Do you ever wonder why people say “Red wine is good for the heart.”  I can wonder because most people i know who drinks wine, they get drunk and too much wine drinking helps them develop terminal illness in later life.  Good think i was able to read this article by Dr. Miriam Estrada entitled Reservatrol for Heart Health printed in the Health and Home magazine September – October 2010 issue.

Let me just share with you the portion that really caught my attention as this is a learning moment for me:

The protective effect of red wine is not due to its alcohol content, but rather to the presence of a simple non-alcoholic constituent now knows as RESERVATROL.  Reservatrol acts as an anti-oxidant, antimutagent, anti-inflammatory agent, protecting the body against cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Red wine is produced from red or black grapes.  Because grape juice is white, the grapes are fermented with the skins.  The soaking process not only gives wine the red color, it also allows the wine to absorb the reservatrol.  Because of this, red wine contains more reservatrol the white wine, which is fermented after the grape skins have been removed.

In spite of reservatrol, the author or the article still did not promote wine drinking because this good is just only a speck of the whole effect of wine to a person.  According to WHO, Although regular low to moderate consumption of alcohol is protective against coronary heart disease, OTHER CARDIOVASCULAR and health risks associated with alcoho do not favor a general recommendation for its use.”

So, it’s better to eat fresh grape fruits to have a Reservatrol treat.

This is a very long article but id love to share it here maybe in several parts.  I find this very informative and am sure it will help anyone of us if not all of us in some way or the other.

This article is written by Sandra Gordon and is printed in the Health and Home Magazine Year 2004.

First tip in here is — BEAT HEART DISEASE

1.  Get your cholesterol tested if you have not in the past five years.  Ideally, your total cholesterol level should be less than 20o mg/dl; the good cholesterol should be 35 mg/dl or higher and the bad cholesterol should be less than 130 nd/dl.

2.  If your total cholesterol is more than 200, set your mind on making lifestyle changes to bring it down, says Dr Michael E.De Bakey, a professor of surgery at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas, USA.

3.  Limit fat to no more than 300 percent of calories, says the American Heart Association.  (Someone commented on this that i might have a typo error, but checking out the article it is really 300%.  Not 30%.)

4.  Get your blood pressure checked every two years if yours is normal.  If it’s high, have it checked yearly.

5.  If you have high cholesterol and want to go on the Pill, ask your doctor about formulations that can lower the LDL and raise the HDL.

6.  Post a chart illustrating emergency procedures – such as CPR and the Heimlich maneuver-on the refrigerator. You can check out # 6 information online at www.heimlichinstitute.org/

Hey cold time is here and there are some food that we can scarcely eat during the cold season but there are also foods that are of good supply.  Fit Sugar featured the 7 winter foods rich in antioxidants.  So Holidays does not only mean feasting on sumptious fatty foods, but you can also have a choice of healthy foods to kip you fit.

Artichokes Hearts - Artichokes are good for the liver.  They are low in calories and high in vitamins and minerals.   Although they are great fresh, you can find canned artichoke hearts packed in water in any season. Add them to your homemade pizza to make it equal parts gourmet and healthy!

Beans – they are high in fiber and protein and also high in antioxidants.   Kidney and pinto beans are higher in antioxidant levels compared to blacks beans.  We cooked at home dried ones but during the winter if supply is low they are available canned but try to pick those are low in sodium.   I love chilli baked beans.

Cranberries - Cranberries are powerhouses of antioxidant.   They are in good supply this cold season so you can eat lots of them.  They can boost your immune system during the change of climate and weather.   These cranberries protect our heart from disease and can also prevent cancer.

Pecans – They are considered on par with antioxidant superstars cherries and cranberries.  They enchance your antioxidant intake along with other berries.  Naturally sweet, eating a moderate amount of nuts weekly lowers the risk of gaining weight.

Prunes – Being dried fruits, prunes are available all year long. They are high in oxidants that fights off fats and cholesterol.  I love prunes in bits with my oats and porridge.

Granny Smith Apples – I call them “green winter apples”  This type of apple is actually high in antioxidants and provides just slightly less than strawberries. Don’t peel off the skin.  Eat the skin!  Antioxidants give color to foods, and the color of the apple is in the skin. Plus, not every apple provides the same amount of antioxidants.

Cloves – Spices add flavor as well as antioxidants to many dishes and cloves are no exception. They are high in antioxidants and you can use them in most of your winter dishes and desserts.  They also have an anti-inflammatory effect and can help relieve dental pain.

source: www.fitsugar.com

1. Reduce blood cholesterol to less than 160 mg percent with a very lowfat, high fiber vegetarian diet and with cholesterol-lowering medication if necessary.

2. Lose weight by eating more foods-as-grown and less refine foods and animal products.

3. Drop your high blood pressure by cutting salt intake to less than five grams (or 5000 milligrams) a day, and by getting into a daily exercise program.

4. Stop smoking and reduce alcohol intake. Alcohol is toxic to a struggling heart.

Our hear is the most important organ in our body system so let’s take care of it.

photo source: http://www.righthealth.com/Health/The_Human_Heart/-od-definition_wiki_Heart-s

I read today in Yahoo health news that there are 5 ways pets can improve our health.  There are 5 ways which is also supported by WebMD.   For many years long back, we have dog pets until one died in an accident then  we just did not care to have one again.  The pain of separation was felt.  When we moved in to current place, their was  a stray cat that stayed with us until she gave birth to 4 kitties then later many more.  When she had more we have to sent her away, leaving us her 4 first kittens until the three of them got lost and maybe died and only one left.  For now that lone kitten gave bith to 1 baby and it’s our family’s cuddly pet.  We talked to her (she’s a she) hehehe, play with her.

Reading the news today gave me the assurance that it is not really wrong to have hairy pets. Here are 5 reasons why we should let our pets stay:

1. Prevent allergies: Many new studies show that children who grow up in a household with furry animals or on a farm, have less risk for allergies, and asthma and a stronger immune system.
2. Friend magnets: Pets are natural conversation starters so your pet can help you meet people if you have social anxiety or chronic shyness.
3. Benefit the aged: For the elderly, caring for a pet can offer exercise and companionship. Studies have also shown that for Alzheimer’s patients, those who have a pet have fewer anxious outbursts.
4. Good for the mind and soul: Those who have pets are less likely to suffer from depression, are better equipped to handle stressful situations, and they also have lower blood pressure.
5. Good for your heart: Pet owners who suffer from a heart attack will live longer than those who are petless. Studies have also shown that men who own pets have lower cholesterol.

I now conclude that our pet cat is good for a depressed me, and for mom who has high blood pressure and high cholesterol.