar and all paid for, you’ll have the incentive to workout until the health benefits become their own motivation.

 

3. Find out Your Family History: If someone in your family has suffered from a certain illness or condition, it’s not a sure thing that you will likewise be affected, but history certainly has a way of predicting the future. Look into your family’s history of health problems, paying close attention to your parents, siblings and grandparents. While having a grandparent who had a heart attack at 75 is something to take note of, being related to someone who suffered at age 45 holds is even more significant to your prevention strategy. Take inventory so you can tailor your wellness programme to your needs, and consider talking to your GP if a particular health concern does arise when you’re digging.

 

4. Sign up for screenings: As well as looking into your family’s health conditions, you also need to check for your own. Men of your age have long undergone cholesterol panels to identify potential risk factors for heart disease, but your prevention laboratory information shouldn’t end there. Other labs are now available to help determine a treatment plan and, trust me, you should use them! By getting checked out now – rather than waiting for symptoms to occur – you can prevent serious health concerns more easily, and catch any problems early for treatment. As a man in his 50s, it’s recommended that you have 25-OH vitamin D (25-hydroxy) testing, C-reactive protein (CRP) testing, homocysteine testing, total and free testosterone testing, fasting insulin levels testing, thyroid testing, DHEA-sulftate testing, prostate cancer screening and a colonoscopy for colon cancer screening.

Categories: cancer screening, diet, Family, growth hormone, health, heart, heart disease, men in 50s, Screenings, Testing, Wellness

4 Wellness Practises that Every Woman in Her 30s Needs To Do

When you’re in your 30s, it’s easy to put off exercise and good nutrition. You probably put off visiting the doctor until there’s actually a problem with your wellbeing, such as the occasional cold or injury, but not for discussing preventative tests or vitamin programmes. However, optimal wellness is not about waiting for disease to occur and then scrambling for a combative regimen; you need to invest time and energy into your health much as you do in planning for a holiday or even your retirement.

 

1. Find out your family history: You may not like talking about health problems with your Mum, but the illnesses that affect people you’re related to may also affect you, and you can prepare for this. Ask about your parents, siblings and grandparents, checking for types of illness, specific cancers and any history of stroke, heart disease or diabetes. How old was each person when they were affected by the illness? While a heart attack at age 75 is important to take note off, having a parent who suffered at age 45 holds is even more significant to your prevention strategy. It’s not a requirement of women in their 30s to be screened for specific cancers, but you should absolutely talk to your physician if you have a family history. This brings us nicely onto…

 

2. Get screened for cancers and sexual health concerns: According to the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF), routine screening is not recommended for ovarian cancer or breast cancer at your age, but you should discuss any concerns you have with your GP. However, when it comes to cervical cancer, a pap smear should be performed every one to three years. You should go for this screening every two years if your physician uses a liquid-based test, or every three if you have had three normal paps consecutively. You only need a test for human papillomavirus (HPV) if you have had an abnormal pap test. Once you hit 40, the USPSTF advises regular mammograms, so bear that in mind.

 

3. Eat well: Wellness often begins at the dinner table, but there are so many superfoods and miracle diet plans that you can be put off before you even begin. However, you’ll be fine so long as you stick to two basic ground rules: 1) Focus on healthy proteins like beans and lean meats. Without enough protein in your diet, your brain doesn’t emit enough dopamine—the neurotransmitter associated with feelings of happiness and romance. Registered dietician Susan Kleiner, PhD, author of Power Eating, notes, ‘An active woman should have at least 0.5 grams of protein per pound of body weight daily. Divide your body weight in half, and that is the least amount of protein that you should have in a day.’ 2) Eat AT LEAST five fruits and vegetables a day. This significantly reduces your risks of cancer and heart disease. Make sure you always have healthy options readily available at home and at work.

 

4. Exercise: In your 30s, exercise begins to take on greater importance. Regular activity prevents your metabolism and bone density declining, decreases your cancer risk and provides a natural antidepressant and stress-reliever. Plus, Heather Hausenblas, an associate professor of health sciences at Jacksonville University, argues, ‘Exercise is one of the best ways to improve body image, which affects libido.’ Your libido is affected by mood and self-esteem, both of which can be improved via exercise. Find a programme that you enjoy and start with small time increments, you’ll soon be having so much fun – and such good sex – that you’ll find time in your schedule for more activity!

Categories: body weight, cancer, Diet and Exercise, exercise, family history, health, heart, heart disease, nbsp, screening, specific cancers

Warning: Supplements Can be Very Dangerous for Your Health

Last year, in America, almost 27 billion dollars was spent on vitamins, minerals and supplements, but according to experts, some of them could do serious damage to your wellness and wellbeing.

 

On a recent American morning television show, a senior health and medical editor talked about which supplements were the most dangerous and damaging. All of the products that were mentioned were both popular and readily available in health stores across the country.

 

If you are in any doubt about the supplements that you are taking, speak to a pharmacist or your GP. It is probably a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider before starting any supplements anyway, as some can have negative effects, or counteract other medications, and some are not suitable for certain age groups or health conditions.

 

Aconite is one of the biggest offenders, and is generally used for inflammation, joint pain and gout. It can cause nausea, vomiting, problems with the respiratory system and heart rhythm disorders. It can also result in death in extreme cases.

 

Bitter orange is another one that you should be wary of. It may sound like a harmless fruit, but it can lead to fainting, heart-rhythm disorders, stroke, heart attack and even death. It is used for nasal congestion, weight loss and certain allergies.

 

Chaparral is often used for colds, weight loss, inflammation, infections, detoxification and cancer but it can lead to serious kidney problems or liver damage. Take extreme care if you are thinking about taking this supplement.

 

Colloidal Silver is another one to be very wary of. Also known as native silver, it is used to treat fungal infections, rosacea, Lyme disease, psoriasis, chronic fatigue syndrome and food poisoning, as well as sometimes being used to help treat HIV/AIDS. It can cause serious health problems such as mucous membrane discoloration, kidney damage, neurological problems and bluish skin.

Categories: Dangerous, health, heart, heart rhythm, nbsp, problems, rhythm disorders, supplement, Supplements, Weight Loss

Whose Life Is a Smoking Ban Saving?

In 2004, a report was released which claimed that a smoking ban in Montana had resulted in an almost immediate 40 percent reduction of admissions to hospital for acute heart attacks. The report led to a surge in research on the impact of smoking bans in a selection of countries and communities. It’s thought that this effect on hospital admissions and deaths, from heart attacks, range from 47 percent to 6 percent, with larger studies showing a smaller effect. Smoking bans could be reducing heart attacks and heart disease in two major ways – either by inducing current smokers to give up entirely or by reducing the exposure of non-smokers to passive smoking. Over 40 years of research on heart disease has shown that giving up has an incredibly strong effect, but there is very little effect on the latter in terms of how it affects people. With this in mind it is strange that so many advertisers play up the fact that eliminating exposure to environmental smoking in public places could save lives.

 

Heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the US for more than 70 years, with researchers constantly trying to find new ways to combat the various risk factors for the disease. What all of these studies show is that the most common risk factors for heart disease include smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, level of physical activity, alcohol intake and psychological factors. Those who currently smoke have roughly a two-fold risk of developing heart disease, compared to those who never smoke. This shows that giving up smoking could significantly affect how low your risk is with regards to this disease, not to mention the effect it has on other areas of your health as well.

 

In contrast to research which previously looked at the causes of heart disease, studies of smoking bans usually compare hospital admissions for heart attacks before and after a smoking ban. But these studies don’t take into account the defined populations nor do they look at information on individuals. Most of these studies are limited to short-term periods preceding and following the ban. Because of this, they are unable to highlight whether a reduction of hospital admissions can be connected to measurable reductions in the exposure to tobacco smoke, or other factors. For this reason, there is a lack of connection between the best research on predicting heart disease and the much weaker body of evidence which looks at the effect of smoking bans on our health. The latter of these is suggested by health authorities that there is a substantial effect of a ban on the health of the public, but this simply isn’t founded in research. Of course, this isn’t to say there is no benefit to a smoking ban – it does, at the very least, limit the amount of smoke each smoker inhales. But it would be difficult to gauge the magnitude of the effect and the mechanism responsible for the reduction of heart disease rates.

 

Anything which discourages smoking is great news, but health authorities should be careful in how they word their so-called evidence – furthermore, people should be better educated on the effects of bans on their health, so as not to be bought into by clever wording and unsubstantiated evidence. Smoking is a dangerous activity and takes it’s toll on your health in a variety of ways, from cancers to stroke, so giving up is always the better option. But to what extent it helps those around you is yet to be discovered, and will be difficult to decipher.

Categories: ban, environment, health, health authorities, heart, heart attacks, heart disease, hospital admissions, risk factors, Smoking, smoking ban, smoking bans

Could Your Office be Putting You at Risk of a Heart Attack?

Corporate environments are more stressful than ever before. The modern world is fast paced and cut throat, and that kind of ongoing stress can have a strong negative effect on your wellness and wellbeing.

 

A team of management researchers and professors in the medical field have now found an official correlation between getting stressed and burned out at work and coronary heart disease (CHD).

 

The researchers found that those who appeared I the top 20 percent of a so-called burnout scale had a whopping 79 percent increase in their risk of getting coronary disease. The results of the study were published in Psychosomatic Medicine and were described as ‘alarming’ as they suggest that burning out at work through stress can be a strong predictor of coronary heart disease – and shockingly, an even bigger predictor than any other conventional risk factor such as smoking, low physical activity or the blood lipid (fat levels) of an individual.

 

Burnout has already been associated with other risks to the heart, such as high cholesterol or fat in the human bloodstream. That is why the researchers set about testing the idea that stress could have an associated impact on coronary heart disease, and they used a group of 8,838 hardworking and apparently healthy men and women aged between 19 and 67. The individuals were given routine examinations at regular intervals for around three and a half years. Each participants was assessed for levels of burnout, and were also checked for signs of coronary heart disease. Factors such as gender, family history of the disease, smoking and age were assessed and controlled so that they did not sway the overall results. The results showed quite conclusively that there is a very strong link between stress in the workplace, burnout and associated levels of coronary heart disease.

Categories: burnout, coronary, coronary heart, Disease, heart, heart disease, Stress

Supplement Saviour: When is Diet Not Enough?

You know that you need to include all the essential vitamins and minerals in your diet, but what about those nutrients that need a little wellness boost? Most of the research suggesting vitamins and minerals prevent cancer and heart disease has been done in dietary sources of nutrients, rather than supplements, so is there ever any point in taking your vitamins and minerals in pill form? The odds are that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and fortified food will give you everything you need to enhance your wellbeing, while supplements are more of a just-in-case form of health insurance. Let’s take a closer look at the beneficial nutrients, and if they’re best attained through diet, or whether they could use a helping hand.

 

1. Beta-carotene: Your body converts this antioxidant into vitamin A and uses it for healthy vision, good skin and a functioning immune system. You can get plenty from carrots, sweet potatoes, and green peppers, among other foods, but what about supplements? According to a 2004 study, taking your beta-carotene in pill form may actually raise your risk of lung cancer if you’re a smoker, so it’s best to get all the antioxidant you need from your diet.

 

2. Calcium: As you probably know from every yogurt advert ever, you need calcium to maintain healthy bones and stave off osteoporosis. However, if you’re dairy intolerant, or you’re getting sick of kale and canned sardines, supplements aren’t a bad idea as long as you don’t take more than 500 milligrams at a time, and pair them with vitamin D to improve your body’s calcium absorption. However, you shouldn’t pop the pill version of calcium if you’re a female over the age of 70, or if you’re prone to kidney stones. In 2010, a report showed a link between calcium supplements and heart-attack risk in older postmenopausal women.

 

3. Folic acid: Although the jury’s still out as to whether folate combats cancer, heart disease, or mental illness, this B vitamin – found in fortified breakfast cereal, dark green vegetables, legumes, citrus fruit juice, bread, and pasta – is beneficial in preventing neural tube defects such as spina bifida in babies. This is why it’s absolutely vital to get 400mg of folic acid every day, or 600mg if you’re pregnant or lactating. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) advises that this amount should come from food, supplements, or both.

 

4. Iron: As the foods highest in iron are liver and other organ meats, you might find yourself wanting to skip your iron intake altogether. However, as women are particularly prone to anaemia – thanks to that special time of month – this mineral is absolutely critical to give your red blood cells the boost they need to prevent this fatigue-inducing condition. Luckily, there are delicious dietary sources of iron, including lean meats, seafood, nuts, and green, leafy vegetables. Still, Jessica Anderson, a registered dietician with the Coastal Bend Health Education Centre, at the Texas A&M Health Science Centre, says you might need a supplement if you are anaemic, have heavy periods or if your doctor has prescribed one before surgery.

 

5. Potassium: If you have high blood pressure, too much sodium or an irregular heart rhythm, potassium can sort you out. While the mineral is found in bananas, raisins, leafy greens, oranges, and milk, you might want to consider a supplement if you’re of African origin, as you’re at a higher risk for hypertension for hypertension and heart disease. People taking potassium-depleting diuretics for a heart condition might also benefit from supplements, but remember that too much potassium can be harmful to older people and people with kidney disease.

Categories: beta carotene, calcium, diet, dietary sources, folic acid, heart, heart disease, iron, nbsp, pill form, potassium, Supplements

What Everyone Ought to Know About Cooking With Oil

Have you seen the cooking oil section in your local supermarket lately? The range is huge, and it can be mind boggling trying to work out which ones make a good contribution to your diet, which ones have the right credentials in terms of nutrition and which ones are pure fat that will go straight to your hips! The good news is that there is a really a simple answer to this – using olive oil is far better for your wellness and wellbeing than any of the other types of oil!

Olive oil has numerous health benefits, including the fact that it actually reduces your blood pressure. A recent study was carried out which proved that virgin olive oil resulted in a reduction in the need for blood pressure medication.

Cholesterol can also be benefitted by the use of olive oil, as recent studies have shown that using olive oil can significantly reduce your body’s levels of harmful cholesterol. On top of this, olive oil has also been shown to increase the body’s levels of good cholesterol!

Olive oil is known to be good for your heart, too. The American Heart Association has backed this, stating that olive oil provides numerous benefits for a healthy heart.

It’s not just the heart and blood that can benefit from the use of olive oil; further studies have shown that there are links between the use of olive oil and the body’s ability to fight or protect itself against cancer.

A study on rats showed that those fed a diet high in olive oil produced few cancerous tumours, despite being fed carcinogens, too. In another study, it was shown that olive oil could help to prevent colon cancer by helping to protect the digestive system. Olive oil reduces bile acid in the stomach and this can lead to a reduction in the rates of colon cancer.

Categories: Blood, blood pressure, colon cancer, cooking, heart, oil, olive, olive oil, shown, study

What Everyone Ought to Know About Nutritious Pomegranates

Pomegranates are distinctive fruits, with ruby-red flesh that is full of seeds. They are often sidelined, but can form an important part of your diet and nutrition, and have many medicinal properties that can contribute to your wellness and wellbeing.

 

The fruit has actually been used in medicine for thousands of years. It comes from the Middle East, and claims about its properties include those who feel that it has a beneficial effect on blood pressure (reducing high blood pressure in particular) and it can also help to protect against some cancers, such as prostate cancer, and guard against heart disease and various types of inflammation.

 

Pomegranates are also a great source of dietary fibre, and contain important vitamins such as A, C and E as well as iron and various other antioxidants, such as tannins.

 

A small study carried out in 2006 seems to show that drinking a daily glass (around 227ml) of pomegranate juice can significantly slow down the progress of prostate cancer in men who are suffering with recurring prostate cancer. The study was conducted well, but further evidence is needed to help boost the findings.

 

Another study also showed the pomegranate may have an effect on cartoid artery stenosis (narrowing of the arteries). In this study, researchers found that drinking a glass of pomegranate juice every day could help to reduce the damage that cholesterol can do to the arteries. The study showed that the damage was reduced by almost half, but further studies are needed in order to support this evidence.

 

A study into the effects of pomegranate juice on heart disease was carried out on 45 patients in 2005. It seemed to show that when the patients suffering from coronary heart disease drank a daily glass of pomegranate juice for three months in a row, the result was improved blood flow to the heart, reducing the patient’s risk of having a heart attack.

Categories: blood pressure, daily glass, diet, heart, heart disease, nbsp, nutrition, pomegranate, pomegranate juice, prostate cancer, study

The 15-Minute Workout: What To Do When You Have No Time

Who has time to exercise these days? Sure, you’d like to lose a little weight or take care of your wellbeing a little more, but where are you going to fit in fitness? Luckily, you don’t have to spend hours at the gym or run for miles; you can do a lot with the little time you have.

 

According to Judd Handler, author of Living Healthy: 10 Steps to Looking Younger, Losing Weight and Feeling Great, ‘The best way to maximize your workout if you’re short on time is to do shorter bursts of moderate to moderately vigorous exercise. There are highly effective and relatively simple exercises you can do that will help you burn more fat than if you were to do a much longer workout, say a 60-minute jog.’ In fact, research shows that you’re likely to burn more fat by doing shorter bursts of more intense exercise. Writing in the Journal of Applied Physiology, Japanese researchers concluded, ‘[R]epeated bouts of exercise cause[d] enhanced fat metabolism compared with a single bout of prolonged exercise of equivalent total exercise duration.’

 

So what can you do to maximise your wellness benefits against the clock?

 

1. Choose the right exercises: Pick movements that will utilise as many major muscle groups as possible.

 

2. Get your heart going: With your doctor’s clearance, and with the time it takes to build to the right level of fitness, you should aim to have your heart rate a level where maintaining a conversation is slightly difficult.

 

3. Cool down properly: Let your heart rate come down until you feel almost fully recovered.

 

4. Bring everyone together: Instead of alternating cardio exercises with muscle-builders – both of which are important factors in health and weight loss – try to find activities that combine strengthening and stretching movements, as well as stimulating your cardiovascular system.

 

5. Challenge yourself: If you don’t have much time, you need to push yourself a little more than you otherwise would. However, you shouldn’t exercise until you’re completely exhausted, as that will stress your body.

 

With these top tips in mind, let’s see how you can achieve the workout you need with just 20 minutes of time. Firstly, take three to five minutes and make sure you warm-up properly. Handler advises, ‘Warm up by moving major joints around in different directions such as hip circles, arm swings, knee lifts, ballet leg swings, shoulder rotations, etc. These movements are called dynamic stretches and will help lubricate the joints better than stationary or static stretching.’ Contrary to what some contemporary studies might say, static stretching will not hinder your muscle performance. However, one study in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise notes that this is only true if the stretches are under 60 seconds.

 

Once you’ve warmed-up, start your 15-minute workout by climbing a deep flight of stairs. Handler recommends, ‘Skip every other step and make sure you are pushing off with your entire foot and activating the buttocks and hips as you push off. If your heart is pounding at the top, rest for 30 seconds until your breathing is back to normal or almost back to normal. Perform a set of push-ups until near failure at the top of the steps (modified if necessary, for example, on the knees). Run back down the stairs. Immediately come back up.’ When you’ve mastered this activity, try sprinting up a segment of steps until your breathing is significantly laboured, pause wherever you are until you get your breath back, and keep going until you reach the top.

Categories: 15 Minutes, exercise, heart, Heart Rate, high intensity, minute workout, nbsp, shorter bursts, static stretching, time, Warm-Up, Workout

Could You Save Someone’s Life During a Heart Attack?

According to a shocking new health survey, where emergency doctors were asked for their opinions, around 90 percent believe that resuscitation practices aren’t effective enough.

 

This was carried out via a State of Resuscitation survey, which looked at the implications of current rescuscitation practices on the wellness and wellbeing of cardiac patients. Around 88 percent of those who responded felt that the intervention of bystanders (in the form of CPR) was a very important factor in improving a patient’s chances of survival if they are having a heart attack.

 

A further 77 percent felt that patients needed to be got to a doctor more quickly in order to boost their chances of survivial, while 73 percent felt that better sharing of information and data collection were needed in order to improve outcomes for patients. Of those surveyed, 66 percent also felt that automated technologies could be improved.

 

The survival rates for those who have a sudden heart attack are quite poor, and the doctors surveyed felt that this ws likely to be due to the fact that there is an aging population. About a quarter of the doctors also felt that obesity was an important factor in the low survival rate for heart attacks. Many of the doctors felt that CPR feedback devices should be available to more of the population to improve the outcomes of those who had to have CPR.

 

Having said all this, significant improvements have been made in terms of resuscitation, with more people understanding what they need to do in the event of being present when someone suffers from a heart attack.

 

To continue this understanding, doctors need to engage with communities more and encourage extensive CPR training. This will help more members of the general public to increase their awareness of what to do if someone they are with suffers from a sudden heart attack.

Categories: Attack, attack nbsp, cardiac, Doctors, felt, heart, Heart Attack, nbsp, percent, percent felt, sudden heart

Do You Suffer From Hypertension?

Do you know what hypertension is? Probably not! Many people don’t really understand or may not have even heard of the problem of hypertension, but it is a serious condition that can make a big difference to your wellbeing. So that certainly makes it something that’s worth understanding. While not a very serious issue within itself, the problem with hypertension is that it can lead to some of the most worrying health concerns for us as we get older. It is known, for example, that hypertension is one of the major causes of coronary artery disease, stroke and kidney disease.

 

It is true that the condition is able to throw up some rather worrying statistics. Let’s take America as our key example. More than 50 million Americans (that’s one in three of the adult population) suffer from hypertension. Even more frightening that than, however, is that the vast majority do not even know that they have it at all. Hypertension could be considered to be something of a silent killer – you don’t know anything about it until it’s too late to remedy the problems that it causes.

 

Hypertension is well known by doctors to be one of the major causes of shortened life spans, and this is especially true for those people living in urban areas. Indeed, over 200,000 people in the US die every year from an illness that is related to them suffering from high blood pressure. Patients with hypertension are at a very high risk factor to have a stroke, or suffer a heart attack or develop congestive heart failure. This is very worrying then, that so many people are in danger from this condition but don’t really know the details of what to do about it.

 

Hypertension is a chronic condition in which the arterial blood pressure, which is the level of blood flowing from the heart of all of the vital organs, get increased due to a number of reasons. This can often be because of your diet – if you eat a lot of foods that are high in saturated fats it can increase the difficult in pumping blood around the body.  It then happens that over a period of time, the resulting stress of having to deal with the problems in the blood begins to weaken the heart muscle and causes the artery walls to harden with build-up of plaque inside. The consequences of chronic hypertension can be gradual and can even involve the damage of vital organs such as the kidneys as well as sudden and often fatal in the form of heart failure and brain haemorrhage.

 

So, how do you deal with hypertension? It’s important to remember that early diagnosis is extremely valuable in the fight against the condition. As with most issues, if you fear that you may be suffering from the condition then it’s well worth going to your doctor and talking through the possibility of having hypertension. There are some certain symptoms that you can watch out for that might make it more likely that you might have hypertension. These include obesity, lack of exercise, lots of salt in your diet, heavy consumption of alcohol or smoking. If this sounds like a reality of your life it could well be worth seeking medical advice on the issue.

 

Overall, it’s a good idea to be mindful of always maintain a healthy diet and getting plenty of regular exercise. Not only will this reduce the likelihood of you suffering from hypertension, but it also can help you avoid other issues too.

Categories: Blood, blood pressure, condition, heart, heart failure, high blood pressure, hypertension, nbsp, nbsp hypertension, vital organs