Things You May Not Be Aware That Could Trigger Heart Attack
When people go for a mid-morning cigarette or coffee break, they are probably not aware that this could be a very dangerous moment for them. Why do I say that?
According to a report published in 2004 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the most common time of day for heart-related medical incidents such as heart attacks and strokes is about 10 in the morning, largely because of the body?s internal clock functions.
The incidence of heartbeat fluctuations and other anomalies that can make a healthy person?s heart appear diseased and can trigger heart-related events peaks in the mid-morning. This was the findings of a study conducted by Harvard Medical School and Boston University, as revealed by PNAS. (more…)

Weight Loss Strategies for Strength Training
For years we have been told to diet the excess fat from our bodies and throw in some fast walking to hasten the process. The trouble with this is that the low calorie restricted diet would throw the body into starvation mode, with the body holding onto the fat and using precious lean muscle tissue for energy. (more…)

Sugar Free Do's and Don'ts and More
In today’s world, it seems that almost any topic is open for debate. While I was gathering facts for this article, I was quite surprised to find some of the issues I thought were settled are actually still being openly discussed. If you base what you do on inaccurate information, you might be unpleasantly surprised by the consequences. Make sure you get the whole Sugar Free story from informed sources. Perhaps your weakness is pistachio ice cream, brownies with nuts, or pancakes covered with syrup. Many of us crave sweets�”sometimes throughout the day. Some of us may even be addicted to sugar. The problem is, large helpings of sugary foods can lead to substantial weight gain. But eating sugar-free does not necessarily guarantee weight loss.A food may be sugar-free and still contain a great amount of calories and carbohydrates. You may be thinking that you can lose weight simply by using sugar substitutes. However, this is a naïve way of thinking, since some sugar substitutes increase your intake of both calories and carbs. For instance, the sugar substitute fructose adds calories and carbs to your daily diet. These types of sugar substitutes are often called sugar alcohols or polyols. It should be stated that polyols can be highly beneficial. For instance, while they offer a sugary taste, they have fewer calories than sugar. They are particularly advantageous for people with diabetes and, unlike sugar, they do not cause tooth decay. You can find polyols in a number of baked goods and candies. Interestingly enough, they can even be found in mouthwashes. Given the fact that polyols are low-cal, they can be helpful in a weight management program. Fortunately, there are a number of desserts that are both sugar-free and delicious. For instance, sugar-free lemon cheesecake is a healthy alternative to the typical high-calorie cheesecake. You can also make butterscotch and pumpkin pudding by using sugar-free butterscotch pudding mix.A sugar-free version of Old-Fashioned Applesauce cake is made with reduced calorie margarine, Splenda, and unsweetened applesauce, while light chocolate peanut butter pie can be created with sugar-free chocolate pudding and fat-free whipped dessert topping. Meanwhile, sugar-free strawberry pie can be made with diet Sprite or 7-Up and sugar-free strawberry gelatin. The American Diabetes Association heartily endorses sugar-free diets. The organization also recommends consuming at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day; a half-dozen servings of breads and cereals; no more than three servings of low-fat milk or yogurt, lean meats; and a limited amount of sweets and desserts. When you dine in restaurants, the Diabetes Association recommends that you save half your meal for the next day in order to avoid calorie overload. You might also consider sharing a meal or dessert with someone else. Also, you might want to substitute a salad for potatoes. In addition, you should ask that your dressing or sauce be served on the side in order to attempt to control portions. It is interesting to note that a food can be labeled “no sugar added” and still contain sugar. The label refers to the fact that no table sugar is involved; however, the food could still have its share of natural sugars. As a result, no-sugar-added food could have as many calories as other types of food. In addition, the Diabetes Association cautions that eating protein alone will not enhance your muscles. Rather, you need exercise to strengthen your muscles. While eating sugar-free food can be beneficial, the Diabetes Association offers other tips for attempting to lose weight and keep it off. In general, the guidelines call for reducing calories and fat, exercising each day, not skipping breakfast, and maintaining a food log which indicates everything you have consumed on a daily basis.Lessening your dependence on sugar can be an important first step toward improving your diet. But, as we have seen, simply eating sugar-free will not guarantee that you will achieve the weight loss you’re looking for. Weight reduction takes a great deal of discipline and patience. You did not gain all of your extra weight in a single day, so you can’t expect to be rid of it instantaneously. Before cutting out sugar entirely from your diet, it’s best to check with your doctor. He or she can also give you some effective weight management techniques. It’s always best to have a medical doctor overseeing your weight loss plan. That can help to ensure that you maintain good health during the weight reduction process. With dedication and hard work, you can achieve your weight loss goals. You yourself may be astounded at your progress, once you begin a sensible diet plan. This article’s coverage of the information is as complete as it can be today. But you should always leave open the possibility that future research could uncover new facts. <p>Author J. Brian Keith is a proud contributing author for
<a href="http://www.1-weight-loss-diet.com">Weight Loss and Dieting</a>,
<a href="http://www.exercise-equipment-directory.com">Exercise Equipment</a> and enjoys writing about
many different topics. Please visit my other web sites
for <a href="http://www.top1k.com/Category/Health-&-Fitness/4/">Free Articles</a> and
<a href="http://www.sharepixx.com">Free Photo Sharing</a>.</p> (more…)

Stearic acid-rich interesterified fat and trans-rich fat raise the LDL/HDL ratio and plasma glucose relative to palm olein in humans
Background:
Dietary trans-rich and interesterified fats were compared to an unmodified saturated fat for their relative impact on blood lipids and plasma glucose. Each fat had melting characteristics, plasticity and solids fat content suitable for use as hardstock in margarine and other solid fat formulations.
Methods:
Thirty human volunteers were fed complete, whole food diets during 4 wk periods, where total fat (~31% daily energy, >70% from the test fats) and fatty acid composition were tightly controlled. A crossover design was used with 3 randomly-assigned diet rotations and repeated-measures analysis. One test fat rotation was based on palm olein (POL) and provided 12.0 percent of energy (%en) as palmitic acid (16:0); a second contained trans-rich partially hydrogenated soybean oil (PHSO) and provided 3.2 %en as trans fatty acids plus 6.5 %en as 16:0, while the third used an interesterified fat (IE) and provided 12.5 %en as stearic acid (18:0). After 4 wk the plasma lipoproteins, fatty acid profile, as well as fasting glucose and insulin were assessed. In addition, after 2 wk into each period an 8 h postprandial challenge was initiated in a subset of 19 subjects who consumed a meal containing 53 g of test fat.
Results:
After 4 wk, both PHSO and IE fats significantly elevated both the LDL/HDL ratio and fasting blood glucose, the latter almost 20% in the IE group relative to POL. Fasting 4 wk insulin was 10% lower after PHSO (p > 0.05) and 22% lower after IE (p < 0.001) compared to POL. For the postprandial study the glucose incremental area under the curve (IAUC) following the IE meal was 40% greater than after either other meal (p < 0.001), and was linked to relatively depressed insulin and C-peptide (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Both PHSO and IE fats altered the metabolism of lipoproteins and glucose relative to an unmodified saturated fat when fed to humans under identical circumstances. (more…)

Can You Learn About A Healthy Diet From A 5-Year Old?
Is this the next great weight loss guru to tackle global obesity? Sometimes we get so caught up in the various complexities of an organized weight loss strategy that we totally forget what really works. Have you ever found… (more…)

Benefit from the Ornish Diet
Are you looking for some inside information on ornish diet? Here’s an up-to-date report from ornish diet experts who should know. Hopefully the information presented so far has been applicable. You might also want to consider the following: In 1993, Dr. Dean Ornish came out with a book entitled Eat More, Weigh Less. The primary focus of the book was to urge people to boost their consumption of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables while decreasing their consumption of fat. Ornish subsequently made headlines by becoming a dietary consultant to McDonald’s, helping the hamburger giant to develop the fruit and walnut salad which now appears on the restaurant’s re-vamped menu.Ornish’s work began in 1977 when he was studying ways to combat heart attacks. He hypothesized that heart disease could be successfully treated by cutting the fat in a patient’s diet, as well as reducing the amount of unrefined carbohydrates he or she consumes. During his research, he noticed that his patients lost about 25 pounds each and managed to maintain the weight loss for five years. Ornish offers two different diets, the Reversal Diet and the Prevention Diet. Those who suffer from heart disease and who are trying to decrease their risk of another heart attack would conceivably benefit from the Reversal Diet, while the Prevention Diet is designed for people who have high cholesterol levels, but who have not developed heart disease. Both versions are vegetarian, consisting of 10 percent fat, 20 percent protein, and 70 percent carbohydrates.If you decide to follow the Ornish diet, you will be eating a great deal of fiber, little fat, and a great deal of vegetables. Under the Ornish program, you can eat as many beans, fruits, grains, and vegetables as you want. However, non-fat dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt should be eaten sparingly. The same holds true for fat-free desserts and yogurt bars.Still, under the Ornish plan, you will be giving up a great deal. For instance, you will not be permitted to eat meat of any kind, including fish and chicken. You must also pass up oils, avocados, olives, nuts, sugar, and anything that consists of more than two grams of fat for each serving. The diet also forbids the consumption of alcohol. The doctor recommends eating a number of small meals so that you will feel hungry less often. Following this plan, less than ten percent of your calories should come from fat. Ornish recommends at least 30 minutes of exercise each day, or an hour of exercise three times each week. He also encourages some type of stress management, such as meditation, massage, or yoga. Why? In his book, Ornish writes, “When your soul is fed, you have less need to overeat. When you directly experience the fullness of life, then you have less need to fill the void with food.” Supporters of the Ornish plan are enthusiastic about its effect on the body. It can successfully combat heart disease, prevent cancer, alleviate the symptoms of diabetes, and help stabilize high blood pressure. In fact, one doctor has said that the Ornish program succeeds because it has a clear scientific basis. Also, the diet is convenient to follow because it does not involve counting calories. The major disadvantage of the Ornish plan is that it is highly restrictive. This can make it difficult to stay with over the long haul. A number of dieters may be uncomfortable eating food that is so low-fat. The diet also represents a radical change from the typical American meat-and-potatoes fare. In addition, Ornish fails to recognize that some types of fats are actually good for one’s health. For instance, mono unsaturated and polyunsaturated oils can protect against heart disease. Therefore, Ornish’s prohibitions against fish and nut consumption would seem to be counter-productive.Is the Ornish diet worth the trouble? If you must not only manage your weight but struggle with heart disease as well, it might be just the diet you need. Also, if you have medical reasons for losing weight, the program is certainly one you should consider. However, if you have difficulty sticking with specific menus�”and you love meat�”the Ornish diet may be too hard to deal with. When you decide to undertake the Ornish diet, you are making a commitment to vegetarianism. The diet provides you with less protein than the typical diet, which could sap your energy. Thus, a good rule of thumb is to discuss the plan with your family physician to determine if it’s appropriate for your case. The day will come when you can use something you read about here to have a beneficial impact. Then you’ll be glad you took the time to learn more about ornish diet. <p>Author J. Brian Keith is a proud contributing author for
<a href="http://www.1-weight-loss-diet.com">Weight Loss and Dieting</a>,
<a href="http://www.exercise-equipment-directory.com">Exercise Equipment</a> and enjoys writing about
many different topics. Please visit my other web sites
for <a href="http://www.top1k.com/Category/Health-&-Fitness/4/">Free Articles</a> and
<a href="http://www.sharepixx.com">Free Photo Sharing</a>.</p> (more…)