Heart Healthy Recipes
A subscriber to The Heart of Health submitted the following question.
Question: “My problem is that I don’t have recipes for nutritional meals. Exercising is hard for me as I am disabled. I have a thirteen inch rod fused to my spine for 34 years now. What can I do?”
Answer: Fortunately the internet provides access to a wealth of recipes that are heart healthy. Here are some site recommendations you may want to review.
www.sixoclockscramble.com
www.eatingwell.com
www.cookinglight.com
www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-recipes/RecipeIndex
Due to your disability I recommend you consult a physical therapist to learn activities and exercises you can safely complete.
All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
How to Make Heart Healthy Changes into Lifelong Habits
http://www.hearthealthmadeeasy.com
Whole Grain Nutrition – Have you increased your intake?
Whole grain nutrition sales have increased 17% in the last year according to the Packaged Facts market research firm. Whole grain nutrition is linked to numerous benefits, such as decreased heart disease risk, improved digestive health, and reduction in cancer. Retail sales hit $5 billion in 2008 and anticipated to reach $6 billion by 2013.
Fortunately, this appears to be a new trend that is not a short term “fad”!
Great sources of whole grain nutrition include:
100% whole wheat bread
Whole wheat pasta
Whole grain cereal
Barley
Oatmeal
Brown rice
Wild rice
Buckwheat
Millet
Popcorn
Quinoa
Amaranth
Receive a step by step plan to promote heart health and weight loss with a Mini Diet Makeover. As a special New Year’s bonus you’ll receive a complimentary copy of the Calorie Counter for Dummies. Learn more here – https://www.lisanelsonrd.com/minidietmakeover.html
You can learn more about how to use dietary fiber to reduce heart disease risk here.
Share how you have increased your whole grain intake below!
All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
Be Heart Healthy and Lose Weight
http://www.hearthealthmadeeasy.com
Lower LDL Cholesterol Diet – Step 1
LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol carries mostly cholesterol, some protein, and minimal triglycerides throughout your circulation.
LDL cholesterol is commonly referred to as the “bad” cholesterol because it’s deposited along artery walls and if it becomes oxidized it will form a plaque eventually leading to blockage of your arteries. For this reason, physicians like to see low LDL levels. The American Heart Association recommends LDL cholesterol be below 130 mg/dl and ideally less than 100 mg/dl.
Here is the first of four options for lower LDL cholesterol diet:
Unsaturated Fats
To lower LDL levels evaluate your diet for saturated and trans fats. You want to replace saturated and trans fats with heart healthy unsaturated fats, such as omega 3 fatty acids.
Saturated fat intake should be limited to less than 7% of your total daily calories.
Sources include meat, milk, cheese, ice cream, butter, lard, shortening, hydrogenated vegetable fat, palm oil, and coconut oil.
Lower LDL Cholesterol Diet – Step 2
All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
How to Lower Cholesterol in 8 Simple Steps
High Fiber Diet Plan to Lower Cholesterol and Lose Weight
Do you have high cholesterol? Increase your fiber!
Do you have high blood pressure? Increase your fiber!
Are you overweight? Increase your fiber!
What is it with fiber (also known as roughage)? It seems to play a role in just about all our health problems. Well, as far as blood pressure and cholesterol go, dietary fiber binds to cholesterol in circulation and helps remove it from the body. Research has shown that for every 1-2 grams of daily soluble fiber intake, LDL (bad) cholesterol is lowered 1%.
On the weight control side of things, a high fiber diet plan increases satiety (how full you feel), aiding efforts to lose weight and/or maintain a healthy weight.
4 Things You Need to Know to Use Dietary Fiber to Lower Cholesterol:
1. There are two types of fiber.
Fiber Insoluble
Insoluble fiber remains relatively intact as it passes through the digestive system. The primary function of insoluble fiber is to move waste through the intestines and maintain intestinal acid balance.
Fiber Soluble
Soluble fiber is the type of fiber responsible for lowering total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.
2. Sources of insoluble fiber
Fruit skins and root vegetable skins
Vegetables (green beans, celery, cauliflower, zucchini, beets, turnips, potato skins, and dark green leafy vegetables)
Wheat and whole-wheat products
Wheat oats
Corn bran
Seeds and nuts
3. Sources of soluble fiber
Oat and oat bran
Legumes (dried beans and peas)
Nuts
Barley, rye
Flaxseed
Fruits (i.e. oranges, apples, prunes, plums, berries)
Vegetables (i.e. carrots, broccoli, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions)
Psyllium husk
Shoot for 25-35 grams of dietary fiber everyday. Of this fiber, soluble fiber should make up 15 grams. The average US dietary fiber intake is 12-18 grams/day.
If your current diet is very low in dietary fiber, don’t increase to 35 grams overnight. A sudden increase will result in gastrointestinal (stomach) distress and unpleasant side effects (flatulence and diarrhea). You want to increase your fiber intake gradually.
Bottom Line:
Select high fiber foods, especially foods that contain soluble fiber. I once heard a gastroenterologist say he would be out of a job if everyone just ate more beans!
February is American Heart Month. In recognition of American Heart Month you can access Heart Health Made Easy at a 25% savings. Learn more about this take action guide to lower cholesterol and blood pressure at http://www.hearthealthmadeeasy.com.
All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
Lower Cholesterol – Top Omega 3 Sources to Lower Cholesterol
If you have been following along, you know from the article "Get a Grip on Fatty Acids" that the right ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acids promotes a lower cholesterol.
The goal is not to cut omega 6 fatty acids (such as corn oil, beef, and chicken) completely from the diet, but to achieve a ratio of 4:1 or 1:1 omega 6 to omega 3. In order to attain this ratio you need to increase your omega 3 intake.
Your options for doing this:
1. Eat fish at least twice a week.
If you like fish, this would be my first choice. Fish contains DHA. Research is starting to indicate health benefits, such as lower cholesterol, lower triglycerides, and higher HDL (good) cholesterol, linked to DHA alone. Be aware of mercury content of fish, especially if you are pregnant.
2. Take a fish oil supplement.
Start with the smallest bottle you can find and make sure you do not have the unpleasant side effect of burping with a fishy aftertaste. Not everyone has this problem, so you may be fine. To decrease likelihood of this problem I recommend taking the supplement and then eating. That way something is "on top" of the fish oil. Fish oil has a tendency to go rancid, so keep supplement refrigerated, especially if you buy a bottle of 250 or more.
3. Flaxseed.
You can buy flaxseed two different ways – whole seed or ground. In order for the body to utilize the omega-3 fatty acids, flaxseed must be ground. If the flaxseed is not ground it passes straight through the body without being absorbed. Flaxseed is high in fiber, so by ingesting whole flaxseed you have increased your fiber intake, which is beneficial, but if you grind your flaxseed you will have the added benefit of increasing your omega-3 fatty acid intake and lowering cholesterol.
4. Flaxseed oil supplement.
Provides the omega 3 fatty acid ALA in a simple supplement. Now, ALA is not as effective as DHA and EPA at lowering cholesterol, but still results in an improved ratio of omega 3 to omega 6. Again, may go rancid so refrigerate.
5. Add omega 3 nut and seed sources to your daily intake.
Especially walnuts, pumpkin seeds, Brazil nuts, and sesame seeds. Nuts are high calorie, so watch your intake. If you gain weight, you are not doing your heart any favors!
Access the ecourse How to Lower Cholesterol in 8 Simple Steps HERE.
All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
