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Dr. Houston Answers Your Top Heart Health Questions – Part 3

Published April 15, 2010 | By Lisa Nelson, RD

Here’s another four questions with answers from my interview with Dr. Mark Houston in February 2010.

Lisa Nelson RD: If someone has been on blood pressure medication for many years and they take steps to lose weight and improve their diet is it likely they’ll be able to discontinue their medication or will they be on medications for life?

Dr. Houston: About a 60% of patients that follow the guidelines in the book that I wrote on What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Hypertension can stop meds over 6-12 months if they do everything correct as outlined.

Lisa Nelson RD: If someone is newly diagnosed with high blood pressure, how much time should be allowed if the individual prefers to make diet and lifestyle changes to lower the blood pressure before turning to medication?

Dr. Houston: I recommend getting the blood pressure down soon with both meds and lifestyle changes to protect the arteries and reduce cardiovascular disease based on some recent studies. Later on, if blood pressure is controlled then you can taper the medications.

Lisa Nelson RD: Do any of the over-the-counter meds for high blood pressure and high cholesterol work – or are they just snake oil ads?

Dr. Houston: There are some good supplements that work for blood pressure and cholesterol, but most over the counter are not good. The best source is BIOTICS RESEARCH at 1-800-231-5777. For blood pressure use VASCULOSIRT. Also for blood pressure is CARDIOSIRT BP (this one will be out in the spring). These will reduce blood pressure well along with the lifestyle changes recommended in the book above. The best for cholesterols is LIPIDSIRT. It can be used with the new niacin and red yeast rice from BIOTICS if needed. This may decrease cholesterol with the combination by 40-50%.

Lisa Nelson RD: How effective do you feel the supplements l-arginine, coQ10, and omega 3 are at preventing cardiac problems?

Dr. Houston: I would use omega 3 fatty acids in almost everyone to reduce heart attack, stroke, blood pressure, improve triglycerides and improve memory. The best omega 3 fatty acid on the market is EFA-SIRT SUPREME from BIOTICS research at 1800-231-5777. The CoQ10 is excellent as well. Doses of about 100 to 200 mg of a good quality CoQ10 will lower systolic blood pressure about 15 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure about 10 mm Hg in 50% of patients. The CoQ10 is in both the VASCULOSIRT AND THE CARDIOSIRT BP from BIOTICS at 1-800-231-5777.

Part 1 – Top Heart Health Questions Answered By Dr. Houston
Part 2- Top Heart Health Questions Answered By Dr. Houston

There will be one final part to this Q&A. Sign-up for the e-course 7 Natural Ways to Lower Blood Pressure and you’ll also be notified when the final part is posted.

All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
http://www.lowerbloodpressurewithlisa.com

Posted in Heart Health, Lower Blood Pressure, Lower Cholesterol | Tagged blood pressure, cholesterol, coenzyme q10, heart health, high blood pressure, hypertension, lisa nelson, mark houston, medication, omega 3, supplements

Walnuts and Heart Health

Published April 14, 2010 | By Lisa Nelson, RD

There is some new evidence provided by a Yale University study linking walnuts to improved cardiovascular health. The findings show an improvement to the endothelial function in individuals with type II diabetes when study participants consumed a daily serving of 2 ounces of walnuts.

The study also found the addition of walnuts promoted increased fasting serum glucose levels, lower cholesterol levels, and lower LDL cholesterol.

Walnuts provide poly-unsaturated fatty acid omega 3’s, particularly alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). This fatty acid has been linked to many heart health benefits, such as decreased lipoprotein(a), lower triglycerides, and improved heart rhythm.

Here are a few ways to add walnuts to your diet:

Mix walnuts with dried fruit for a nutritious snack
Add toasted walnuts to a salad or pasta dish
Sprinkle chopped walnuts on oatmeal or breakfast cereal

Keep in mind calories and portion control! A 1.5 ounce serving of walnuts provides ~278 calories. There are approximately 20 walnut halves in a 1.5 ounce serving.

All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
How to Lower Cholesterol in 8 Simple Steps
http://www.lowercholesterolwithlisa.com

Image courtesy of Aleksa D / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted in Heart Health, Lower Cholesterol | Tagged cholesterol, heart health, increase hdl cholesterol, lower cholesterol, lower ldl cholesterol, lower triglycerides, omega 3, walnuts

Heart Health – Eat Walnuts for Healthier Blood Vessels

Published April 14, 2010 | By Lisa Nelson, RD

A recent study found walnuts linked to improved cardiovascular health due to improved function of the endothelium (inner lining of blood vessels) in those with type II diabetes.

Not only was the walnut addition linked to improved endothelial function, but participants also experienced increased fasting serum glucose levels, reduced LDL cholesterol, and lower total cholesterol.

Back in 2004, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a label claim for walnut packages:

“Supportive but not conclusive research shows that eating 1.5 ounces of walnuts per day, as part of a low saturated fat and low cholesterol diet, and not resulting in increased caloric intake may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.”

One thing to keep in mind when it comes to walnuts (and nuts in general) is calories! Nuts are not low in calories, so you must watch your portion size. Going overboard can lead to weight gain and counteract the heart health benefit of adding walnuts to your daily diet. A 1.5 ounce serving of walnuts provides ~278 calories. There are approximately 20 walnut halves in a 1.5 ounce serving.

Here are a few simple ways to add walnuts to your daily diet:

Sprinkle chopped walnuts on oatmeal or breakfast cereal
Mix walnuts with dried fruit for a nutritious snack
Add toasted walnuts to a salad or pasta dish

Do you eat walnuts regularly?

All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
How to Lower Cholesterol in 8 Simple Steps
http://www.lowercholesterolwithlisa.com

Image courtesy of Aleksa D / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted in Heart Health, Lower Cholesterol | Tagged calories, cholesterol, endothelium, FDA, heart health, lower cholesterol, nuts, ounce, portion size

FREE Teleclass – Get Your Questions Answered!

Published April 13, 2010 | By Lisa Nelson, RD

Are you ready to get answers to your top health, nutrition, and weight loss questions?

Join myself and dietitian Ursula Ridens for this free call.

Your Questions Answered: What You Need to Know About Health, Nutrition, and Weight Loss!

This call will be focused on your questions, sorting out fact from fiction, and getting you the answers you need to move forward to optimal health! You’ll receive answers to your top questions and have the opportunity to ask for clarification on any issue that may still be confusing.

In this information packed call, you’ll discover:

The TRUTH about targeting specific parts of your body for weight loss,
The RIGHT BALANCE of carbs and protein to reach your weight loss goals,
SIMPLE STRATEGIES to conquer cravings,
EXACTLY how many calories you have to burn to lose weight, and
FILL-IN-THE-BLANK, insert your question here!

This interactive call will be completely centered around your needs, so come ready to participate! You’ll leave the call knowing what works and what doesn’t when it comes to achieving your health, nutrition, and weight loss goals!

All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD

Posted in Heart Health, Lose Weight, Lower Blood Pressure, Lower Cholesterol

How to Prepare Healthy Meals Quickly

Published April 8, 2010 | By Lisa Nelson, RD

I am not a fan of spending hours in the kitchen to prepare a meal. I like my meals to be quick and easy to prepare. Here are a few tips to get in and out of the kitchen quickly with a well-balanced nutritious (and good tasting!) meal.

There are 3 core principles you need to have in place to prepare meals efficiently:

Keep it simple – Gourmet meals can be saved for special occasions. If you want to prepare a meal quickly opt for recipes with fewer ingredients that do not require elaborate preparations.

Make it a habit – Prepare the same meals on a fairly regular basis and you’ll be able to throw ingredients together without thought.

Multi-task – Now this is usually frowned upon, but when it comes to preparing a meal it’s good to juggle more than one task at a time, such as boiling water while you prepare the meat and veggies.

There is nothing worse than being in the middle of putting a meal on the table and realizing you are missing an essential ingredient. This is where menu planning comes into play. A little preparation one day a week can drastically save you time later!

Here are 5 tips for making quick yet healthy meals:

Purchase vegetables, such as baby carrots and salad greens, prewashed and ready-to-eat.
Select fruit packaged and pre-sliced.
Use the microwave to cook vegetables quickly.
Find recipes that require minimal cleaning and preparation of ingredients.
Choose meats at the store with low levels of visible marbling (white, fatty streaks) to decrease time spent removing the fat.

If you have a good tip that works for you please share it below!

All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
Heart Healthy Tips
http://www.hearthealthmadeeasy.com

Posted in Heart Health | Tagged efficienct, healthy, meal, plan, quick, tips

Lower Cholesterol – How Quickly Will a Cheeseburger Impact My Cholesterol Labs

Published April 6, 2010 | By Lisa Nelson, RD

A subscriber to The Heart of Health submitted the following question.

Question: “Hello ma’am, I need some information. My cholesterol level is finally down to a reasonable level, but do you know how sensitive are cholesterol readings? I ask because I’m worried if I eat a cheeseburger or a KFC meal that my cholesterol level will sky rocket back up to over 200.”

Answer: If you revert back to unhealthy fast food on a regular basis your cholesterol levels will elevate quickly.

However, if you follow a heart healthy diet and occasionally treat yourself to a cheeseburger or other high fat/high cholesterol meal your cholesterol levels for the long-term will not be negatively impacted.

That being said it is important to discuss the need to fast prior to lab work with your physician. If you have a high fat/high cholesterol meal within 12-24 hours prior to your cholesterol lab work, the results may be skewed due to your diet choices.

All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
Heart Health Made Easy
http://www.hearthealthmadeeasy.com

Posted in Heart Health, Lower Cholesterol | Tagged cheeseburger, cholesterol, food choice, food intake, high fat meal, lab work, labwork, lower cholesterol

Dr. Houston Answers Your Top Heart Health Questions – Part 3

Walnuts and Heart Health

Heart Health – Eat Walnuts for Healthier Blood Vessels

FREE Teleclass – Get Your Questions Answered!

How to Prepare Healthy Meals Quickly

Lower Cholesterol – How Quickly Will a Cheeseburger Impact My Cholesterol Labs

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