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Eating Eggs as Bad for Your Health as Smoking?

Whether you enjoy them scrambled, hard boiled or sunny side up, eggs are enjoyed by people all over the world. In addition, they are also a good protein source for vegetarians. Eggs are normally vilified for its high cholesterol content though there is some debate whether the cholesterol in eggs really contributes to bad cholesterol in your body. The health implications of eating eggs are being questioned once again as a new study suggests that too much eggs for breakfast can actually be as detrimental to your health as smoking.

The study consisted of over 1,200 participants who were questioned about the amount of eggs they consumed per week. On Average, those who ate two or more showed slightly higher levels of plaque building up around their arteries, a problem that is exhibited by those who regularly light up. Through this study, some would conclude that egg consumption contributes to the hardening of the arteries.

Does this mean eggs should be eliminated from your diet? Not necessarily, according to Alan Aragon, M.S., a nutrition consultant for Men’s Health magazine. He cites that previous research have showed no correlation between egg consumption and heart disease. Aragon also points out that the study was an observational one, which shows that while egg yolk may have some sort of association with plaque formation, it does not mean that they cause plaque in the arteries.

This is sure to be a sigh of relief for egg lovers. In fact, if you love eggs, then you may also be pleased to learn that other studies have shown that eggs may actually contribute to the increase of HDL, which is often referred to as the “good” cholesterol in your body. If you normally crack an egg into the frying pan every morning, then it looks like there is no need for you to stop.

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Raising HDL Levels may not Help Combat Cholesterol

Cholesterol is often mentioned in the same sentence as high blood pressure and heart disease. It’s one of those things you need to consistently monitor, especially as you get older and if bad cholesterol runs in the family. The conventional wisdom is to eat foods that raise high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels in your body. This increases the good cholesterol while lowering the bad.

However, new research suggests that there may not be a big difference between good and bad cholesterol as previously believed. The study found that elevating HDL levels does not decrease the chances of heart disease. Even people with naturally higher levels of HDL – a purely genetic factor – are not at a lower risk for heart related problems.

Doctors are currently urging high-risk patients to raise their HDL levels by exercising and changing their diets. Drug manufacturers are also actively testing drugs that can elevate HDL in the body. Separate studies have shown that supplements like niacin, which raises HDL, does not lower risk of heart disease.

Dr. Steven Nissen, the chairman of heart medicine from the Cleveland Clinic, is still hopeful and believes that there are some forms of HDL molecules that do in fact provide valuable protection from heart disease.

It has long been accepted in the medical community that HDL acts as a transport that carries cholesterol away from the arteries. This hypothesis may need to be revised and revisited in the light of the new study.

The new findings are disturbing to say the least. If HDL does not combat bad cholesterol, then what does? For those actively trying to raise their HDL on the advice of their doctors, has their efforts all been in vain? Until further study sheds new light, it is really up in the air what the best course of action is for patients.

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Children at a Greater Risk than Ever for Heart Disease

There are multiple factors that constitute good health, and all of these need to be followed for maintaining a strong and functioning heart. This includes getting daily physical activity, eating the right foods and getting enough sleep.

A healthy lifestyle needs to be adhered to at a young age. Recent studies have shown that an alarmingly rising number of children are becoming at risk for heart related problems. The report, Heart Disease and Strokes Statistics, revealed that only half of U.S. Children are meeting the criteria recommended by experts for a healthy and active life.

A separate report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also revealed that one in five children exhibited higher than normal cholesterol levels. The American Academy of Pediatrics is now urging children from ages 9 to 11 to be screened for high cholesterol.

Dr. Stephen R. Daniels, chairman of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, suggested that the rising obesity rate is the main contributor in increased heart disease among the nation’s youth. Children who are obese are also at a far greater risk for developing further heart complications as adults.

The Center for Disease Control also revealed that about one third of American children are overweight, with about 20 percent of them classified as obese. Being overweight also correlates to high cholesterol and blood pressure.

Even among teens, 17 percent of boys and 30 percent of girls fall way short of the recommended one hour of daily physical activity.

Children model after their parents and what they see in the media. They need to learn early on that there are serious health consequences down the road if they do not take care of their bodies. Parents need to get their children to exercise and eat right. They may not always like it, but this is where parents need to be parents instead of being their friend.

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Healthy Spirits

beerI don’t know about you guys, but I am a passionate drinker. That means, when I have a delicious meal, or some time to relax, I enjoy it with a nice alcoholic beverage. Maybe I will sip on a Great Lakes Burning River Pale Ale while I read the paper; or perhaps I will enjoy a 2006 Flam Cabernet Reserve, with a nice cut of meat.

However, I always put my health first. So I did some research to see what health benefits there may be to responsible and moderate drinking; and what health issues, to be wary of. I found that there have been lots of studies done on this recently. Here’s what I came up with:

There is a myth that different red wine grapes possess different health benefits. I found that this is not true. They all have the same benefits. It is true that one glass of wine is good for the heart. Resveratrol is a chemical found in the skin of grapes which provides antioxidants which lower blood sugar levels and improve insulin, making it beneficial for diabetes. However, red wine, which does not eat away at your tooth enamel as fast as white wine does, does have a tendency to stain teeth.

Beer, as once thought, does not raise cholesterol. In fact it increases HTL’s, which are somewhat beneficial for your cholesterol count. Though, if you think that beer is good for preventing and curing heart disease, you are unfortunately mistaken.

Also, for you college kids…

WARNING: Beer Not Good For Hangovers. This is because when you are ‘hung-over’, your body is dehydrated. Beer will only make you more dehydrated.
Bottoms Up …..

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Fighting Cholestrol and Treating Pre-Cardiovascular Disease

As people get older, a number of health issues need to be addressed and dealt with, including blood cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels, hormone balances in both males females, and joint inflammation conditions such as arthritis. A website known as PreDisease.com offers a number of remedies that are said to be composed of all natural ingredients and help to treat these conditions while they may still be in the “pre-disease” stage, i.e. before they reach the point where irreparable damage may result.

This informative and easy to read website goes into detail concerning these conditions, and the particular product that is recommended for people to use. The site includes testimonials by patients who have used these products, and also invites physicians to participate in promoting the products which are said to be 100% natural, and contain no medical drugs or other substances that could be harmful to one’s health. The company that produces these products, PreEmptive Meds Inc. or PMI note that they “only promote these products through doctors in the USA” who have reviewed the clinical information dealing with these products and as a result make their recommendations to their patients. The products offered are classified as therapeutic nutraceuticals, or herbal supplements, and as such are not subject to FDA approval as pharmaceutical drugs are.

Fighting Cholestrol and Treating Pre-Cardiovascular DiseaseOne particularly worthwhile product is called PreLipid which contains phytosterols or plant cholesterols which are well known as being beneficial for lowering blood cholesterol levels. High blood cholesterol, especially low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and otherwise known as “bad cholesterol” is one of the major causes of heart disease that results for arteriolosclerosis or hardening of the arteries.

PreLipid is promoted as a “therapeutic botanical formulation developed from eight synergistic botanicals” which help to lower the “bad cholesterol” levels in the blood stream by the use of phytosterol cholesterols which help to reduce the level of LDL cholesterol fat deposits on arterial walls to reduce the risks of arteriolosclerosis. The ingredients also contain powerful antioxidants that help reverse arterial wall damage, and are particularly beneficial for people who have been smokers.

Each ingredient found in the PreLipid herbal supplement is noted and its particular benefit explained, enabling people to be better informed in order to consult with their private physician regarding the potential benefits of the product. People with potentially high blood cholesterol levels are advised to have a “fasting lipoprotein profile” test performed every 5 years to determine the amount of LDL cholesterol. And this advice is for all persons over age 20, and not just for middle aged or older people! Use of PreLipid is said to reduce a person’s blood cholesterol level by 30 to 40 percentage points, and that positive results are usually seen after only 8 weeks of use.

Naturally, the use of a dietary supplement such as PreLipid should be accompanied by undertaking a healthy diet of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables ,especially those high in high-density lipoprotein or “good cholesterols” (avocados, etc) use of monounsaturated fats (canola and olive oil for example), eating more fish and chicken, and a regular aerobic exercise program (walking, jogging, bike riding that raises the heartbeat for at least 20-30 minutes at a time) are recommend as well.

The only drawback to these products as offered through a site like PreDiesese.com, if one might consider it as such, is that the products, including PreLipid are not found in regular pharmacies or health and dietary products stores, but must be ordered directly from PreEmptive Meds Inc. But it appears that the company is offering enough incentives (including a two week free trial) to make the products offered more reasonable in price.

THE ABOVE WAS A PAID REVIEW