By Justine, on March 12th, 2010
FDA on Red Yeast Rice
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My friend who suffers from high cholesterol was recently prescribed red yeast rice supplements by her doctor. She is very happy to be taking a natural supplement as opposed to a drug.
Historically, red yeast rice has been used in China as both for food and a medicine. The use of red yeast rice in China was first documented in the Tang Dynasty in 800 A.D. It is made by fermenting a type of yeast called Monascus purpureus over red rice. In Chinese medicine, red yeast rice is used to lower cholesterol, promote blood circulation and aid digestive problems.
People with high cholesterol are usually given statin medication to help lower their levels of bad cholesterol or LDL. Research indicates that red yeast rice contains substances that are similar to prescription statin medications. One of these substances, called monacolin K, has the same makeup as the drug lovastatin.
The University of Maryland Medical Center cites several studies that support the ability of red yeast rice to lower cholesterol:
By Justine, on March 9th, 2010
Best Blueberry Muffins Recipe
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Blueberry Power Muffins with Almond Streusel
Here is a great recipe for “power” muffins from Cooking Light magazine. The muffin are loaded with B vitamins from whole wheat flour, calcium from milk and yogurt, antioxidants from the blueberries, and heart-friendly monounsaturated fat from almonds and canola oil. You can freeze the muffins for up to a month, then thaw them at room temperature, or microwave each muffin at High 15 to 20 seconds. I tested the recipe using greek yogurt instead of regular yogurt and the muffins came out great, very tender and tasty. When I made the recipe it actually made almost 60 mini-muffins so I had to make additional streusel topping.
Muffins:
1 and ½ cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup quick cooking oats
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
2 cups vanilla low-fat yogurt (I used Greek yogurt which is a bit thicker than regular yogurt)
½ cup 2% reduced-fat milk
3 tablespoons canola oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 and ½ cup fresh blueberries (I used frozen and did not defrost them)
Cooking spray
By Justine, on January 27th, 2010
Foods to Help Lower My Cholesterol
People eating roughly 25 ounces of chickpeas per week for four weeks – that’s a little more than 3 ounces a day – saw their total cholesterol and Bad LDL decrease and Good HDL levels increase.
Insulin levels also improved, and people in the study lost a small amount of weight without dieting or exercise.
Chickpeas have more than 5 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein per half cup. You can eat hummus which is a chickpea dip. Hummus is good on crackers, pita, or vegetables. You can toss chickpeas in a salad, soup or pasta dish. Chickpeas are low in carbohydrates also. You can buy fried chickpeas in a market that carries Middle Eastern Food and snack on them like you would chips or pretzels.
Vitamins for Better Skin
If you want to lower your cholesterol and look younger – make a salad with chickpeas, spinach, broccoli, zucchini,corn, and green and orange bell peppers. According to Dr. Oz this mixture will help your skin maintain its elastic quality. These vegetables contain high levels of lutein, zeaxanthin and carotenoids. Women who took these supplements had improved elasticity and better hydration in their skin.
By Justine, on November 20th, 2009
Antioxidant Treats
Dr. Oz just posted an article talking about the benefits of cranberries. Though we think of them of as a holiday treat Dr. Oz says for the following reasons we should eat them all year round:
They’re high in antioxidants -
Cranberries have more of these disease-fighters than do apples, red grapes, strawberries, oranges, bananas, pears, grapefruit, pineapples and peaches. Cranberries all contain resveratrol, the heart protector in red wine, which is now being tested against breast, skin, prostate and liver cancer.
Cranberries are heart healthy –
Cranberries have antioxidants, anti-inflammatories and anticlotting agents, a combo that helps prevent fats and cholesterol from sticking to artery walls and seems to lower bad LDL cholesterol and boost good HDL cholesterol.
Cranberries help protect your teeth -
Compounds in cranberry juice appear to reduce decay-causing mouth bacteria and dissolve clusters of unhealthy germs. Just be sure to buy sugar-free juice or rinse well with water afterward. Do the same with any sweetened drink.
Cranberries help prevent ulcers and soothe upset tummies -
Scientists suspect that the berries keep ulcer-causing H. pylori bugs from hanging around the stomach and flush other harmful bacteria out of your digestive system.
By Justine, on November 15th, 2009
Want to get healthy product samples for FREE. This is a great way to try new products with no investment on your part. Many companies just want you to try their products out and are willing to let you have a free sample. Just click on picture above and get started. I love getting free stuff in the mail or coupons for free stuff.
Healthy Herbs
Just found in Parade Magazine a list of healthy herbs. If you can incorporate these herbs into your weekly menus you will be doing a lot toward preventing some of today’s common illness such as diabetes, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, cancer, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
Parsley – Parsley is a good source of vitamin C, iron and flavonoids, which the American Institute for Cancer Research says may help protect cells from cancer. Fresh parsley can be added to salads and fresh or dried parsley is a good addition to chicken and fish dishes. Chimichurri sauce used on beef uses a whole cup of fresh parsley.
By Justine, on July 30th, 2009
Health Benefits of Green Tea
Weight Loss – Five cups of green tea every day could help you shed twice as much weight – most of it around your stomach, according to a Journal of Nutrition study. Researchers also found that people who had sports drinks with green tea for 12 weeks lowered their levels of triglycerides, a blood fat linked to heart disease.
Catechins (the antioxidants in the tea) are thought to boost energy and enhance fat-burning.
Prevent Cancer – Studies have shown that people in green-tea consuming countries-mainly Japan and China-have very low rates of cancer.
Prevent Colds and Flu -A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition looked at the effect of green tea on health during the flu season. The study followed 118 healthy adults for three months during flu season; the participants took a capsule twice per day.
The green tea group when compared with the placebo group experienced 32.1% fewer cold and flu symptoms. The green tea group reported 22.9% fewer illnesses which lasted two or more days. Other studies have also shown that gargling with green tea can aid in the prevention of cold and flu.
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