Almond is not the cheapest nuts to munch , their price is justified by its health benefits. Even the Bible has said that its "among the best of fruits".
The health benefits of almond
a healthier heart it is a fantanstic source of vitamin E that can reduce the risk of heart attack by up to 50%. it has also antioxidants that lessens a person's heart disease tendencies and lowers the amount of C reactive protein which causes the damage to the arteries.
it will help to regulate cholesterol levels. rich in monosaturated fats a good HDL cholesterol that lower the bad LDL cholesterol. a handful of almonds a day can reduce bad cholesterol levels by up to 12%.
it will help better blood circulation with its high level of potassium and low levels of sodium found in almonds work hand in hand to improve blood circulation and regulate the blood pressure. Their magnesium content acts as a declogger and helps improve the flow of nutrients in the bloodstream. this is supported by the generous dose of iron that transports oxygen in the cellular level.
it will help reduce the risk of cancer. The vitamin E, phytochemicals and flavonoids in almonds help supress the growth of breast cancer cells. It also helps prevent colon cancer because of its high fiber content. It also contains boron, which help in preventing prostate cancer.
a good substitute for carbohydrates. the almond flour is use as a wheat flour substitute, for people who have gluten sensitivity, coelian disease and wheat allergies. You can also use almond flour if you want to restrict your carbohydrate intake because a cup of which only has a net carb content of 10 grams.
it will give more energy. Almonds are well known energy booster, being a key ingredient in many energy bars. They ar erich in protein, manganese, copper and riboflavin all sources of energy.
it will help lose weight. Almonds are also dense in nutrients that consuming them makes one feel full, that will prevent from overeating and would eventually translate into weight loss.
it will help prevent birth defects. Folic acide is one of the best defenses against birth defects, being a promoter of healthier cell growth and tissue formation. Pregnant women who eat almonds regularly can significantly reduce their offspring's risk of birth defects because of the folic content of the nut.
it will help to maintain sugar levels. Almonds are good for diabetics because they're a low glycemic food. They have a stabilizing effect on sugar and insulin levels when consumed after meals. This prevention in spikes would also be helpful to people who are at risk to have the condition.
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Protect Your Heart at Every Age
By Woman's Day Staff
Follow these easy health tips specific to every stage of aging
You're never too young—or too old—to start lowering yourheart disease risk. Of course, exercising, eating healthyand reducing stress are key throughout life, but due to physiological changes that happen as we age, certain risk factors do become more of a threat.
In Your 20s
Stub Out a Social Smoking Habit
Smoking is enemy number one when it comes to heart disease, and even just a few cigarettes can do damage: New research from McGill University in Montreal found that smoking just one cigarette a day stiffens your arteries by a whopping 25 percent. Plus, smoking erases the hormonal advantage you have from estrogen, which can leave you vulnerable to a heart attack before menopause, explains Dr. Bonow.
Don't Ignore the Birth Control Factor
Remember that hormonal contraceptives slightly increase the risk of blood clots, so if you've ever had one, make sure to discuss it with your doctor before going on birth control. And if you're currently a smoker, don't take oral contraceptives, because the combo can be especially dangerous, says Sharonne N. Hayes, MD, director of the Women's Heart Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Watch Your Alcohol Intake
Moderate amounts of alcohol can have a beneficial effect on your heart. (By "moderate," we mean one drink a day or about 5 ounces—but many restaurants serve far more than that.) Overdoing it can raise triglycerides, increase blood pressure and lead to weight gain, thanks to all those empty calories.
In Your 30s
Get a Grip on Stress
When you're juggling career and family, it's crucial to find stress management techniques that work. "Untamed stress has a direct negative impact on heart health," says Dr. Stevens. "The constant bombardment of adrenaline raises blood pressure and destabilizes plaque in your arteries, making it likely to cause a clot or heart attack."
Lose the Baby Weight
No, you don't have to fit into your skinny jeans by the time the baby's 6 months old, but do aim to get back to your pre-pregnancy weight within one to two years. "Carrying around extra pounds can lead to high cholesterol, high blood pressure and other heart disease risk factors," Dr. Bonow says. Also remember that it's easier to lose weight in your 30s than in your 40s, when your metabolism slows down.
Stay Social
It's important to stay connected to friends and family for the sake of your mood and heart. Research at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine found that high levels of loneliness increase a woman's risk of heart disease by 76 percent. On the flip side, having strong social support can help lower your blood pressure and improve other cardiovascular functions. Set aside time once or twice a week to call friends, or make a monthly dinner date.
In Your 40s
Make Sleep a Priority
Thanks to peri-menopause, fluctuating hormone levels can interfere with a good night's sleep. But not getting at least seven hours of shut-eye regularly can lead to increased blood pressure, low-grade inflammation and higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol, all of which are harmful for your blood vessels and heart, explains Jennifer H. Mieres, MD, a cardiologist at New York University School of Medicine and coauthor of Heart Smart for Black Women and Latinas. Lack of sleep has also been linked to weight gain. So establish good habits: Turn in (and wake up) at the same time every day—even on weekends—and do your best to relax before going to bed, whether it's watching a favorite funny TV show or reading.
Reassess Your Risk Factors
You may discover that your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels have changed in this decade, even if you aren't doing anything differently, says Dr. Hayes. In fact, 22 percent of 40-something women have high blood pressure and 50 percent have high cholesterol (a jump from 38 percent of women in their 30s), according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Also, be sure to get your thyroid checked around 45;hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland), which becomes more common as women get older, can negatively affect your cholesterol levels as well as your heart.
Step Up Strength Training
You start to lose muscle mass more rapidly in your 40s, which causes your metabolism to slow down since muscle burns more calories than fat. Unfortunately, this makes it harder to stave off those extra pounds. To help maintain muscle and keep your metabolism going, aim for two 15-minute sessions weekly of lifting weights, using a resistance band or doing other toning exercises.
Carve out Personal Time
"Between the demands of work and family, it becomes even more challenging to find time for yourself in your 40s," says Dr. Mieres. But it's crucial to do so—not only to help ease stress but also to guard againstdepression, which commonly crops up in this decade and can raise your risk of heart disease. "Find at least 10 minutes of ‘me' time every day to do something—even if it's just chatting on the phone with a friend—that helps you destress and regroup," says Dr. Mieres.
In Your 50s
Move More
Around menopause, you tend to gain extra weight around your belly, which can lead to insulin resistance, inflammation and heart strain. Cardiovascular fitness also starts to decline, particularly if you're not that physically active to begin with. "Unfortunately, at this point, women have to burn more calories to stay at the same weight," Dr. Stevens says. Start taking the stairs instead of the elevator whenever you can, walk faster around the mall, or jog to the mailbox to send letters instead of sticking your hand out the car window as you drive by. Small changes really do add up.
Have an ECG
Silent heart abnormalities become more common in your 50s, and an electrocardiogram (ECG) to check your heart's electrical activity can pick them up, says Dr. Goldberg. Also ask your doctor if you should have a stress test; this is especially important if you're just starting to exercise.
Add Fiber
Besides being good for your cholesterol and blood sugar, pumping up your fiber intake (think whole grains like oatmeal, brown rice and flaxseeds, as well as beans, fruits and veggies) can help prevent constipation, which becomes more of a problem as you get older and your digestive system starts to slow down.
In Your 60s
Get Even More Vigilant About Screenings
After you go through menopause and get older, your blood pressure and cholesterol tend to go up, and blood vessels get stiffer. "Have your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol measured yearly," advises Dr. Goldberg.
Consider Medication
If you have hypertension or high cholesterol, the way you've been managing it before may not be enough. "As you get older, you may need more aggressive therapy," Dr. Bonow says. "High blood pressure that was controlled with one medication may now require three to control it." Talk to your doctor about whether you need to add to or adjust your medications to control your risk factors.
Be Alert to Symptoms
Now is when the first noticeable symptoms of heart disease may appear, so it's important to know what's normal for your body and be on the lookout for worrisome signs like chest discomfort, shortness of breath or changes in exercise tolerance—meaning you suddenly feel winded going up a flight of stairs or feel unusually tired for no apparent reason, says Dr. Mieres. If these appear, see your doctor pronto!
Follow these easy health tips specific to every stage of aging
You're never too young—or too old—to start lowering yourheart disease risk. Of course, exercising, eating healthyand reducing stress are key throughout life, but due to physiological changes that happen as we age, certain risk factors do become more of a threat.
In Your 20s
Stub Out a Social Smoking Habit
Smoking is enemy number one when it comes to heart disease, and even just a few cigarettes can do damage: New research from McGill University in Montreal found that smoking just one cigarette a day stiffens your arteries by a whopping 25 percent. Plus, smoking erases the hormonal advantage you have from estrogen, which can leave you vulnerable to a heart attack before menopause, explains Dr. Bonow.
Don't Ignore the Birth Control Factor
Remember that hormonal contraceptives slightly increase the risk of blood clots, so if you've ever had one, make sure to discuss it with your doctor before going on birth control. And if you're currently a smoker, don't take oral contraceptives, because the combo can be especially dangerous, says Sharonne N. Hayes, MD, director of the Women's Heart Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Watch Your Alcohol Intake
Moderate amounts of alcohol can have a beneficial effect on your heart. (By "moderate," we mean one drink a day or about 5 ounces—but many restaurants serve far more than that.) Overdoing it can raise triglycerides, increase blood pressure and lead to weight gain, thanks to all those empty calories.
In Your 30s
Get a Grip on Stress
When you're juggling career and family, it's crucial to find stress management techniques that work. "Untamed stress has a direct negative impact on heart health," says Dr. Stevens. "The constant bombardment of adrenaline raises blood pressure and destabilizes plaque in your arteries, making it likely to cause a clot or heart attack."
Lose the Baby Weight
No, you don't have to fit into your skinny jeans by the time the baby's 6 months old, but do aim to get back to your pre-pregnancy weight within one to two years. "Carrying around extra pounds can lead to high cholesterol, high blood pressure and other heart disease risk factors," Dr. Bonow says. Also remember that it's easier to lose weight in your 30s than in your 40s, when your metabolism slows down.
Stay Social
It's important to stay connected to friends and family for the sake of your mood and heart. Research at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine found that high levels of loneliness increase a woman's risk of heart disease by 76 percent. On the flip side, having strong social support can help lower your blood pressure and improve other cardiovascular functions. Set aside time once or twice a week to call friends, or make a monthly dinner date.
In Your 40s
Make Sleep a Priority
Thanks to peri-menopause, fluctuating hormone levels can interfere with a good night's sleep. But not getting at least seven hours of shut-eye regularly can lead to increased blood pressure, low-grade inflammation and higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol, all of which are harmful for your blood vessels and heart, explains Jennifer H. Mieres, MD, a cardiologist at New York University School of Medicine and coauthor of Heart Smart for Black Women and Latinas. Lack of sleep has also been linked to weight gain. So establish good habits: Turn in (and wake up) at the same time every day—even on weekends—and do your best to relax before going to bed, whether it's watching a favorite funny TV show or reading.
Reassess Your Risk Factors
You may discover that your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels have changed in this decade, even if you aren't doing anything differently, says Dr. Hayes. In fact, 22 percent of 40-something women have high blood pressure and 50 percent have high cholesterol (a jump from 38 percent of women in their 30s), according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Also, be sure to get your thyroid checked around 45;hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland), which becomes more common as women get older, can negatively affect your cholesterol levels as well as your heart.
Step Up Strength Training
You start to lose muscle mass more rapidly in your 40s, which causes your metabolism to slow down since muscle burns more calories than fat. Unfortunately, this makes it harder to stave off those extra pounds. To help maintain muscle and keep your metabolism going, aim for two 15-minute sessions weekly of lifting weights, using a resistance band or doing other toning exercises.
Carve out Personal Time
"Between the demands of work and family, it becomes even more challenging to find time for yourself in your 40s," says Dr. Mieres. But it's crucial to do so—not only to help ease stress but also to guard againstdepression, which commonly crops up in this decade and can raise your risk of heart disease. "Find at least 10 minutes of ‘me' time every day to do something—even if it's just chatting on the phone with a friend—that helps you destress and regroup," says Dr. Mieres.
In Your 50s
Move More
Around menopause, you tend to gain extra weight around your belly, which can lead to insulin resistance, inflammation and heart strain. Cardiovascular fitness also starts to decline, particularly if you're not that physically active to begin with. "Unfortunately, at this point, women have to burn more calories to stay at the same weight," Dr. Stevens says. Start taking the stairs instead of the elevator whenever you can, walk faster around the mall, or jog to the mailbox to send letters instead of sticking your hand out the car window as you drive by. Small changes really do add up.
Have an ECG
Silent heart abnormalities become more common in your 50s, and an electrocardiogram (ECG) to check your heart's electrical activity can pick them up, says Dr. Goldberg. Also ask your doctor if you should have a stress test; this is especially important if you're just starting to exercise.
Add Fiber
Besides being good for your cholesterol and blood sugar, pumping up your fiber intake (think whole grains like oatmeal, brown rice and flaxseeds, as well as beans, fruits and veggies) can help prevent constipation, which becomes more of a problem as you get older and your digestive system starts to slow down.
In Your 60s
Get Even More Vigilant About Screenings
After you go through menopause and get older, your blood pressure and cholesterol tend to go up, and blood vessels get stiffer. "Have your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol measured yearly," advises Dr. Goldberg.
Consider Medication
If you have hypertension or high cholesterol, the way you've been managing it before may not be enough. "As you get older, you may need more aggressive therapy," Dr. Bonow says. "High blood pressure that was controlled with one medication may now require three to control it." Talk to your doctor about whether you need to add to or adjust your medications to control your risk factors.
Be Alert to Symptoms
Now is when the first noticeable symptoms of heart disease may appear, so it's important to know what's normal for your body and be on the lookout for worrisome signs like chest discomfort, shortness of breath or changes in exercise tolerance—meaning you suddenly feel winded going up a flight of stairs or feel unusually tired for no apparent reason, says Dr. Mieres. If these appear, see your doctor pronto!
Monday, January 11, 2010
New Year List
by Anonymous
Health
Drink plenty of water.
Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper.
Eat more food that grows on trees and plants, and eat less food that is manufactured
in plants.
Live with 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
Make time to pray.
Play more games.
Read more books than you did last year.
Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
Sleep for seven hours per night.
Take 10 to 30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk smile.
Personality
Don't compare your life to that of others. You have no idea what their journey is all about
Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy on the positive present moment.
Don't over do keep your limits.
Don't take yourself so seriously; no one else does.
Don't waste your precious energy on gossip
Dream more while you are awake
Envy is a waste of time. You already have what you need.
forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her past that will ruin your present happiness.
Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum, they appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons your learn will last a lifetime.
Smile and laugh more.
You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
Society
Call your fmaily often.
Give something good to others every day.
Forgive everyone for everything.
Spend time with people over the age of 70 and those under the age of six.
Try to make at least three people smile each day.
What other people think of you is none of your business.
Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
Life
Do the right thing
Get rid of anything that isn't useful beautiful or joyful.
God heals everything.
However good or bad situation is, it will change.
No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
The best is yet to come.
When you wake up in the morning thank God for it.
Your innermost is always happy so be happy
Health
Drink plenty of water.
Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper.
Eat more food that grows on trees and plants, and eat less food that is manufactured
in plants.
Live with 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
Make time to pray.
Play more games.
Read more books than you did last year.
Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
Sleep for seven hours per night.
Take 10 to 30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk smile.
Personality
Don't compare your life to that of others. You have no idea what their journey is all about
Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy on the positive present moment.
Don't over do keep your limits.
Don't take yourself so seriously; no one else does.
Don't waste your precious energy on gossip
Dream more while you are awake
Envy is a waste of time. You already have what you need.
forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her past that will ruin your present happiness.
Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum, they appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons your learn will last a lifetime.
Smile and laugh more.
You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
Society
Call your fmaily often.
Give something good to others every day.
Forgive everyone for everything.
Spend time with people over the age of 70 and those under the age of six.
Try to make at least three people smile each day.
What other people think of you is none of your business.
Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
Life
Do the right thing
Get rid of anything that isn't useful beautiful or joyful.
God heals everything.
However good or bad situation is, it will change.
No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
The best is yet to come.
When you wake up in the morning thank God for it.
Your innermost is always happy so be happy
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