How To Lower Cholesterol|Low Cholesterol Diet & Foods: July 2013

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

The Top Five Low Fat Cookbooks to Help You on Your Way to Better Health

If you have made the commitment to a healthier life you know that it will involve some changes. This is especially true when it comes to the way you eat. Changing the way you eat involves making healthier choices when you visit the supermarket, and learning new cooking methods to make your food as tasty as ever.

"The Essential Eating Well Cookbook" puts the emphasis on "good carbs, good fats and great flavors." This low fat cookbook is a complete package that appeals to those who are in the low carb and low fat style of eating. It is not what you would call a diet book, just a low fat cookbook that can give you plenty of recipe choices with a complete nutritional analysis included.

"Cooking Healthy Across America" is chock full of recipes from around the United States. It features classic fare from your favorite areas of the country that are remade to be healthier for you to eat. This low fat cookbook was put together by the American Dietetic Association. There are even recipes for Bourbon Sauce and fried chicken.

"Cooking Light Annual Recipes 2007" has more than one thousand recipes from the past years publications which is great for recipe clippers who often lose the recipe. This low fat cookbook is packed with menu suggestions, cooking tips and lots of inventive blends for new and familiar ingredients.

"The New American Heart Association Cookbook" is now in its 7th edition. This publication is known as "Big Red." There are a total of six hundred recipes with one hundred fifty of them never before published. It has appendixes with easy to read advice about checking ingredients and nutrition labels, how to practice low fat cooking as well as a host of advice for eating healthier.

"Betty Crocker's Low-Fat, Low Cholesterol Cooking Today" especially targets those people who are looking for a low fat cookbook. There are 120 recipes that are not only yummy, but easy to follow. There are plenty of tips on how to limit your intake of fats and bad cholesterol. There are fifty photographs of recipes, plus illustrated step-by-step lessons on how to prepare it.

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Lower Bad Cholesterol - Discover How To Lower Bad Cholesterol

Cholesterol is absolutely necessary for the human body to function properly. That being said, it is important to note that cholesterol is commonly broken into two main categories. These categories are LDL (low density lipoprotein) and HDL (high density lipoprotein). These categories are bad cholesterol and good cholesterol respectively. It is possible to raise good cholesterol and to lower bad cholesterol.

The Daily Diet.

A good place to start when trying to lower bad cholesterol is with the daily diet. The daily diet should consist of high fiber and low fat. This type of diet alone will help to lower bad cholesterol. Special consideration should be given to hydrogenated oils. These oils commonly found in foods such as margarine have been determined to contain higher concentrations of trans fats. Trans fats have been found to be detrimental to the cardiovascular system in general, and have also been linked to actually lowering the good cholesterol found in the blood stream.

Exercise.

Some form of aerobic exercise should be integrated into daily life. Aerobic exercise will help to strengthen the cardiovascular system and also to help the body to rid itself of bad cholesterol by raising the metabolism. This does not mean that everyone should run out and get a membership at the local gym and take aerobics classes. Taking a walk everyday for twenty to thirty minutes is a huge step in the right direction. Take a walk with the whole family and reap the benefits of quality time spent with the ones you love. Another way to help lower bad cholesterol would be the use of herbal supplements.

Herbal Supplements.

In some cases, the use of herbal supplements alone has been responsible for lowering cholesterol more effectively then commonly prescribed statin drugs. The study of herbal medicine is thousands of years old. An added benefit of herbal supplements is they do not have the nasty side effects commonly associated with prescription medications.

When searching for the right herbal supplement, it is important to remember that these supplements are not regulated, so labels may not list all the ingredients properly. Some of these may actually contain man made chemicals. It is best to use only supplements that contain only high quality natural ingredients, such as those produced by the pristine country of New Zealand. These supplements contain only high quality natural ingredients and have the proven results and benefits associated with modern science and no nasty side effects.

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Lowering Cholesterol Level - Keep It Simple

Lowering cholesterol level is vital for every person may he be a young child, a teenager, a middle-aged, an adult or even old. People who have been stroked or have experienced any form of heart disease must be more careful and more aware about the level of cholesterol in their bodies. Lowering cholesterol is the fundamental input in order to reduce the risk of triggering heart failures. Doctors advise that everyone should have cholesterol levels under 200mg/dl (milligrams of cholesterol in the blood per decilitre of blood). Lowering cholesterol is an easy thing to do. It doesn't need to involve any drugs or surgery. All that has to be done is maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Lowering cholesterol level is simple; it doesn't even need a doctor to do so. Here is a list of simple tips you can do to lower your levels of cholesterol. Overall diet and how food are cooked and served are important factors to someone's cholesterol intake. It is better to use olive oil or vegetable oils because these oils lessen the harmful effects of low density lipoprotein (LDL) or the bad cholesterol without affecting high density lipoprotein (HDL) or the good cholesterol. Consume margarine and butter containing plant sterols that are helpful in averting cholesterol from going into the blood. Limit intake of red meat into smaller portions and to two times a week to decrease the consumed amount of saturated fats and eat more fish. Increase intake of fruits and vegetables.

Smoking should also be stopped. Yes, stopped. Smoking is bad for the cholesterol level since taking a puff increases LDL and lowers HDL. Exercising for thirty minutes everyday can also trim down the levels of cholesterol present in the blood. Some of the exercises that can increase HDL are jogging, walking, yoga and weight lifting. And lastly, it is important to lose weight because obesity and being overweight can increase the probability of having other health problems resulting to an increase in LDL.

Lowering cholesterol is the number one factor to in preventing and avoiding cardiovascular diseases. Maintaining lower LDL and higher HDL is the main purpose of lowering cholesterol. So when levels of cholesterol start to reach a higher level than the recommended level, it is advisable to immediately consult a doctor. He can prescribe medications that can lower and control the cholesterol level. But it should also be remembered that some medications have side effects. Lowering cholesterol is an essential means to maintain a healthy lifestyle and have a healthy heart.

By knowing the causes of high cholesterol level is not enough, you need to know how you can loweryourcholesterolguide.com lowering your cholesterol level quickly. If you are aware of what high cholesterol foods to avoid, there is no reason why you can't bring down your cholesterol levels to desirable levels. Visit loweryourcholesterolguide.com loweryourcholesterolguide.com now to get a free e-course to lower your cholesterol level.

Who Else Wants The Truth About Lowering Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is only found in animal foods. I know that comes as a big surprise, but bad cholesterol is truly only found in animal foods such as meat, fowl, fish, egg yolk and milk products. It comes from saturated fat. Most fats from animals are predominantly saturated.

Fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts contain no cholesterol. That is because the fats are polyunsaturated. The exception is Coconut oil with a high level of saturated fat (not cholesterol) that will raise your cholesterol level up if not used in moderation.

You can tell the difference because one is solid (saturated) and the other is liquid (polyunsaturated).

Chicken and Fish and Fowl (Turkey) have as much cholesterol in them as red meats do. In fact: One 3 oz serving of pork has just a little more cholesterol (76mg) than the chicken breast without the skin (73mg). Switching one kind of meat for another is not the ultimate solution for cholesterol control.

Meat, fowl and fish account for 35% of the cholesterol in the american diet equal to 35% from egg yolks and followed by milk products (ice cream, cheese, milk...) 16%, cooking fats 6% and other 8%.

A study done by Loma Linda Medical University shows that those who consumed nuts less than once per week had the highest risk of heart attack. Those who consumed nuts one to four times per week lowered their risk about 25 percent and those who consumed nuts more than 5 times per week cut their risk of heart attack in half. Many health professionals warn of high fat from nuts and were shocked at this studies results. By the way, walnuts and almonds are the best. Peanuts are not nuts, they are a legume.

Another study showed, women who eat 4 or more teaspoonfuls of margarine a day have a 66% greater risk of heart disease than women who have margarine less than once a month. It's the trans fats. "Vegetable oils should be used in their natural state," said the lead researcher.

High fiber is another very important key to reducing cholesterol. The more fiber the better. Heart disease is directly linked to a low fiber diet. This diet would be rich in fruit, vegetables, nuts and grains.

One thing you should know, stored foods like ice cream, cakes, cheese and milk...with cholesterol in them from the animal products used to make them have a lethal damaging effect on arterial walls. This is due to the oxidation to the cholesterol caused by the air it is exposed to, "Oxidized Cholesterol". This may turn out to be one of the most important dietary factor that influences heart disease risk. This world wouldn't be much fun if we couldn't have our cake/ice cream and eat it too!

Good news! Your local health food store has wonderful egg replacers (I like Ener-G, it's powder and it comes in a box). I am amazed at how good the cake is using these. You won't miss the real eggs at all.

As far as ice cream goes, there are some very tasty soy alternatives on the shelf these days. Companies have been waking up to the consumers demand for heart healthy and tasty alternatives for some time now and they are getting pretty good at it. I should know, I'm very picky myself and so is my 15 year old daughter. Experiment and find out which ones are best for you.

Just think, if you have to throw one or two in the garbage, it's better (and cheaper) than throwing the only heart you'll ever have in the garbage by continuing to eat the real thing.

Healthy Ice Cream Tip: Freeze your favorite fruit ahead (organic banana's have a sweeter taste). Pour some of your favorite soy milk or water in the blender, add some sweatener to taste along with enough fruit to make an ice cream consistency. Yum!

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Zone Diet Overview - Eat Right to Look Right

Zone diet or the Zone as it is always called can be called as one of the most misunderstood happinesslifetime.com diet programs of all times. As many people think, Zone diet is not a low carbohydrate diet that deprives you of eating anything.

In fact it concentrates on giving you a diet that has the right amount of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. It also focuses on the favorable type of each of the ingredients in your diet.

Once you are in the zone, it will be a healthy lifestyle change that will only benefit you in the long run. So how does it work?

It works by helping you to control the production of hormones like insulin and cholesterols in the body. These are the hormones in the food that trigger weight gain. Once you have a control over these hormones, weight loss comes naturally to you.

Eat right to look right

If you eat right, you will always look right. Zone diet gives you proteins, carbohydrates and fats in the right proportions.

Every zone diet has these three ingredients in the 40-30-30 % ratio. You have a healthy combination of lean proteins and green veggies and fruits. You might find starchy carbohydrates but anything made of whit flour is a strict no-no.

Rather than looking at it as a temporary weight loss solution, you need to look at it as new habits that will help you lose weight along the way. For example, inclusion of healthy fats that come from fish oil or flax oil is recommended in any form of diet.

How do you start?

If you are hooked to eating junk food, then the start might not be as easy as you think. However, Zone diet ensures that you have no reason whatsoever to avoid a healthy meal. Three healthy meals and 2 snacks are part of Zone diet life style of eating.

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Atkins Diet Menu Plan

The Atkins diet is based on changing the body's metabolism and was launch by Dr. Atkins in the 1970's. It includes a multi staged program for weight loss, weight maintenance, good health and disease prevention. In our normal balanced diet we have carbohydrates used as fuel, protein will build muscle and fats are stored as long term deposits in fat cells. What you must understand is that before burning fats your carbohydrates must be burnt and if your intake of carbohydrates is too high then fat burning will be prevented, therefore minimal weight loss occurs. The Atkins diet was one of the first "low carb" diets and is still one of the most extreme of its kind. The diet pushes the body to a fat burning metabolism where fats will be broken down and digested. Due to the low carbs in the diet the body has no choice but too burn the fats in the fat cells.

This article is going to investigate the Atkins diet menu where from there you can continue your research and come up with an Atkins diet menu plan for yourself.

The Atkins food pyramid places dietary emphasis on the protein sources as opposed to whole grain foods. The only limits that are placed are on the actual type of foods you can eat as opposed to the amount of foods you can intake. Foods that should be excluded include:

o White rice or foods made with white flour like cake

o White bread

o Potatoes

o Pasta

Foods that you can include in your Atkins Diet Menu Plan are:

o Fish

o Poultry

o Red Meat

o Eggs

o Cheese

The above included foods are made up of mainly proteins and fats as opposed to carbohydrates. With these foods it doesn't matter about the calories since the prime focus is on carbohydrate minimization.

The Atkins diet occurs in four phases and each phase will be a little different than the others. As you progress through the different phases you will find that the Atkins diet allows you an increase in carbohydrates but they will consist of mainly fiber-rich carbohydrates such as leafy greens and certain vegetables. You fill find that the first two weeks is very restrictive in that you are only allowed around 20 grams per day of carbohydrates. In this phase your metabolism is changing instantly to the fat burning mode. That is why the restriction is so tight initially. An example of a typical menu breakfast is two scrambled eggs, three slices of bacon and one slice of protein rich bread substitute. A tuna salad including celery, tomatoes, and an oil dressing could be an example of a lunch meal. Finally for dinner some grilled veal chops with butter and chopped sage, yellow squash and tomatoes, green salad and an after dinner snack could be a chocolate mudslide.

You will find that an average of five grams of carbohydrates can be increased until the dieter actually establishes their critical carbohydrate level for maintenance. Phase four, called "Lifetime Maintenance" is meant to be carried on indefinitely, as your appetite becomes re-educated and the low carbohydrate diet becomes natural.

Possible side effects of the Atkins diet are minimal but can include bad breath, which is a result of excess ketone production, and constipation. The diet itself is not that strict as only carbohydrate rich foods are eliminated and there is still a large selection of other food options. Many medical and nutritional communities believe that the diet is a temporary fix for the permanent problem of weight loss. Basically they are stating that limiting your carbohydrates intake for a large period of time is hard to maintain.

Some medical groups feel that potential long term health risks may be kidney stones, ulcers and repeated kidney infections. The fact the Atkins diet involves increased saturated fat may result in increased cholesterol which can ultimately lead to heart disease and stroke. So far, however, long term studies are inconclusive, and studies funded by the National Institute of Health and the American Heart Association have shown no increased health risks. Of course, before starting any diet, you should consult your doctor.

Overall while some may consider the strictness of the diet a drawback, Atkins dieters are quick to point out that only carbohydrates are restricted - leaving a large selection of other food options.

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Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Protein Shake Diets - Top 3 Low Carb High Protein Diet Shakes For Weight Loss

Protein is not easily converted into fat and is not easily used by the body as a source of fuel. So when you follow a low carbohydrate diet with it, your body has to work harder to burn protein as fuel. You must consume lot of protein to avoid muscle mass being used as a fuel to the body.

A high protein diet is to build muscles and maintain sugar level stable. This diet is very popular as there is no calorie involved, and many foods that many people wish to eat are allowed in this diet.

If you take 5 meals in a day, then 2 meals must be protein shakes and the remaining 3 are your real meals. An adult needs 45 to 55 grams of protein in a day to stay healthier depending on the overall health.A person must drink a protein shake immediately after workout. It assist you to repair you muscles quickly.

Each high protein diet shake with low carbohydrate in it must include:

· Vitamins and minerals must be included more.

· A large amount of protein should also be included (approximately 20 grams).

· Fiber must be included in it but a very small amount i.e. 3 grams only.

· 4 grams of carbohydrate should also be included in diet.

· It must be 100% sugar-free i.e. low glycemic index.

· Lower cholesterol.

· Aminogen must be included which helps in better absorption.

Some of the high protein shakes with low carbohydrate recipes are:

· 1 fresh orange squeeze for juice (approximately ½ cup)

· ½ fresh bananas

· 6 fresh strawberries

· 1 teaspoon skim milk powder

In a blender or food processor, blend ingredients until well mixed and serve.

Other one is:

· 1 fresh apricot diced

· ¼ cup fresh pineapple crushes

· ½ fresh bananas

· 6 fresh strawberries

· 1 teaspoon skimmed milk powder

· 1 1/2 cup water

In a blender or food processor, blend ingredients until well mixed and served.

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Changing Your High Cholesterol Diet Menu

Changing your high cholesterol diet menu is easier than it may sound. It won't cost you as much as you think and the changes that result from it will made your life better. Your pantry will be the starting point. Here is where you may need to toss out some things and purchase substitutes but really that's all you have to do.

You need to begin by changing the things that you use such as salad dressings, and marinades, by changing these you can go a long way to reducing the amount of cholesterol in your diet. The way in which you cook your food can also change the amount of cholesterol in your diet. You will also find that when you change the way you cook your food it will taste better and be better for you.

Cooking Methods

Changing your cooking methods from a high cholesterol diet menu to a happinesslifetime.com low cholesterol diet is not that hard either. By altering the way you prepare and cook food you can have a much healthier diet. Replace frying meat with broiling or grilling. The flavor of a burger, lamb chop, steak will be just as good when grilled or broiled instead of pan-fried.

Purchase a rack that you can use to drain off the fat after cooking. Whether you baked, roasted, or broiled the meat using a rack to drain off the fat before serving will help to reduce the fat content in your meals. When you baste meat during cooking use wine, olive oil, or fruit juice instead of the meat juices. This will still retain the flavor and keep the meat moist and tasty.

Planning what you are going to cook a day ahead can also help. When you cook a stew or soup for example, you will notice that after a day in the refrigerator fat floats to the top off the dish. By removing this fat on the top before serving will take you from a high cholesterol meal to a low cholesterol meal and by cooking a day before will help you also save you time in the kitchen.

Increase Your Vegetables

Vegetables have no cholesterol and by cooking your vegetables in a little bit of olive, canola, or sunflower oil makes them tasty and easy to prepare be sure to always include them as part of your meals. By increasing the amount of vegetables that you eat in a day will help you avoid a high cholesterol diet.

For desert substitute your creams and custard with fruit salads with fresh fruit and low fat yogurt. Try and avoid using canned vegetables and fruits when you are avoiding a high cholesterol diet menu, as these foods are high in salt.

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The Importance of HDL Cholesterol in Body

Half of the people of America are facing problems of high cholesterol as per the survey made by American heart association. High cholesterol levels have a harmful effect on human body as it increases the chances of heart attacks and strokes. Therefore it is very necessary to maintain the levels of cholesterol as it can prove to be fatal in some cases.

Body also needs some cholesterol for the proper functioning of the body. This cholesterol is good for health and is known as HDL. HDL is known as good cholesterol which plays a major in absorbing the bad cholesterol from the body. The full form of HDL cholesterol is high-density lipoprotein.

Bad cholesterol is known as LDL cholesterol which has a lot of harmful effects on the body. Hence certain level of HDL cholesterol should be maintained in the body to reduce the level of LDL cholesterol.

HDL cholesterol i.e. good cholesterol restricts the growth of LDL cholesterol i.e. bad cholesterol and moves the bad cholesterol from the arteries to the livers. This reduces the chances of blockage of arteries which causes strokes or heart diseases. 40mg/dl is the recommended level of HDL cholesterol which should be present in the body but is should not cross 60gm/dl as it would give boost to the chances of heart attacks.

People should maintain a healthy diet regime and should eat foods which are low on fats. Vegetables, fresh fruits, green tea, whole grains, fishes like tuna etc are some of the food stuff which should be consumed daily to reduce the cholesterol levels.

George Christodoulou,

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Cholesterol, The Enemy We Cannot Live Without

Cholesterol is one of the body's lipids (fats).

It is the most common organic molecule disseminated in our entire body, including the brain. Life is impossible in absence of immediate and abundant reserves of cholesterol in our bodies.

Cholesterol is an essential component of the membrane surrounding every cell. The task of cholesterol in this fatty double layer of the cell wall membrane is a very important one. It must assign the proper value to the fluid level and membrane rigidity for both cell function and stability.

In association with another lipid, triglyceride, cholesterol is an essential constituent in the structure of cells and are also used in making hormones and producing energy.

Then if cholesterol is our enemy, it is a strange one we cannot live without.

Cholesterol is made by our liver mainly (about 1,000 milligrams a day). But it is also produced by cells lining the small intestine and by other individual cells. In very simple words we can consider there are two types of cholesterol: a 'good' type called HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) and a 'bad' type called LDL ( Low Density Lipoprotein).

HDL has a positive effect in cholesterol tissue reducing and taking it back to the liver for regeneration. You may not believe, but HDL actually protects our body against atherosclerosis. LDL may contribute to diseases of the arteries such as cardiovascular disease.

We all know there is a permanent fear of cholesterol.

But the real fact is that it is the proportion of LDL-cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol that influences our cardiovascular risk and especially the point to which atherosclerosis becomes likely to cause problems.

If HDL-cholesterol level can be raised by physical exercising, LDL-cholesterol level can be lowered eating a low fat diet and, if required by a medical prescription, by taking medication.

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Cholesterol Readings - When Should You Be Concerned?

Why check your cholesterol? Our forefathers never did, but there again their life-expectancy was much lower than ours is today. High cholesterol can lead to a build up of plaque in the arteries, which in turn can cause a heart attack or a stroke. Knowing you have high cholesterol means you can take preventative action, so checking your cholesterol is a simple and effective way to improve your health and possibly add years to your life.

Cholesterol readings are taken from a simple blood test. Note that cholesterol readings are spoken of in the plural. There is a total cholesterol figure and a breakdown between the HDL (high density lipoproteins) which are good cholesterol, and the LDL (low density lipoproteins) which are bad for us.

Here's what to look for in your cholesterol readings:

A total level of less than 200 mg/dl or LDL level less than 130 mg/dl is considered normal.

A total level of between 200-239 mg/dl or LDL level between 130-159 mg/dl is considered borderline-high.

A total level above 240 mg/dl or LDL level above 160 mg/dl is considered high.

So now we know what to aim for, how do we reduce our borderline high or high cholesterol figures?

A healthy diet and exercise plan can cut bad cholesterol and high total cholesterol readings. Exercise should occur at least 3 times per week, for 45 minutes or more. This should be vigorous enough to leave you slightly breathless and warm. Include plenty of fruit, fresh vegetables and whole grains in your daily diet along with lean meats such as poultry and fish. Choose low-fat or fat-free dairy products and avoid bacon and fatty red meats, butter and foods high in saturated or trans fats such as chips and fries.

There are many natural cholesterol formulas on the market today which include all-natural products such as beta-sitosterol, a natural plant oil to help manage cholesterol. When it comes to your cholesterol, taking positive action just makes sound sense. Choosing an all-natural product combined with exercise and a healthy diet can benefit your whole body. Don't wait for a wake-up call; you can start this healthy lifestyle today!

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The Best Herbs And Nutrients To Lower Cholesterol Naturally

Many different cholesterol lowering herbs and nutrients can help you lower your "bad" cholesterol naturally. In order to prevent the development of the various forms of heart disease that affects about 61 million Americans, it is very important to maintain low cholesterol levels in your body.

Think that with small intakes of natural supplements you can save a lifetime of taking pills and even avoiding heart surgery. You must know by now that about 75 percent of the body's cholesterol is produced by the liver, the rest being extracted from what you eat. So, a diet in this case is very helpful if you want to lower those levels. But, while a low-your-cholesterol diet is helpful, it's still necessary to maintain the cholesterol levels within the body itself.

But what are the best herbs that help you lower your cholesterol in a natural way? In this article we have prepared for you a list of the best herbs that will help you:

Green Tea - Even though it has shown that is has many therapeutic benefits, green tea has shown to also lower the amount of LDL (or bad cholesterol) in your bloodstream, and it also aids in the prevention of blood vessel constriction.

Ginger - Recent studies in the New England Medical Journals have shown that ginger helps dramatically reduce the cholesterol in your body. Often used in the Chinese cuisine, this powerful herb also helps lower blood pressure and thins the blood.

Guggulipid - Guggulipid is known to be an ancient Indian herb that has been shown very good results with lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Actually, it has shown better reducing effects on the LDL cholesterol levels than modern drugs in several trials.

Turmeric - Turmeric contains curcumin, and is a very powerful herb used in curry dishes. It helps lower the LDL levels but it also improves blood circulation.

Olive leaf - Studies have shown that the olive leaf extract, native to the Mediterranean region, shows amazing improvements on the cholesterol levels, as well as facilitates blood flow and lowers blood pressure.

Also, you might be interested in some important nutrients to lower your cholesterol naturally:

Policosanol is extracted from sugar cane wax and it has been widely studied trough time. It helps increase the good cholesterol levels, while lowering the LDL levels.

Chromium Plyniconate - Also known as the organic version of chromium, it helps lower triglycerides and LDL levels while raising the HDL cholesterol levels.

Niacin or Vitamin B3 - It has shown to help reduce total cholesterol levels in high dosages.

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Monday, July 29, 2013

Popular Weight Loss Diet Versus Low Carb

Lose ten pounds in two days! Think yourself thin! Try that, no try this weight loss diet! It's all so confusing, how can we know which ones are not only effective, but safe and permanent? The most important thing to remember is just because a celebrity endorses a specific weight loss diet plan, does not mean it is a safe one. Looking glamorous is what they are paid for. Losing your life or damaging your health is not supposed to be included in the price, but so often is.

The fact of the matter is, obesity is a huge problem not only in the United States but in many westernized countries and this is mainly due to the claims that fat has become such an ugly word. It may be true that fat is not healthy when on the body, but the truth is, it is healthy in the body, especially when consumed as part of a low carb diet.

Dietary saturated fat has many important functions such as, stabilizing insulin levels, cushioning internal organs, removing cholesterol from the body, decreasing body weight, and restoring energy. Due to the reputation that saturated fats cause heart disease instead of preventing it, trans fat margarine, vegetable oils and high fructose syrup was introduced with dangerous results. The oil and margarine were needed to replace the satiety one feels from eating saturated fats, and the corn syrup was to add sweetness at less cost. The real cost was in damaging the health of a nation.

Now, we have come full circle back to eating healthful, low carb foods with the emphasis on low glycemic vegetables, berries, good fats such as butter, olive oil and avocado. And, we are losing weight. That is because it is the natural way to eat. Doughnuts, bear claws, toaster pastries, pancakes and waffles soaking in sugary syrup is not. All these foods do is cause inflammation, joint aches, fatigue and weight gain and damage health. When searching for a diet plan, remember that any diet that claims you can lose weight in a very short time and doesn't reveal to you that it is mainly water lost, isn't a safe or valid diet. Eating low carb for life will allow you to lose the weight gradually and just may very well save your life.

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The Little Known Dangers Of Low Carb Diets

Up. Down. Up. Down. The world of a perpetual dieter is a never-ending roller coaster. Gaining and losing weight is just another part of the daily struggle. There's a reason the dieting industry is raking in billions of dollars a year and isn't showing any signs of slowing down. Fad diets have been a huge selling point. We've all tried our share of crazy ones! Anyone remember the hot chocolate diet? Not so good. How about the yam diet? Yeah, let's forget that one ever happened! Some plans haven't been so easily dismissed. The low carb diet has continually gained momentum and it seems everyone has tried it at some point. However, there are little known dangers when it comes to this eating plan - some that cannot be ignored.

The low carb diet can be very dangerous to your heart. This is true whether or not you've ever had issues with this area of your health before. The American Heart Association was so concerned they actually drafted a paper outlining the danger. They know a low carb diet often means a high protein diet. This can lead to an increase in bad cholesterol and cause a fertile breeding ground for cardiovascular disease. This is when a heart attack could sneak in. Scary stuff. Critics of diets like this say any weight loss is temporary, which makes the entire process an exercise in futility that only leaves you with a bad heart.

If you like to use your brain (and don't most of us?), a low carb diet should be reconsidered. The brain needs carbohydrates, or more specifically glucose, to continue working. In fact, it needs twice as much energy than any other body part. Neurons (which are the cells that communicate with one another) are constantly working and need to be re-energized on an on-going basis. This can't happen if there isn't a supply of glucose coming in. If you are using your brain to figure out a problem, the demand is even higher. So, the next time you're trying to figure out your taxes or maybe even just how much money your children are siphoning out of your life, eat a granola bar!

Eating fewer carbs to lose weight can backfire. A low carb diet has been shown to result in a loss of muscle. Just like glucose fuels the brain, it also fuels your muscles. This means you'll lose muscle tone and start getting flabby. Less muscle also means your metabolism will slow down and you'll lose weight even more slowly than to begin with. Doesn't that seem awfully futile? Thought so.

There's a reason experts suggest a balanced diet to lose weight. The truth is we need a little bit of everything to keep our bodies functioning at an optimum level. Cutting out certain foods won't do the trick. Instead of driving yourself crazy by following the latest and greatest fad diet, take a step back and aim to be healthy. You didn't gain the weight overnight, so don't expect to lose it overnight! Take a deep breath, eat a piece of bread and go to sleep happy!

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Are Cholesterol Lowering Medications the New "Gateway Drugs?"

So, you go to your doctor's office and get your cholesterol checked. Standard operating procedure, right? We have been taught since grade school that low cholesterol levels are the best way to lower your heart disease risk.

So, if you DO happen to have "high cholesterol", and the definition of "high cholesterol" keeps getting lower and lower all of the time, it's likely that your doctor will put you on the 'standard treatment' to reduce heart disease risk- a statin drug. If you have a GREAT doctor, hopefully it will be recommended that you do some lifestyle changes: eat better, get some exercise, add Omega 3 fatty acids to your diet, etc. and check your cholesterol level in a few months.

But if you have a "Standard American Doctor", it's likely that you will get sent home with a statin the first time you are told that you have "High Cholesterol".

Statins come by many names: Crestor, Baycol, Atorvastatin, Simvastatin, Lipitor, Zocor, Pravachol, Mevacor, Lescol among others. The intended effect of all of these drugs is to reduce your cholesterol- which they are generally very good at.

But at what PRICE do these drugs lower your cholesterol?

In many cases, statins are just the start of the "drug list" that you end up carrying around in your wallet in case of emergency. Could statins be the "gateway drug" that makes you NEED all those other drugs in the first place?

There are MANY published studies that show that statins cause many different problems- most of which "require" another drug to "fix". The Crestor- CRP study showed a significantly increased rate of diabetes among Crestor users. This obviously requires one or two new drugs: insulin and/or an antidiabetic drug (or two). Most people who are on two or three different prescription drugs often have heartburn and get a prescription antacid to help with that symptom. Both prescription antacids as well as diabetic drugs have been shown to cause an INCREASE in fractures among older women.

Aha! Another drug added to the mix- an osteoporosis drug known as a bisphosphenate.

Another study shows a significant increase in depression with the use of statins. Now you "need" an antidepressant, another boon to the pharmaceutical industry. However, a great study shows that men with low cholesterol and who have depression are at much greater risk of dying than other men!!

Great trade off.

Lets not forget that one of the notorious effects of statins is muscle weakness, muscle wasting and a serious condition called Rhabdomyolysis- a life threatening muscle wasting condition that will put you into the ICU for a few days. Oh, and studies show that prescription antacids ALSO cause muscle weakness, muscle pain and rhabdomyolysis. All of that muscle weakness will probably keep you at home more- increasing your risk of osteoporosis and depression even more!

I forgot that the myositis- another word for muscle pain- will force you to need some pain medication for "non specific" muscle pain. The pain medication will probably make you constipated- with the inevitable drug, a stool softener or the need for laxatives. If you make it through all of that without cancer or the need for a liver transplant - a couple more of the unfortunate "adverse effects" of statins, then the diabetes has now increased your chance of getting Alzheimers disease- and the need for a few more drugs (that don't work very well).

Ahh, but the relief of knowing that you have a 1% less risk of heart disease that COULD have been managed simply with diet, exercise and a few targeted supplements- Priceless!

Kerri Knox, RN is a Registered Nurse and Functional Medicine Practitioner. With over 14 years of experience in health care, she has the unique perspective of being solidly grounded in Conventional Medicine and being well versed in Alternative Medicine. She uses a scientifically based 'What Works Best' approach in order to help people actually OVERCOME chronic health problems that have not been helped by any other means.

She has a private practice in the San Francisco Bay Area, but works primarily by telephone consultation so that she can help you wherever you happen to live in the US. She can be reached through her website at

easy-immune-health.com easy-immune-health.com

"Stop managing your illness and start getting well..."

Causes Of Low HDL Reviewed To Help Protect You Against A Heart Attack, Stroke Or Disease

Whenever your HDL cholesterol levels are poor, or they are not as high as they should be, you may want to consider pausing for a break and ponder upon the possible causes of low HDL.

In the field of science and more importantly in medicine, it is vital to investigate the causes of certain conditions in order to come up with a viable solution.

Thus, knowing the details about why your HDL levels have decreased is important, to enable you to implement measures towards increasing it and maintaining a healthy body. Generally, low levels of good cholesterol present a potential hazard in contracting various heart ailments.

Most of the time, to effectively deal with any of the causes of low HDL, you may be required to change and adjust your diet and regimen habits that you have become accustomed to over the years or all throughout your life.

Definitely, certain medications and natural alternatives can prove very beneficial in achieving the desired results. According to experts, an increase in bad cholesterol and the depletion of HDL on the other hand are not entirely dependent on the food we eat alone. There are numerous other causes.

Smoking is the most common and hardly suppressed causes of low HDL. Whenever a person smokes, the processing of cholesterol that is regularly carried out within the liver and other essential organs is slowed or even ceased.

The result, un-segregated and unprocessed cholesterol piles up in the walls of the arteries. Aside from being the primary cause of HDL depletion, smoking is responsible for constricting blood vessels and the build-up of hazardous plaque inside the arteries. It is interesting to note that smoking essentially doubles the chances of you experiencing sudden heart attacks.

On top of the list of the causes of low HDL is inactivity. Combined with all the other possible health hazards, inactivity is not only a threat to the levels of HDL but also to numerous health concerns on the rest of the body parts.

In today's technological and mechanically efficient world, experts warn most people about just sitting down on the couch or lying down in bed playing or staring for hours in front of the computer or laptops.

Obesity is also one of the causes of low HDL levels. Hence, you may want to consider shaping up to the ideal weight as early as now.

Aside from the lifestyle and eating habits, there are also inherent and medical causes of low HDL such as increased catabolism and a decrease in synthesis including the alteration of HDL equilibrium between the extra and intravascular spaces.

Medical conditions that may cause the depletion of HDL would be diabetic-related ailments, and a high amount of triglycerides. There are also recent studies that point out gene inheritance as one of the culprits.

Knowing these typical causes of lowered HDL levels is beneficial in deciding what alternatives you can take to increase these levels. Aside from those that were cited, taking recommended and proven effective supplements will help immensely.

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Mary Ruddy is a former high cholesterol sufferer, from a family with a history of heart disease, and has successfully achieved perfect cholesterol levels, reversing and eliminating the risk of heart disease, and is a strong advocate of natural health care. Mary enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily at: curing-cholesterol.com curing-cholesterol.com

The Surprising Truth About Most Diets and Your Thin Weight Goals

It seems counter-intuitive, but it's true. Low fat diets don't get you to a healthy thin weight. There are lots of media hype and tons of related happinesslifetime.com diet programs that will have buying low fat everything from low fat latt?s to diet chips and snacks. But even though so many Americans are focus on watching their fat consumption, our population still suffers from the worst obesity rate in history, according the U.S. Center for Disease Control. It has also been proven than a diet that avoids saturated fat can rob your body of essential vitamins like A and D which are found on high fat foods like egg yolks, butter, cream, whole milk and liver. One famous study, the Framingham Study, shows how those who consumed more saturated fat, calories, and cholesterol where the ones who actually had the highest weight gain.

When you try to get thin by reducing your calorie intake, your body actually quickly adjusts to the lack of that essential nutrients in your body. Your body is wonderfully efficient and in this situation it thinks your starving and protects you by storing more fat in your body to hold you over until you resume your typical caloric intake. And in the mean time you feel ruin down and weak because your body is struggling to maintain its energy without your usual amount calories, based on your current activities. If you're trying to get a thin weight to and be more healthy, a low calorie diet is not the best choice.

Low carbohydrate diets are tough to succeed with because they take most of the enjoyment out of eating. Imagine life without Italian Pasta or most Mexican foods? The Atkins and South Beach Diets have this drawback. Their happinesslifetime.com diets plans can leave you irritable and are too restrictive. They take the enjoyment out of eating, because the meals lack the real flavors that make food wonderful. You don't get to have great sauces with your meat dishes for example! Plus you have to buy their meals, which is kind of costly.

Rob Moffit is an online health related product reviewer. Learn more about how you can get your thin weight Back the healthy way. Hint: You don't have to go hungry! Visit: getthinweight.com getthinweight.com/. Is it Possible to getthinweight.com Get Thin Weight Without Going Hungry?

Medifast Vs Atkins? Which of These Low Carb Diets is Better For You?

I've been on the medifast diet for a long time and many of my coworkers know about my experience. At lunch the other day, one of my coworkers asked "How does Medifast compare with Atkins?" Another friend sitting at our table blurted out "What do you mean? They are totally different. One is a low carb diet, silly. The other is a meal replacement. These are two totally different things." There were both right, in a sense, and I said so. But, there are some real similarities (and also some striking differences) between them. I will discuss how the two are similar and different in this article so that you can determine which may be better than you.

High Protein / Low Carbs: Believe it or not, medifast is really a low carb diet. All of the foods are pretty low in calories and carbs but very high in protein and fiber. So, with both diets, you'll be consuming a very high protein to carbohydrate ratio. The difference between the two is in the foods that you are eating.

It's pretty well known that among the Atkins offerings are bacon, eggs, pork rinds, sausage, etc. Of course, you aren't always eating these types of foods (you can eat some veggies.) It would be unhealthy to do so, but some people on this diet do have to carefully watch their fat and cholesterol intake.

With Medifast, you are also eating foods with very little carbs, but this fact has, in a sense, been disguised. For example, shakes, puddings, chili, hot chocolate, oatmeal, cappuccino, fruit drinks and bars are generally not foods that you would associate with a high protein diet, but all of these foods are not only on the "safe" list, they are provided for you. In my experience, I do not all mind being tricked into forgetting that I'm on a low carbohydrate diet. I eventually failed on Atkins because the whole meat experience started to become too much for me. In the end, I would've ran ten miles for something sweet. After a while, it became all I could think about.

How They Work Via Ketosis: Both of these diets work to burn your body's fat in the same way. When your body has enough carbohydrates available, your body will burn these off for energy. However, when you deprive your body of these carbs, your body has no chance but to burn it's own fat instead. Most people find that this encourages very quick and dramatic results.

Convenience And Living With Both Plans: When you are on Atkins, you are given a very long list of acceptable foods. All meats are acceptable, as are eggs, cheeses, oils, fats, and some vegetables. Although the plan does have some prepackaged snacks called "Atkins Advantage," (shakes and bars) you will need to prepare the food for yourself most of the time. Many people load up on protein foods like meats, cottage cheese, eggs, and fatty snacks. Pork rinds are also a popular choice.

With Medifast, you also have a list of acceptable foods, but for the most part, they are provided for you. You order them online and they come prepackaged. Many of the foods only require minimal assembly on your part. You do prepare one main healthful meal each day yourself. But, although you are eating six times per day (don't worry, they are small meals), you are only preparing your own food once per day.

So Which Is Better For You? There's no question that both of these diets are very effective and can allow you to lose weight quickly. The real difference appears to be the foods that you are eating. If you prefer preparing your own meals and don't mind eating a lot of lean proteins, without cholesterol being a concern, you may be better off with Atkins.

However, for folks like me who just can not load up on meat and eggs forever, medifast seems more appealing because you are eating foods that don't really register as high protein and taste more like regular desserts or snacks. Plus, I prefer to limit food prep as much as I can. I'm a busy wife and mother and prefer convenience over difficult choices.

Lindsey Price has lost over 80 pounds on Medifast. Her easiest-diet.com Medifast Review Website features videos, tips, the latest coupon codes (2 weeks free), and information and products related to Medifast. She also offers a free medifast ebook to help you get started. You can visit her at easiest-diet.com/medifast easiest-diet.com/medifast

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Healthy Diet For Life - Not That Low Carb Diet

Just before you think that the low carbohydrate diet that is so popular now would save you from getting fatter then you should rethink things for yourself. There is the feeling in some areas of the diet industry that to lose fat you need to get rid of the carbohydrate high food groups in your life. Most of us do not think about these foods being the primary source of energy that we need to maintain our body so we can lead our everyday lives.

Were you aware that this type of diet is only good for temporary weight losses? On the other side these diets can have long term harmful effects on your body. These effects are alarming but should not induce panic. You just need to restart your diet but do it healthier the next time.

The low carb diet puts you at a higher risk for osteoporosis. Diets high in protein, like that found in animal meat, raises your risk of osteoporosis if you are a woman. It takes the calcium from the bone to counteract the acids that build up in the blood from digesting the large amounts of protein.

The American Institute for Cancer Research reports any diet low in carbs which is also low in fruits whole grains, and vegetables but high in animal proteins increases the risk of acquiring cancer.

Low carb diets encourage your body to take in high fats. Studies have shown that countries with a high fat intake in their diet show an increase in breast cancer rates. Diets with high fiber food are better and would help to gradually overcome the risks of breast cancer.

One of the most alarming effects of the low carb high protein diet is the increase in the risk of heart disease. Over consumption of saturated fat is a known risk factor for higher LDL cholesterol, heart disease and stroke.

This misconception should be altered by a new fact that for us to determine how to slim down or lose weight we must look at our metabolism. Our metabolism must be increased to make our body burn the calories and thus force us to lose weight and stored body fat. Thus we must look at different methods to do this such as exercise and calorie shifting to force our body's metabolism to stay high. Low carb diets do not do this.

Also you need to realize that the low carb diet is another diet that is actually starving your body. You are taking away some of the vital nutrients your body needs to survive. I would recommend your looking into a diet that is more reasonable such as the calorie shifting diet I have discussed in other articles.

Remember you need to utilize a safe and healthy diet to maintain your body's systems.

David Snyder is an RN who is looking at the overweight epidemic facing our society. Visit my review of diet programs at weight-losstoday.com Weight Loss Today to see reviews of some of the weight loss programs being offered online today.

The Diets That Help Reducing LDL Cholesterol Blood Levels

Reducing LDL cholesterol levels in your body may not be difficult at all, especially for those who know where to find the right answers. Finding ways to help decrease the cholesterol levels of the body, may not exactly be a piece of cake, but it is definitely not impossible, with so many websites out there where you can find helpful information. You first have to gather all the necessary and basic information about cholesterol before taking a course of action to lower it down.

Cholesterol is a solid and saturated fat. It is a naturally occurring substance in the body as it is produced by the liver to serve the body some functions. Cholesterol is not harmful to the body at all times. It actually serves as a structure for some of the body's vital organs. It also is the cushion so the internal organs will not bump into bones. Since cholesterol is a form of fat, it is a great source of energy.

There are two types of cholesterol: HDL and LDL. HDL or High Density Lipoproteins are considered to be the good cholesterol of the body. By increasing your intake of foods that have unsaturated fatty acids, your body's HDL levels will also be increased. LDL or Low Density Lipoproteins are bad for the body. When LDL cholesterol levels rise, they have a tendency to cause harmful effects to the body in general. Increased levels of cholesterol could mean the accumulation and build up of fatty plaques within the arterial walls or in some body organs.

What can you do to help in reducing LDL cholesterol levels? There are so many things you can do to help decrease your body cholesterol levels. One of the basic things is to have a more active lifestyle. Exercising on a daily basis will help you burn off those unwanted fats faster. Brisk walking, jogging, or running is a good way to stay fit and active at the same time. No need to go to the gym.

Eating healthier is a good way to effectively reduce the amount of cholesterol in your body. By avoiding certain foods like red meats, poultry meats, processed foods, and foods being cooked and sold by fast food joints, you could control the amount of fats you take in your body. These food items are very rich in saturated fatty acids, which pose a great threat to increasing the blood's cholesterol levels. You should substitute lean white meats instead and provide a home cooked meal for your family. Avoiding high fat dairy products will greatly help as well. You should choose low fat, non-fat, or skimmed milk if you do want to consume milk.

Fruits and vegetables should be included in your diet. These are very excellent sources of antioxidants and soluble fiber. These two are very effective natural cholesterol reducers. Omega 3 fatty acids found in fish such as tuna, sardines, mackerel, and salmon are great for the heart, too, and can help in a big way in naturalcholesterolsupplements.com reducing LDL cholesterol levels.

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Reshape Your Body With a Brain Healthy Diet and Coffee

The brain, like any other organ, needs the right balance of nutrients to function well. It is important to take every effort to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and to encourage good blood flow to the brain. A brain-healthy diet can help lower "bad" fat, cholesterol and increase both physical and mental activity. As a result of feeling more alert, social interaction also increases. In turn, this helps to promote participation in intellectually stimulating activities. All combined, these behaviors and activities are good for the brain and the body.

What is a "brain healthy diet"?

A diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol.
A diet with cold water fish, rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, beneficial to cell membranes.
For example, fish such as tuna, mackerel, anchovies, trout, herring, salmon, sardines, and white fish.
Green leafy vegetables, avocados, Brazil nuts, cashews, pistachios, walnuts, olive oil, and peanut oil.
Nuts contain vitamin E which is a potent antioxidant.
Dark-skinned fruits and vegetables such as eggplant, red bell peppers, beets, broccoli, spinach, Brussels sprouts, red grapes, cherries, oranges, all kinds of berries (blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, strawberries, raspberries, to mention a few).
Dark-skinned fruits and vegetables have the highest levels of naturally occurring antioxidants which protect the brain from free radical formation.

A "brain diet" also should include coffee. Why? Because coffee, specifically, is a power house when it comes to antioxidants and helps fight off the effects of high cholesterol.

Brewed coffee has been shown to contain four times as many antioxidants as brewed tea.
Antioxidants are known to repair these free radicals.
Research shows that antioxidants help decrease the risk of many chronic diseases.
Coffee, specifically, has one of the most prominent antioxidants, Chlorogenic acid, as well as caffeic acid, melanoidins and methylpyridinium.
Coffee has two main ways of improving the health of your body: antioxidants and caffeine.
Both of these substances have health and happinesslifetime.com anti aging benefits.
Antioxidants help the body repair damage to cells caused by free radicals.
These free radicals are produced as a by-product of cells through normal daily activities.
Antioxidants help protect the cells in your body from oxidative damage by "free radicals" that go into action as the body uses oxygen.
Antioxidants reduce damage to body tissues. They do the opposite of oxidants.

Obviously, check with your own physician regarding any medical conditions, treatments, diagnostics, pregnancy or special dietary plans for you. The health benefits of coffee are many and the research supports them. However, there is no need to delay drinking your coffee. In fact, there is evidence that you can derive some health benefits from caffeine.

Go ahead: enjoy a cup of Peruvian Shade Grown Organic coffee!

Timothy ("Tim") S. Collins, the author, is called by those who know him "The Gourmet Coffee Guy."
He is an expert in article writing who has done extensive research online and offline in his area of expertise, coffee marketing, as well as in other areas of personal and professional interest.

Come visit the author's website: ourgourmetcoffee.com ourgourmetcoffee.com

Naturally Lowering Cholesterol Levels - Effective Steps You Can Take For a Healthier Heart

Are you aware that naturally lowering cholesterol is relatively easy? And did you know that high cholesterol foods are not the major cause of high blood cholesterol? These are two facts that are not publicized much in our society, but should be.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that you can eat whatever you want and still lower your cholesterol. As a matter of fact, diet is the most effective way to lower cholesterol levels. It's just that many people believe that eliminating high cholesterol foods will automatically bring down their cholesterol levels. It's important to realize that the primary source of cholesterol in your blood stream is not the foods you eat, rather it is the fact that your body produces over 75% of its own cholesterol.

That means that if you could totally eliminate those foods that contain cholesterol (which, by the way is not recommended because cholesterol is essential to the normal functioning of your body) you probably would still have problems keeping your cholesterol levels down.

Instead of focusing on eliminating high cholesterol foods, your focus should be on cutting out saturated fats and increasing the amount of fiber in your diet, both of which are essential for lowering blood lipid readings. This type of diet is important for three reasons.

First of all, the liver converts saturated fat directly into cholesterol if it is not burned up in energy. Secondly, cholesterol actually attaches itself to fiber in the intestines so that it is eliminated from the body. As this happens, bile acids are also eliminated which leads us to the third benefit of a low fat, high fiber diet. In order to replace these lost bile acids, the liver is stimulated into absorbing more cholesterol from the blood stream.

This method of naturally lowering cholesterol is extremely effective for the vast majority of people. Rather than concerning yourself with lowering-cholesterol-resources.com/high-cholesterol-foods.html high cholesterol foods, it is highly recommended to avoid saturated fats such as those found in pork and beef products, and while you work to increase the amounts of soluble fiber that you consume.

I invite you to visit my website where I discuss the foods, diets and other natural ways of bringing your cholesterol readings down to where they belong.

Van Crawford has been studying health and nutrition for over 10 years as he has researched ways to lower his own cholesterol levels. Much more information about lowering-cholesterol-resources.com/ways-to-lower-cholesterol.html naturally lowering cholesterol is available on his website: Lowering-cholesterol-resources.com

Improving the Balance of Cholesterol in the Body

It is always healthier to have a lower cholesterol count - right? Not necessarily. Having a very low cholesterol count can mean an imbalance in the production of cholesterol in the body. Such imbalance is also bad for your health.

Doctors prefer using the term normal than low. A normal cholesterol count in the blood is below 130 mg/dL for LDL and HDL cholesterol. Ideally, LDL and HDL cholesterol should have a 1 to 1 ratio to be considered healthy. A ratio decimals above one is considered normal for most people. What is important is that the LDL does not drastically exceed HDL in your blood.

If your doctor ever told you that you have a high level of cholesterol, he is probably referring to the level of LDL cholesterol in your blood. Low density lipids (LDL) cholesterol is a substance produced by the body that makes the lining of cell walls. LDL cholesterol is more popularly known as bad cholesterol.

For those who are suffering from cardiovascular diseases, lowering the level bad cholesterol in your body has tremendous significance to your health and well being. For those who have no preexisting conditions a lower level of bad cholesterol in your body can also lower the risk for developing such diseases in the future. Studies have shown that decreasing the level of LDL in the blood can radically increase life expectancy on individuals.

More than three fourths of the cholesterol in your body is produced by your liver. The rest comes from what is absorbed in the food you eat. Lowering LDL in your body involves 1) regulating your intake of saturated fats and 2) regulating the production of LDL in the body.

Eating healthy is a start in lowering your LDL levels. Avoiding red meat, fatty foods and high calorie junk foods is a start. Limiting your portions in a meal is also a great way to limit your intake of cholesterol. Choosing a happinesslifetime.com low cholesterol diet helps to your cardiovascular system in top shape, not to mention shedding a few pounds in the process.

Of course eating healthy is just one aspect of keeping your cholesterol levels checked. An even greater challenge is regulating the amount of cholesterol that your body produces. More than three fourths of the cholesterol in your blood is produced by your own body.

A common remedy for high cholesterol is prescription medication like statin drugs. These drugs work by blocking the formation of cholesterol in your body. Although effective, the side effects of these drugs reserve them for serious cases. As a form of maintenance, these drugs are supposed to be taken periodically. Since their effect is only temporary, your cholesterol levels will spike after you go off of them.

A more viable alternative is to use proven natural remedies derived from natural ingredients to keep your cholesterol in check. Lowering your cholesterol through natural remedies ensures not only balance a healthy balance of cholesterol in your blood but also a organic alternative to synthetically manufactured alternatives.

One food supplement, developed by one of the worlds top bio-scientists, promises results without the dangers associated with cholesterol lowering drugs. It has been proven in clinical studies to be effective in lowering bad cholesterol in the body.

Laza Marius is a content editor who focuses on a wide array of niche health topics. His latest website - Natural Cholesterol Supplement focuses on cholesterol as a whole, and in particular, a natural product our editors personally use with excellent health results known as - Cholest-Natural

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Healthy and Natural Foods That Lower Cholesterol Levels Fast

Are you looking for happinesslifetime.com foods that lower cholesterol? Did your doctor tell you that you have high cholesterol? Do you like to eat a lot of junk food? Do you eat a lot of red meats, eggs, and chicken? There are a multitude of reasons why you could have high cholesterol. You want to start eating happinesslifetime.com foods that lower cholesterol to get the best results.

Here are a few happinesslifetime.com foods that lower cholesterol.

o Fish

o Walnuts

o Whole Wheat Foods and Oats

o Olives and Olive Oil

o Blueberries

There are some happinesslifetime.com foods that lower cholesterol, and then there are other foods that have low cholesterol. Studies have shown that the foods listed above can actually lower cholesterol. There are definitely a few foods you can replace with the foods listed above.

In the morning, when you first wake up, you should eat oatmeal for breakfast. You should do this five days a week. The next time you want to eat a fat Big Mac sandwich for lunch, you should order fish instead. Make sure you eat fish that is not fried.

Fish loses a lot of the healthy benefits when you do not broil it. If you do not like fish, you can always order a salad for lunch. This is a much healthier option than eating a burger or fried chicken fingers.

Make sure that you do everything you can to eat happinesslifetime.com foods that lower cholesterol, or eat foods that have low cholesterol. You need to eat a happinesslifetime.com low cholesterol diet, exercise regularly, and take natural cholesterol supplements to get the best results.

You can really make a big difference in your overall cholesterol if you continue to focus on steps that will help you eat correctly. Too much cholesterol in the body can cause heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and death, so you want to make changes as soon as possible!

If you're interested in learning the secrets of finding the best naturalcholesterolremedies.net natural cholesterol supplements, visit my website, where I share the products that have been proven fast, safe and effective in lowering cholesterol naturally.

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Fight Cholesterol - The Nightmare Of Every Individual

People are generally not aware of the facts that high cholesterol can be responsible for many serious health problems. If you are having high cholesterol then there are chances of you to get a stroke or a heart attack. So it is important that one should have a happinesslifetime.com low cholesterol diet to avoid heart diseases.

Do you have a family history? If yes, then a happinesslifetime.com low cholesterol diet would not be enough to control the high cholesterol. You will have visit a doctor and be on medication. Along with this you will have to start an exercise routine. All this together will help you losing weight, so do not get worried if you are losing weight. To have a healthy live it is very important that you exercise regularly.

You must be wondering why is family history is given so much importance. It is because cholesterol depends a lot on genetics. Inactiveness can also cause cholesterol, which means that you have to be active. You can do anything to be active. Start with using stairs instead of elevators. Enjoying a walk, riding a bicycle or doing an aerobic exercise can do wonders.

Diet is very important, so keep a watch on the food you eat. Always try and buy products that are low in cholesterol. Check the labels while purchasing anything.

There are two types of cholesterol- good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. Good cholesterol or high density lipoproteins should be consumed whereas bad cholesterol or low density lipoproteins which are in fatty meats, butter, lard, greasy sauces etc should be avoided. These are saturated fats which are harmful for health.

Dark chocolate, cheerios, avocados, nuts, fish and fish oil, fruits, grains, vegetables, cereals, complex carbohydrates are some of the happinesslifetime.com low cholesterol diet food which can be eaten without worrying about your health. Eat products that are rich in fiber as they lower cholesterol. That is the reason fiber diet is included in the happinesslifetime.com low cholesterol diet.

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Saturday, July 27, 2013

Is Consuming Fat As Bad As They Say? Here Are Some Fat Facts For a Healthier Diet

As a St Kilda personal trainer I have come across all the different diets you can think of, the Atkins diet, Zone diet, Anabolic diet, chocolate diet; the pizza diet; the detox diet, even the 'think yourself thin' diet. Anyone trying to lose weight may have heard of these and probably tried a few too. The latest dieting trend will always be heralded by celebrities in the media and magazine articles will continue to make claims along the lines of 'lose 10 kgs in 10 days and eat whatever you like!' Sadly, it's not that simple in reality. One dieting trend that has stood the test of time is the low-fat diet but is fat really the dieter's enemy?

Good fat versus bad fat

Fat is a necessary part of a healthy diet, in fact your diet should consist of about 30 per cent fat. There are 3 groups of fats which should have a place in your diet.

- Saturated fats

These are often claimed to be the bad fats which have no benefits to health and often attributed to heart disease. This is not necessarily the case, in fact some saturated fat can be quite beneficial, common sources are cheese, butter, meat and coconut oil. Try telling your ancestors who survived for millions of years eating these quite natural sources of fat that its going to give them heart disease! Just stay away from anything that is too processed and man made.

- Monounsaturated fats

Common sources are oils such as olive, rapeseed, groundnut and it's also found in nuts and seeds. All of these things are wonderful choices to add to a healthy diet.

- Polyunsaturated fats

These can help to lower 'bad' cholesterol levels in the blood. They are also important because they contain essential fatty acids which the body can't produce by itself. Interestingly, they may also reduce 'good' cholesterol so they must be supplemented with monounsaturated fats in the diet. Common sources of polyunsaturates are vegetable fats and oily fish.

- Trans fats

These are horrible man made sources of fat which have no place in your diet. These are found in things like cakes, pastries and fast foods. Stay away from trans fats!

A diet too low in fat can lead to hormonal and skin problems, inhibit the body's control of inflammation and adversely affect blood pressure so clearly, cutting all fat from your diet would be harmful.

It's not the occasional high-fat food that is the problem, it's eating too much fat every day. Rather than continuing to eat low-fat versions of your favourite processed foods, it would be more beneficial to look at the total amount of fat in your daily diet and then to restrict that intake to no more than 30 per cent, and keep it natural and healthy. If you can't kill it, pluck it from the ground, or pick it off a tree then don't eat it.. It's also worth noting that many packaged foods claiming to be low-fat may actually be very high in sugar!

Healthy ways to cut the bad fat:

Listed below are 6 ways to lower the fat content of your diet without buying a pre-packaged low-fat product:

- Dress vegetables with fresh herbs, lemon juice or yogurt

- Eat more fish and poultry

- If eating red meat, choose lean cuts and trim off all visible fat

- Grill, steam or microwave rather than fry

- Replace cream with plain yogurt in your recipes

Ben Longley has been stkildafitnesstrainer.com.au personal training in St Kilda, Melbourne for over 4 years and runs BGL Personal Training where he specialises in fat loss and overal strength & conditioning for local residents. Bens semi private training sessions have helped clients from St Kilda, Balaclava, Prahran, Brighton, Elsternwick, Caulfield and surrounding suburbs lose their body fat and transform their body's.

Four Foods Which Lower Cholesterol Levels

Having knowledge about the foods which lower cholesterol levels is a great advantage especially for people who are at risk for stroke and cardiovascular diseases. We all know that stroke and heart attack are major causes of death; thus, knowing the right kind of food to eat when you have high cholesterol would mean saving your very life.

It's simply that high cholesterol is something serious and should not be taken for granted. On the other hand, the cure could be as simple as making small but valuable changes in your lifestyle, most especially your eating habits.

Probably the first step in lowering your cholesterol would be to avoid the foods that are high in cholesterol. These could be red meat, eggs, butter, milk, and other dairy products, lobster, shrimp, crabs, manufactured cookies and sweets, and other foods that are high in saturated fats and trans fats or those with hydrogenated palm oil or coconut oil. These foods are forbidden yet it's pretty obvious that they are also too tasty and irresistible. This is where the challenge sinks in. Thinking that you would have a better health and a longer life when you resist these foods is a great motivation and wouldn't compare to anything else even to eating such a delicious high cholesterol food for just a sitting. In contrast eating foods that can lower cholesterol have a lasting benefit compared to eating cholesterol-rich foods that can also kill in an instant.

Among the four best foods that you can substitute and eat more for their cholesterol reducing properties are the following:

Oatmeal and other soluble fibers. Oatmeal is a beneficial food that lowers LDL Low Density Lipoprotein ("bad cholesterol"). It's particularly known for having soluble fibers that can absorb the body's fatty cholesterol and eliminate it. Aside from oatmeal, kidney beans, barley, apples, pears, and prunes are also rich in fibers.
Walnuts and other nuts. Nuts (dry roasted unsalted) are also cholesterol lowering. They have polyunsaturated fats that can decrease the amount of cholesterol in the body. Walnuts also have the tendency to keep the blood vessels elastic and healthy. Just eat a handful (2 ounces) per day because nuts are high in calories and can be fattening.
Olive oil. Olive oil is among the foods that are most of beneficial in lowering LDL. It contains antioxidants that doesn't only lower the levels of bad cholesterol; it also maintains the "good cholesterols (or HDL) in the body. Consuming two tablespoons of olive oil, in saut?ed food or as salad dressing, is doctor recommended.
Oily fish. Fatty fish like salmon, herring, lake trout, albacore tuna, sardines, and mackerel have omega3 fatty acids that can lower bad cholesterol as well as reduce high blood pressure and the risks for blood clots. Baked, grilled, boiled, or steamed are the best ways to cook fish healthily.

If you want to take advantage of these foods which lower cholesterol, then start incorporating them in your diet right now. Just make sure that you combine this healthy way of eating with regular exercise, quitting smoking, and occasional visits to your doctor; if you do so, then you're sure to be on your way to a healthy cholesterol free lifestyle.

For more information about foods which lower cholesterol, you can search this eBook (Natural and Safe Cholesterol-Busters) at read-it-for-free.com read-it-for-free.com 100% FREE

Low Fat Diet and Breast Cancer Prevention - Why the Proof is Elusive

In 2006, results from the world's largest low fat diet project were published (see reference at end). This was a US government-funded study of 48,835 postmenopausal women in a multicenter prospective, randomized clinical trial known as the "Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Dietary Modification Trial." The study was conducted from 1993 to 2005 at 40 centers around the country. The volunteers were randomly assigned to either a low-fat diet group (19,541 women) or a regular diet group (29,294 women). After about eight years of follow-up, this large and costly study did not find any significant differences in breast cancer incidence between postmenopausal women who were asked to eat a low-fat diet and those who continued to eat their regular diet. On the other hand, the results did suggest that changing to a low-fat diet may reduce the risk of breast cancer for women who had diets very high in fat to begin with.

According to most experts, the following may be reasons why this study showed no significant benefit:

1) Not many women met the 20% fat intake goal. This "low-fat diet" regimen may not have truly been low in fat. Since most women did not meet the fat-reduction goal, this study may have proven only that the approach to the intervention did not work. It did not prove that a truly low-fat diet doesn't help protect you from breast cancer. Getting only 20% of your calories from fat is very difficult to do. This means that, if you eat 2,000 calories per day, only 400 calories could come from fat. So it's not surprising that less than a third of the women met this goal after the first year, and only 14% continued to meet the goal after six years. Because so few women met the requirements of the study, it means that we don't really know how a diet low in fat affects breast cancer risk.

2) Diets were self-reported and infrequent, which may make them unreliable. This study relied on the women's written reports of what they ate, which may not be an accurate reflection of true intake. These reports were done occasionally. No daily food log or journal was done and checked. Most of us aren't proud to admit in an interview or questionnaire that we've broken the rules and haven't stuck to the "prescribed diet." So there may be a tendency to under-report the amount of fat actually eaten.

3) Other changes besides the low-fat diet. The study did not separate out the effects of reducing the amount of fat eaten vs. the effects of increasing fruit and vegetable servings. Women in the low-fat diet group ate almost two more servings per day of fruits and vegetables than women in the regular diet group and about one more serving of grains.

4) Length of follow-up time. While 48,835 women is a lot of people, eight years isn't a lot of follow-up time. Eating a low-fat diet for 15 or 20 years may offer more significant benefits and show a closer relationship between dietary fat and breast cancer risk.

5) Baseline body mass index. In this study, 74% of the women were classified as overweight by body mass index at the beginning of the study. So we don't really know if a low-fat diet would offer benefits to women who are at a normal weight to begin with.

6) All the women were postmenopausal. It may be that dietary fat plays a more important role in the diets of younger, premenopausal women. It makes sense that your diet in the first 50 years of your life might affect your cancer risk in the second half of your life. This study doesn't address that question.

7) The type of fat wasn't specified. There are three basic types of fats: saturated, mono-unsaturated, and poly-unsaturated. In this study, women were asked only to reduce fat. They weren't asked to consider the various types of fat or told that reducing saturated fats may offer more health benefits than reducing unsaturated fats.

Saturated fats are only found in foods that come from animals and are the types of fats that raise your blood cholesterol level. Trans fats (also called trans-saturated fats) are man-made fats. (Vegetable oils are modified to form margarine and vegetable shortening, both of which are trans fats.) Trans fats also are added to prepackaged foods. Saturated fats raise your blood's "bad" cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein or LDL) level and lower your "good" cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein or HDL) level.

Mono-unsaturated and poly-unsaturated fats are found in plant foods like vegetables, nuts, and grains, as well as oils made from these nuts and grains (canola, corn, soybean). Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are poly-unsaturated. Besides vegetables, nuts, and grains, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are also found in coldwater fish such as tuna, salmon, and mackerel. Some studies have shown that eating foods that have mono- or poly-unsaturated fats can help reduce your levels of "bad cholesterol." Mono- and polyunsaturated fats may also keep your triglyceride levels low. Triglycerides are a form of fat in your bloodstream.

8) None of the women in either group were asked to change their health-related behaviors, such as exercise, drinking or smoking. These known risk factors for breast cancer were left uncontrolled and may obscure any benefit from eating less fat.

9) This study is about a low fat diet; it is not about going from an overweight/obese state to a normal weight. Eating less fat while staying persistently fat may not help anyone! Since this study cost nearly half a billion dollars, it is unlikely that another lifestyle intervention clinical trial at this large scale would be done again anytime soon, particularly in the current US economy.

Reference: Prentice RL, et al. Low-fat dietary pattern and risk of invasive breast cancer: the Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Dietary Modification Trial. Journal of the American Medical Association, volume 295, pages 629-42, 2006.

Copyright ?2009. Dr. Mai Brooks, is a surgical oncologist/general surgeon. She specializes in early detection and prevention. More at thecancerexperience.wordpress.com thecancerexperience.wordpress.com.

Good and Bad Cholesterol Foods - Top Foods to Increase HDL and Lower LDL Cholesterol Level

Many people think that cholesterol is bad for the health. Actually our body needs a minimal level of cholesterol and beyond that it is hazardous. It keeps up the strength of the intestinal walls and converts the sunlight into vitamin D while the skin is in direct contact with the sun. To be precise there are two types of cholesterol; i.e. Good & Bad. Good is HDL (High Density Lipoproteins) and Bad is LDL (Low Density Lipoproteins). When it comes to reducing its level in the body, the diet is all about good and bad cholesterol foods. You should focus your diet on lowering the LDL and increasing the HDL.

Here are some basic fact of Good and Bad Cholesterol Foods

· You must avoid trans fat. This gives a boost to the good cholesterol. For this you must avoid fried foods as much as possible.

· Another basic tip is to do the cardiovascular workouts on daily basis

· You must never smoke or take alcohol as it is the bad cholesterol food that gives adverse effect on the health

· You must increase the intake of monounsaturated & polyunsaturated types of fat. The foods that are rich in these types of fat are olives, canola oils, fish (some particular types), nuts, avocados, etc.

· Omega 3 fatty acids also help in improvising the HDL & LDL ratio thereby checking the effect of good and bad cholesterol foods. There are several fishes rich in these for instance tuna & salmon. You should take them a couple of times in a day.

· Other foods rich in Omega 3s are fish oil, leafy green vegetables, soybean products, acai berries, etc need to be taken.

· Taking 1 1/2 cups cooked oatmeal gives you 6 grams fiber everyday. You might also like to add fresh fruits like bananas to this. This would add 4 grams more fiber to the diet.

· You can also try taking steel cut oatmeal, cold cereal made along with oatmeal, oat bran, walnuts, almonds, etc which are considered to be the good cholesterol food items.

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Why Having Healthy Cholesterol Levels is So Important and How You Can Easily Achieve Them

Do you have healthy cholesterol levels? Keeping your cholesterol within normal limits is very important as high cholesterol levels are associated with an increased risk for the development of heart disease. There are a number of factors which can cause an increase in cholesterol including family history, age, diet, and lifestyle.

How do you know if you have healthy cholesterol levels? A test called lipid profile can be done to measure your total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, as well as your triglycerides. Total cholesterol of less than 200 mg/dL is considered normal. A value of 200-239 mg/dL is borderline high while a total cholesterol of 240 mg/dL and above is considered as high blood cholesterol. People with high total cholesterol levels are at twice the risk for developing coronary heart disease.

When it comes to LDL or bad cholesterol, a value of less than 100 mg/dL is considered optimal, 100-129 mg/dL is near optimal, 130-159 mg/dL is borderline high, and 160-189 mg/dL is high, while an LDL value of 190 mg/dL and above is very high. The healthy LDL levels are determined based on one's risk factors for heart disease so it varies from person to person.

When it comes to healthy cholesterol levels of HDL, the higher the value, the better. HDL is considered the good cholesterol. HDL cholesterol of less than 40 mg/dL for men and 50 mg/dL for women is low and is a major risk factor for heart disease while levels of 60 mg/dL and above offer protection from heart disease.

Aside from cholesterol, a lipid profile also measures the triglyceride levels which also predispose an individual to heart disease. High triglyceride levels occurring with a low HDL or high LDL is associated with faster build up of fatty deposits in the walls of the arteries.

How do you maintain healthy cholesterol levels? You can keep your cholesterol within normal by eating the right kinds of foods. Foods like fatty fish, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains help lower bad cholesterol. Avoid foods high in cholesterol such as meat, egg yolks, organ meats, poultry, and processed foods.

Aside from eating right, you can also take natural supplements that will not only lower bad cholesterol but will also raise good cholesterol. Supplements that contain theaflavin, policosanol, and pumpkin seed oil are very effective at keeping cholesterol within normal range.

Make sure that they do not contain preservatives, binders, and fillers as these can be harmful to the health and affect absorption of the nutrients.

So, go ahead, visit my website today and get yourself started on the road to healthy cholesterol levels.

Mary Ruddy is a strong advocate of natural and safe health care and enjoys nothing more than helping others make a positive impact on their lives. To find out more about how you too can improve your health naturally visit her website today at curing-cholesterol.com curing-cholesterol.com/

Visit her site curing-cholesterol.com curing-cholesterol.com/ to learn the natural and safe way for lowering cholesterol.

An Introduction to Low Carb Diets

Low carbohydrate (or low carb) diet plans have really increased in popularity in the last ten years or so. This is in large part due to the success of the ever-popular Atkins diet and the low carb diets that followed it such as the South Beach diet. But you don't need the latest book or high priced diet program to follow a low carb diet. All you need is some basic dieting knowledge and one of the many low carb free diet plans that can be found on the web.

Low carb diets are typically low in carbohydrates (duh!) and high in fats and proteins. How low the carbs are supposed to be depends on the particular diet plan. Typically, low carb diet plans start you off for a week or two of very low carbs. Meals typically consist of meat (lots of meat!) and vegetables with some zero carb sauces or dressings; no dairy, grains, or fruit allowed. Then certain carbs are slowly added to the meals but never at a high percentage. Typically, carbs will account for 5% - 20% of your calories on a low carb diet.

Why low carbs? When you eat carbohydrates it raises your blood sugar level. This in turn causes your body to release insulin. It is insulin's job to get that sugar (glucose) out of the bloodstream and into your cells. First it tries putting glucose into muscles and when the muscles are full of glucose insulin pumps the remaining glucose into fat cells. While the insulin is doing its work your body will burn the glucose in your bloodstream first before trying to burn your fat. So, if you can keep the glucose level low in the bloodstream, insulin won't put that glucose in your fat cells and the body has very little glucose in the bloodstream to use for energy. Therefore, the body must use something else, like fat, to burn for energy. This is the theory behind low carb dieting.

So now that you know the basics of low carb diets you know what to look for when searching for free low carb diet plans on the web or diet books in the bookstore. The low carb diet plan should steer you far away from starchy carbs like white bread, white rice, and pasta and encourage you to eat leafy green vegetables to get the fiber, vitamins, and minerals your body needs without spiking the glucose levels.

One final thing to take into consideration is that a low carb diet totally goes against the USDA's food pyramid guidelines. Although low carb diet plans are popular modern science has not determined whether they are healthy or not. There are issues with the increased levels of fat consumption (particularly saturated fat consumption) and it's effect on cholesterol in a low carb diet. You should do the research and check with your doctor to see if low carb diets are right for you.

Daniel Lanicek is a health enthusiast, weightlifter, and armchair nutritionist. For more information about low carb diets and to learn more about dieting in general and healthy eating, please visit smartdietplans.com smartdietplans.com.

Friday, July 26, 2013

Top 7 Diet Myths

Proper nutrition is a key component of any fitness program, but with so many diet myths out there it can hard to determine what to eat and what not to eat. Here are seven of the most common myths related to diet.

1. Drastically reducing calories is the best way to lose weight. Drastically reducing calories forces your body into "starvation mode," which causes your metabolism to slow down and fat loss to stop. Any weight that you lose by drastically reducing calories will primarily be water weight, which you'll most likely end up gaining back. You have to cut back on calories in order to lose weight (fat), but you should never drastically reduce calories.

2. All fat is bad. The truth is that the body needs fat in order to function properly. Fat provides energy, maintains cell membranes and blood vessels, and helps produce certain essential hormones. The body needs fat in order to process the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Fat also helps maintain healthy hair and skin, protects vital organs, and keeps the body insulated. But some fat is healthy and some is not. Unsaturated fat is healthy fat that can lower LDL (bad) cholesterol. Saturated fat and trans fat are unhealthy fats that can raise LDL cholesterol and lower HDL (good) cholesterol.

3. Carbohydrates make you fat. What makes you fat is eating more calories than your body needs, regardless of if the calories come from fats, carbohydrates or proteins. Carbohydrates are the main source of fuel for the body and they need to be a part of your diet. But some people are "carbohydrate sensitive," and they would need to limit their intake of carbohydrates, especially simple carbohydrates, if they are trying to lose weight.

4. Dietary cholesterol causes high blood cholesterol. The truth is that about 75% of blood cholesterol is produced in the liver while only about 25% is absorbed from food. As long as you don't have high blood cholesterol in the first place, dietary cholesterol will have minimal effect on your blood cholesterol level. Saturated fat and trans fat are the primary dietary causes of high blood cholesterol.

5. Eating at night makes you fat. The truth is that no matter when you eat, if you don't use all of the calories you've consumed, your body will store the extra calories as fat. If you're less active at night, then you need to eat less at night. If you work out at night, especially if you lift weights, then you need to make sure that you eat enough after your workout to fuel muscle recovery and growth. Adjust your food intake based on your energy expenditure.

6. Low-fat or fat-free means low calories. Don't assume low-fat or fat-free means low calories. Many low-fat and fat-free foods are high in calories because sugar and refined starches have been added to make up for the lost fat. Don't just check the fat content of your food, also look at the ingredients list and the calorie content.

7. Diet sodas help you lose weight. Not necessarily. Even though diet sodas contain little or no calories, recent research strongly suggests that the artificial sweeteners in diet sodas may actually increase your appetite. Don't be fooled by any of these diet myths. Rely on proven information to help you meet your fitness goals.

Jim Plummer is a longtime health and fitness enthusiast. His website, functional-fitness-facts.com functional-fitness-facts.com, contains information, advice and resources that will help you get fit and healthy. Visit his website and pick up your free functional-fitness-facts.com/free-fat-loss-report.html fat loss report.