Stay Away From Processed Foods!

Put down that salt shaker and not far away from processed foods! Long suspected as an accomplice in the heart of the disease indirectly, by increasing the blood pressure of salt has finally been directly implicated as a culprit in cardiovascular risk.


Researchers reported that those who cut their salt intake from 25% to 35% reduced their risk of cardiovascular events over the next 10 to 15 years from 25% to 30%. The regime no added salt (NAS), which is the regime most commonly prescribed. This diet is for patients diagnosed with congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, ,heart disease chronic or acute renal failure, hypertension, or edema.


The American Heart Association recommends that most people limit the daily intake of salt to 2,300 milligrams - less than a teaspoon (2,400 mg). For people with heart failure, the recommendation is not more than 2000 mg per day. Achieving this goal requires more than simply restrict the use of salt, however: More than 80% of Americans' salt intake comes from processed foods, including 20% ​​of meat and meat products and about 35% of products bread / cereals.


The nutrition label provides the amount of sodium per serving, so always check the serving size. Judging by the number of milligrams instead of the percentage, because it relies on a diet 2400 mg per day and will be inaccurate for any other level.


NAS snack, you will do well to fresh fruits and vegetables. There are some pre-packed snacks that do not normally contain sodium, such as gelatin desserts, and ice. But to be safe, you should always check the sodium content of the sign. However, it is important to remember that even if the nuts are low in sodium, but they are also high in fat and calories.


Here is a list of some other foods that contain common snack 0 mg sodium, or nearby: Read more about this Article...http://ht.ly/5NmWH

3 Diets that Fight Cholesterol

Diets are confusing. The U.S. food industry is even more confusing. But, here’s something I know for sure—there is no magical diet that works for everyone. You really have to experiment until you find out what types of food, drink, and lifestyle works well for you. With that said, it helps to have a place to start. A major part of my health coach training was learning about all the major dietary theories and trying out their rules on my own to see what works for me.
Last week I wrote about Good Cholesterol and Bad Cholesterol and gave some tips on how you can prevent illness by managing your cholesterol levels. If you’re one of the millions of people worried about high cholesterol or if you’re taking cholesterol medication, you may be looking for specific advice on what to eat. The following 3 diets may help cut “bad” cholesterol, raise “good” cholesterol, and improve cardiovascular health.
Note: There are tons of diets out there, and plenty that will help reduce the risk of heart disease (most vegetarian diets are a good place to start). These are just my 3 favorite dietary theories for reducing “bad” cholesterol levels. Remember to listen to your body and check with your doctor before making any major changes to your diet or exercise routine. There are upsides and downsides to every diet.

3 Diets that Fight Cholesterol
(Specific dietary guidelines referenced from Integrative Nutrition by Joshua Rosenthal.)

Macrobiotics Diet
This diet focuses on eating all natural whole foods and balancing your “yin” and “yang.” Macrobiotic dieters eat 40-60% whole grains, 25-30% fresh vegetables, 5-10% beans, 5-10% soups, and 3-5% sea vegetables. Plus you can eat fish a couple times per week. They avoid: dairy, refined sugars, chocolate, meat, eggs, coffee, hot spices, nightshade vegetables, and tropical fruit. Strong focus on Japanese foods. For more information: “What is Macrobiotics?” by Phiya Kushi.

Mediterranean Diet (Laurel’s favorite!)
Focuses on fresh foods, healthy fats, and small portions. It’s a great diet for helping to raise your HDL or “good” cholesterol levels. People on this diet eat lots of fruit, vegetables, nuts, fish, whole grains, beans, and wine (in moderation). They eat less saturated fats found in meat and dairy and very little processed foods, refined grains, trans fats, or refined sugars (if any). For more information: WebMD “Mediterranean Diet” Summary, and ChefMd’s Mediterranean Diet recipes.

Raw Foods Diet
Raw foodies eat only raw foods or fresh food prepared below 116 degrees. They believe high cooking temperatures harm the natural enzymes and nutrients present in fresh food and your body’s ability to absorb those nutrients. This diet is full of fresh vegetables and fruit, seeds, nuts, beans, grains, dried fruits, coconut milk, seaweed, raw chocolate (mmmm), etc. It avoids meat, dairy, and any cooked foods (116 degrees and above). For more information: “Living and Raw Foods FAQ” and Sunfood.com.

I hope you enjoyed this post! I’ll be writing about some more dietary theories over the next few months, so stay tuned!
Wishing you the best,
Laurel