At the present time, no one can possibly deny the popularity of processed food which is typically high in trans-fats. There is also the problem of fast food chains, which serve food that is rich in high fat and calories. This increases the risk of more people contracting cardiovascular diseases. For this reason people should be more careful what they eat, especially the people who have diabetes, hypertension or cardiovascular disease. Having realized that there are foods which have increased their LDL cholesterol problems, many have now begun to accept that nature also provides foods to lower LDL cholesterol.

Even though there are indeed many unhealthy foods on the market, there are fortunately foods that will help you maintain a low cholesterol level. These foods are generally rich in High-Density Lipoprotein or good cholesterol. HDL is one of the most important nutrients for our body. One of the reasons is because HDL balances and lowers the Low Density Lipoprotein, or bad cholesterol, and therefore reduces its effect on the body. (more…)

Just because one may be predisposed to, or living with high blood pressure, (hbp) doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a healthy sex life. After all, both deal with matters of the heart! (pun intended) In this article, we will explore notions surrounding food as an aphrodisiac and a potential relief for elevated blood pressure. Since time immemorial, food has always been suspected to play a leading role in our amorous activities.

In old Egypt, the leg-bone of a sheep or cow would be mixed in a pot with cayenne, thyme, onions and greens and used to attract someone from the opposite sex. The Aztec ruler, Monteczuma, was said to have drunk 20 goblets of chocolate a day to increase his libido. The good news today as more research becomes available, is that you can have an exciting sex life minus the stroke or heart-attack scare due to your condition. (more…)

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the Worldwide. According to the American Heart Association, an estimated more than 102 million American adults aged 20 or older have a higher risk of suffering heart attacks or other serious heart problems.

But there good news is that heart disease can be prevented, cured, and even reversed. Following a healthy life style will reduce the risk of developing heart disease such as eating a healthy diet, exercising, quitting smoking, and maintaining a healthy body weight. (more…)

The heart muscle needs a constant supply of oxygen-rich blood. The coronary arteries (see Biology of the Heart and Blood Vessels: Blood Supply of the Heart), which branch off the aorta just after it leaves the heart, deliver this blood. Coronary artery disease can block blood flow, causing chest pain (angina) or a heart attack (also called myocardial infarction, or MI).

Coronary artery disease was once widely thought to be a man’s disease. On average, men develop it about 10 years earlier than women because, until menopause, women are protected by high levels of estrogen. However, after menopause, coronary artery disease becomes more common among women. Among people aged 75 and older, a higher proportion of women have the disease, because women live longer. (more…)

The arteries are major blood vessels that the heart uses to pump blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Over time, arterial walls can become congested with a fatty substance known as plaque. When this happens to a severe point, the arteries may begin to harden and the blood flow can become compromised and ultimately result in a heart attack. Mainstream medicine’s approach for treating plaque is to use drugs or surgery. However, there are natural ways to prevent and remove plaque.

As is the case when addressing many health concerns, exercise and diet can play major roles in avoiding and reducing plaque. Exercise is already known for many benefits to the body such as reducing risk factors for disease, better mental function, and weight control. Exercise can also improve your circulation which can help reduce plaque. According to the Mayo Clinic, you can do this by getting 30 to 60 minutes of exercise on most days of the week. (more…)

Cholesterol is a waxy fat like substance found in all the cells of our body. Cholesterol is required in the production of hormones, vitamin D and it also assists in digestion. The cholesterol required by the body is produced by the body itself. High blood cholesterol is a condition where there is excess cholesterol in the blood stream. This can happen because some of the foods that we take also contain cholesterol. There are two types of cholesterol - good and bad. Good cholesterol is healthy for the body, but bad cholesterol can lead to build ups in your arteries ending up in heart diseases. To avoid the risks associated with high blood cholesterol levels, we need to focus on reducing the intake of foods containing bad cholesterol and to increase the intake of foods containing good cholesterol.

High fiber foods like oats can lower the bad cholesterol levels. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish is a very good option for people with high cholesterol; it is recommended to have two servings of fatty fish in a week to lower heart disease risks. Nuts like almonds, walnuts and peanuts can reduce cholesterol but be careful to take them in limited quantity as it can add on to your weight because of its high calorie levels. (more…)

There is a high prevalence of nutritional anemia, especially iron deficiency anemia. The adverse effects of nutritional anemia and nutritional deficiencies have been shown to reduce the performance of children in school, and their attention span. In adults can reduce the efficiency of work, maximum and sub maximal. It can also affect immunity, especially in early childhood, leaving children vulnerable to infectious diseases. Treatment of anemia varies depending on the characteristics of the anemia to be treated.

This is a considerable reduction in the number of red blood cells or blood volume. This leads to extreme paleness, weakness, fatigue, insomnia, irritability, depression and impaired defenses. It can be caused by lack of iron, folic acid or vitamin B12. (more…)

A pinched nerve is when there is an application of pressure directly on the nerve or when the nerve is compressed. This can cause a disruption in the nerve functions, as well as irritation to the person. A common example of compressed nerves or pinched nerves is the numbing of the hand or foot.

Common Causes of Pinched Nerves

• Arthritis

• Stenosis

• Carpal tunnel syndrome

• Cubital tunnel syndrome

• Injury

• Bruises

• Pregnancy-related swelling

• Joint diseases (more…)