Today’s Heart Health entry is the 3rd 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!
NEW! Cholesterol Reduction Complex
Size: 120 Tablets
Lowers Cholesterol Naturally!
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)
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