Is there a Silent Killer in YOU?

Today’s Heart Health entry is the 3^rd in our series of 4 that will be shared in honor of Heart Health month. I hope you are enjoying, learning, sharing and implementing the ideas and suggestions.  The first 4 Heart Health discussions shared below are about improving your Heart Health by Getting Active, Losing Weight, Eating Better and what to Avoid.

How are you doing on making the Health Health changes?  Have you found it easy?  What have you found most difficult?  Remember that any change you make will make your Heart happy! 

This week we will be discussing Cholesterol and Blood Pressure.  Before we get started, let’s take a look at 5 more Health Health facts:

ü      Our arteries, veins & capillaries total over 60,000 miles long-That’s long enough to go around the world more than twice!

ü      At menopause, a women’s heart disease risk starts to increase significantly

ü      90% of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease

ü      Most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren’t sure what’s wrong and wait too long before getting help

ü      Risk of Heart Disease doubles in inactive people versus people who get regular exercise

  

So let’s start this week by learning more about Cholesterol

When most of us hear the word, Cholesterol, we immediately think “bad” But did you know that Cholesterol is an important part of a healthy body?  It’s true.  Cholesterol is used by the body to produce cell membranes and some hormones; it also serves other needed bodily functions.  But too much cholesterol in the blood is a Major Risk for Coronary Heart Disease-which leads to Heart Attack and Stroke.  So where does Cholesterol come from? 

1. Your Body and 2. Your Food.  Your liver and other cells in your body make about 75% of blood cholesterol, the other 25% comes from the foods you eat.

LDL Cholesterol is the “bad” cholesterol.  When too much of it circulates in the blood, it can clog arteries, increasing your risk of Heart Attack and Stroke.  LDL Cholesterol is produced naturally by the body, but many people inherit genes from their mother, father or even grandparents that cause them to make too much.  Eating saturated fat, trans fats and dietary cholesterol also increases how much you have.  Whether high cholesterol runs in your family or not, it is a good idea to avoid foods that are high in cholesterol.  As I shared last week, increasing your fruits, vegetables, beans, non-gmo soy, legumes, nuts and avoiding or lowering your intake high fat dairy products, red meats and saturated fats can make a heart-healthy huge difference for you, your heart and your overall health.

 

Many people are prescribed a Statin drug to help lower Cholesterol.  Unfortunately, many unwanted and even painful side affects have been reported from using these med’s.  The good news is that the National Institutes of Health recommends and studies have proven that taking in 2,000mg of plant stanols and sterols daily will decrease your cholesterol naturally.  This is great news for people looking to lower their cholesterol naturally.  Sterols and Stanols can be found in many fruits and vegetables.  Taking in 2000mg of plant Stanols & Sterols daily could be a challenge:  As an example 2,000mg may look like 65. Cups of Soybeans or 59 Oranges or 47.5 Cucumbers!

Even better news is that Shaklee has created an easy solution!

Lower Cholesterol Naturally 

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Cholesterol Reduction Complex is a proprietary formula with clinically proven ingredients that help prevent absorption of cholesterol and lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol. It is made with a powerful blend of sterols and stanols, which are found naturally in plants, fruits, vegetables, and grains.

 

Manage Blood Pressure:

High Blood Pressure is the single most significant risk factor for heart disease. Uncontrolled high blood pressure or Hypertension can injure or kill you. It's sometimes called "the silent killer" because it has no symptoms.

These changes may reduce your blood pressure: Losing extra pounds & watch wasteline, eating a heart-healthy diet, which may include reducing salt; enjoying regular physical activity; maintaining a healthy weight; managing stress; limiting alcohol; avoiding tobacco smoke.  Want to learn more? Visit Mayo Clinic’s website: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-blood-pressure/DS00100

I hope you have found these tips helpful and easy to implement.  Stay tuned for next weeks Heart Health update with 2 more easy but essential health changes you can make for a Healthier, Happier You~

(Please note these recommendations are not meant to prescribe or cure. Please see your physician if you think you may have Heart Health issues)

YES, There are GOOD fats!

Keep your heart Happy today and everyday!

This Heart Health entry is #2 of 4 that will be shared this month.  As you may recall from last week, with Heart Disease being the #1 Killer in both men & women, we will be looking at all the ways to improve your Heart Health.  Studies have shown that we can not just focus on one Heart Health area and skip the rest.  Our Heart is beating with us our entire life!  We need to take good care of it in order for it to take good care of us.

Last week we talked about Getting Active & Losing Weight.  How did you do?  Were you able to add in some additional work-out time? or create a goal to lose Just 10 Pounds?  I would love to hear what is working for you.

This week we will focus on Eating Better Foods and discussing what to Avoid.

But first let’s take a look at 5 more Heart facts:

ü      On average, your heart will beat 35 Million times each year and 2.5 Billion times during its lifetime

ü      The heart pumps about 6 quarts blood thru the body 3 times every minute to reach close to 75 million cells

ü      An astonishing 80% of women ages 40-60 have 1 or more risk factors for developing heart disease

ü      More women die of heart disease than the next 4 causes of death combined-including all Cancers

ü      In 2010, heart disease is estimated to have cost the US more than $316.4 Billion.

As you can see, the Heart is the hardest working muscle in our body. And with the high death rate and skyrocketing cost of heart disease, it just makes good sense to be preventive and proactive with your Heart Health.  So let’s take a look at some diet do’s and don’ts that are sure to help improve not only your heart but your overall health.

One of the best weapons for fighting off heart disease is eating a healthful diet, particularly one rich in whole grains, legumes, fish, nonfat or low-fat dairy products, and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Here are some tips:

Avoid: Trans & Saturated Fats


Or at least limit most Saturated Fat.   What is Saturated Fat? This is the fat that raises LDL – the “bad” cholesterol; it’s found in red meats and in high fat dairy foods like ice cream, whole milk, butter, eggs and some fish oil supplements.– How much is limiting?  Just two tablespoons of butter would be the daily maximum limit.

I also suggest completely avoiding Trans Fats or Partially Hydrogenated Oils.  These are the harmful fats that increase heart disease risk by both raising LDL and lowering HDL – the “good” cholesterol. They are found in many baked goods like crackers, cakes, cookies, margarine, prepared and packaged foods, and most snacks.  Be sure to read the labels on your packages as even products labeled “Trans Fat Free” on the front of a product may still include partially hydrogenated oils in its ingredients.  

Avoiding both sweetened and unsweetened soda’s will offer you many health benefits like decreasing your risk for diabetes, obesity, stroke, osteoporosis, tooth decay, dehydration, weight gain, and more. Kick the soda habit!   

Eating Better-Be sure to Include: 


Fiber  The recommended intake of fiber is 25g per day.  However most of us get about half that in our daily diet.  But adding in more fiber is absolutely essential for a healthy heart and a healthy you!   Eat a variety of both Soluble Fiber and Insoluble Fiber.  Don’t worry about choosing a specific type of Fiber.  Many foods are rich in both fibers.  Just eating enough Fiber is more important!  Here are some fiber suggestions:  Eat more oats and oat bran, dried beans and peas, legumes nuts, barley, flax seed, plenty of-and-a large variety of-fruits and vegetables, whole-wheat products, etc.

Healthy Fats: Yes there are healthy fats!  And the fact is everyone needs a little fat in their diet.  Problem is most of us are getting too much of the bad or Saturated fats.  So here’s a list of some of the good fats.  Be sure to include a portion of these in your daily diet:  Olive Oil, Avocado, Nuts: once given a bad rap, nuts are considered a health food because of their healthy fat content as well as their nutrient & fiber content.  Almonds & Walnuts are a great source.

 Fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, sardines and mackerel contain omega 3 fatty acids, which decrease LDL and triglycerides. They may also reduce inflammation in blood vessels, decreasing the chance of a heart attack or stroke. Omega-3’s have also show beneficial for people with eczema & psoriasis. The American Heart Association currently recommends eating fish twice a week.  Be sure to bake or grill your fish as frying can damage the health benefits.

Fruits, Veggies, Water:  It is truly essential that we add in more fruits, vegetables and pure water to our daily diet.  As Americans, our Hearts and our Health are deteriorating and it is not because of lack of nutritious foods and clean water.  It is sadly because our poor eating habits.  So the good news is that you can eat a healthy, delicious, filling diet by adding in the suggestions above.  And by removing the Saturated and Trans Fats, you and your heart will be healthy and happy for years to come!  As a reminder:  5-7 fruits & veggies every day & 8 cups of water is average.

Omega-3 Supplements: For many people, eating 2 servings of the healthy fish; tuna, salmon, sardines or mackerel is not happening weekly, or monthly or even yearly.  In addition, there is concern that eating that much fish that often may add unwanted mercury, pcb’s and other toxins to our diets. And unfortunately many fish oil or Omega-3 supplements may also be contaminated.  You may be familiar with last years Good Morning America show shared that “most fish-oil supplements contain toxins and should be avoided.” Sadly the study showed many popular brands like, GNC, CVS, NOW Foods, Nature Made, and many others. Watch clip here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xyMx8qNmeA

The One you can Trust:

  

  Shaklee OmegaGuard is Ultra-Pure fish oil YOU can trust!

 

Want the benefits of fish-oil without the dangerous toxins? Shaklee OmegaGuard is your best option.  Shaklee uses sustainable fisheries as their sources and then uses a triple molecular distillation process to remove any and all impurities.  This is a unique process that gives all the benefits of the fish oils without any contaminants.  OmegaGuard also contains all 7 Omega-3’s-no other product that I have been able to find contains all 7.  Shaklee offers the OmegaGuard in 60 and 180 tabs and is available for a 10% discount when placed on autoship.

Click to view OmegaGuard label, health benefits & more

I hope you have found these tips helpful and easy to implement.  Stay tuned for next weeks Heart Health update with 2 more easy but essential health changes you can make for a Healthier, Happier You~

(Please note these recommendations are not meant to prescribe or cure. Please see your physician if you think you may have Heart Health issues)

A Hearty Laugh is Good for the Heart

Happy Heart Health Month!

With Heart Health tips flooding nightly news, magazine stands, cereal boxes, and more, the “how to’s” of taking care of your Heart; the hardest working muscle in our body, can be a bit overwhelming-but every bit worth reviewing and understanding.  For this month’s blog entries, I would will share Facts and Proven Heart Health solutions to help you make easy and healthy choices to keep your Heart:  Healthy, Happy & Hardy! 

Most people are aware of many of the health tips for a healthy Heart, however many of us have known for years about ways to improve our health and our Heart yet Heart Disease has become the #1 Killer in both men & women and sadly the disease is NOT slowing down and now affecting our children. 

To get a better understanding of the Heart, let’s take a look at 5 Facts:

ü      The heart does the most physical work of any muscle during a lifetime. Grab a tennis ball and squeeze it tightly: that’s how hard the beating heart works to pump blood.

ü      Even at rest, the muscles of the heart work hard-twice as hard as the leg muscles of a person sprinting.

ü      More than 82 Million American adults are estimated to have cardiovascular disease. That’s’ 1 in 3 people.

ü      Heart disease is a lifelong condition-once you get it, you'll always have it. That's why it is so vital to take action to prevent and control this disease.

ü      Obesity is the #1 indicator of potential Heart diseases. Side effects of obesity include increased blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels and lower levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. Blood pressure rises in obese people who also are at greater risk of developing diabetes, which can also add to the risks of heart problems.

Through my Heart Health blogs this month, I am going to offer 8 Heart Health necessities I hope you will implement.  The good news is that you can make the changes gradually, one at a time.  But please know that taking steps towards each one of the tips is equally essential to a Healthy Heart and a Healthy You. In addition to the tips and info, I will be sharing which Shaklee products have been proven to offer the health tip suggested. 

 The first 2 changes are Getting Active & Losing Weight:

While most people believe, including me, that you are what you eat, it takes more than great food to keep your Heart healthy and happy.  Playing outside, laughing, volunteering and finding other ways to stay active and maintain balance in your life are keys to staying Heart healthy.

­Getting Active:
Exercise doesn’t have to be a costly gym membership, or require a new wardrobe, simply getting 10,000 steps in every day will help your heart (purchase an inexpensive pedometer to track your daily steps).  Park further away from your destinations; Take the stairs instead of the elevator/escalator, Walk to nearby stores when shopping, Dance with your vacuum and twirl with your duster! Turn up the music while cleaning and enjoy it. Also, did you know?  A hearty laugh is also good for the heart.  This laugh attack can actually cause the lining of blood vessels to relax, enabling more blood to flow through for at least 45 minutes afterward.

Lose Weight:

I know, easier said than done, but truth is, Obesity is now recognized as a major independent risk factor for Heart Disease.  If you have too much fat-especially if a lot is at your waist-you’re at a higher risk for health problems such as High blood pressure, High blood cholesterol, some Cancers and Diabetes.

Start by focusing on losing just 10 lbs.  Starting with just 10 lbs is much less overwhelming than a total amount of weight loss however, once you lose the 10 lbs, its very motivating and rewarding to work toward another 10 lbs.

Weight Loss Tips:  Yes, it is a great idea to remove those unhealthy snacks, sugary foods, fattening deserts, and salty temptations, whatever your downfall.  But the very most important tip to remember is to ADD in something good.  Many of us are not eating the daily recommended amount of fruits & veggies.  Did you know the top 3 vegetables consumed in the US are Ketchum, Iceburg Lettuce and French Fries?  I am not joking.  Let’s work on increasing the amount of fruits & veggies and the variety we eat daily. How about, try a new fruit or vegetable every week?

Because of the Obesity, Heart Disease and Diabetes Epidemic currently happening, there have been new dietary guidelines set.   

See http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2010/DietaryGuidelines2010.pdf for great info.

Another essential is to add in to your daily diet is Leucine.  Never heard of it?  Unless you are a body-builder, most people are not familiar with this essential amino acid.  What makes it so unique?  It builds muscle and muscle equals weight loss and with your Heart being the most important muscle in our body, we want to feed it well.  And don’t worry, by adding in Leucine, you will not be the next muscle master!

Looking for a great way to lose that unwanted fat and build healthy muscle?  Maybe you're ready to get off that yo-yo dieting cycle? Great News! Shaklee has studied and used Leucine for decades.  Our Cinch Inch Loss products offer a balance of nutrients, Leucine, fiber, and protein to keep the muscle you need and burn the fat you don’t want.  Plus Cinch is super yummy, very convenient, cost-effective, and it works.  

Learn more at:

Shaklee Cinch Products & Info

I hope you have found these tips helpful and easy to implement.  Stay tuned for next weeks Heart Health update with 2 more easy but essential health changes you can make for a Healthier, Happier You~