The Skinny on the Oil-heavy, Mediterranean Diet

Posted on 26 February, 2013 by activeforever

Image courtesy of dusky at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

There’s been a great deal of buzz lately about the Mediterranean diet as a heart healthy diet, but is there any substance behind the rumors? Author of “Eat to Live” and board certified family physician specializing in nutritional medicine, Joel Fuhrman, MD, thinks not.

Dr. Fuhrman is known to credit the observed benefits of the Mediterranean diet, not to the olive oil, but rather in spite of it, and instead notes the abundance of fruit, fish, beans, tomato sauce, salads, etc.,

Fat is fat is fat when it comes to losing weight. Weight loss is one of the greatest things a person can do for their heart and their health. While good fats like salmon, eggs and seeds do have significant health benefits, even they need to be used sparingly by those who are determined to shed extra bulk.

Any way you slice it, oil is pure, 100 percent fat. When a person is trying to lose weight, especially a person that is middle-age or older, that is simply too much.

Image courtesy of m_bartosch at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Dr. Fuhrman’s daughter, Talia Fuhrman, an accomplished nutritionist in her own right, weighs in on the subject of the ominous oil:

“Some have proposed that extra virgin olive oil is heart healthy because it is rich in polyphenols. Polyphenols have antioxidant characteristics and studies show that they reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. However, all plant foods are rich in polyphenols and most deliver much more polyphenols (and far fewer calories) than olive oil.”

Then of course, there’s exercise. (It’s not called cardio for nothing after all.) Regular exercise is one of the best things a person can do to reduce cholesterol and improve heart health. It doesn’t have to be vigorous either:

The AgSilver CleanMat Hot Yoga Mat, regularly $30.01 is now available for just $19.99. (60% off!)

“Experts recommend at least 30 minutes of exercise on most — if not all — days. Studies show that yoga and tai chi, an ancient Chinese exercise involving slow, relaxing movements, may lower blood pressure almost as well as moderate-intensity aerobic exercises.” Source: University of Maryland Medical Center

Nothing Says Love like Dark Chocolate

Posted on 14 February, 2013 by activeforever

Holidays are full of traditions and Valentine’s Day is no different. No matter who you are, you have most likely been on the giving or receiving end of a box of chocolates on this most cherubic of days.

Fortunately, you and your valentine do not have to sacrifice health in the name of holiday celebration. Dark chocolate is actually good for you. It contains a higher level of beneficial, heart healthy, cocoa flavonoids than milk chocolate.

Image courtesy of m_bartosch at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

According to an abc news article published today, the dark chocolate trend is picking up steam. Dark chocolate sales broke records this year. When pressed for an explanation, experts point to the buzz in recent years about chocolate being good for the heart.

Some studies link high chocolate consumption with a “37 percent reduction in cardiovascular disease risk, a 31 percent reduction in diabetes risk and a 29 percent reduction in stroke risk when compared to low chocolate consumption.”

Also, it is safe for all the lovers out there who are lactose intolerant.

So this year make sure the goodies inside that heart shaped box are actually good for the heart!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Congenital Heart Defect survivors and their stories

Posted on 12 February, 2013 by activeforever

February 7-14th is Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week. Congenital Heart Defect, also known as Congenital Heart Disease, (CHD) is any birth defect which affects the heart or the large blood vessels. Congenital means that the defect is present at birth.

Congenital Heart Defect is considered to be the most common birth defect, and is a leading cause of birth-defect related deaths worldwide. Congenital Heart Disease affects approximately 1.8 millions families in the United States according to the Congenital Heart Information Network (C.H.I.N.)

The inspirational and heart-warming Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week Pinterest page is something you don’t want to miss. Here are some of the CHD survivors on that page and their stories:

Kaden (above) was diagnosed with Transposition of the Great Arteries the day he was born. He had open heart surgery at 12 days old. Complications during and after the 11-hour surgery led the surgeon to believe his heart wouldn’t sustain life. He went home two weeks later. He has pulmonary stenosis and a small VSD but is doing amazingly well.

Olivia (left) was born with half a heart as a result of a severe and complicated congenital heart defect known as Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). During the past four years she has endured three open-heart surgeries, five heart catheters and a stroke.

Norah (right) was born with Heterodoxy, an ASD, VSD, interrupted IVC w/ Azygos continuation, an Intestinal Malrotation, minor Hydronephrosis, Pulmonary Stenosis and Polysplenia (she has 2 functional spleens). She had Ladd’s Procedure when she was 5 weeks old and open heart surgery at 9 months.

Mother says:
“We were fortunate enough to know she’d have a CHD before birth. It was tough to go through the pregnancy not knowing what would be wrong with her (bad news started when I was about 12 weeks along), but always loving her. She was, and IS, perfect. It took a long time to remember that she was perfect (at least to me) before I knew about her conditions and that they didn’t change anything. She was still the baby I loved, she’d just have a more colorful story than some.”

National Wear Red Day!

Posted on 1 February, 2013 by activeforever

It’s National Wear Red Day! Not because it’s such a beautiful color, but rather because it’s a way to show support for the women who are taking action to protect their hearts and by extension, their lives!

They do this by reducing high blood pressure and cholesterol. They maintain a healthy weight by getting regular exercise and they do not smoke. All of these actions taken together go a long way toward decreasing the risk of developing heart disease.

Are you at risk of developing heart disease? The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute helps you find out.

Getting a healthy jump start on matters of the heart

Posted on 31 January, 2013 by activeforever

Well it’s not quite February yet, but we thought we’d get ahead of the curve and begin posting about Heart Health today!

Why? Well we just ran across this interesting article in the BBC today: Vegetarians ‘cut heart risk by 32%’. The piece outlines findings from a recent study which illustrates the role that Vegetarianism can play in promoting a stronger ticker.

It reads in part:

A study of 44,500 people in England and Scotland showed vegetarians were 32% less likely to die or need hospital treatment as a result of heart disease.

Differences in cholesterol levels, blood pressure and body weight are thought to be behind the health boost.

Image courtesy of Grant Cochrane at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Heart disease is a major blight in Western countries. It kills 94,000 people in the UK each year – more than any other disease, and 2.6 million people live with the condition.

The heart’s own blood supply becomes blocked up by fatty deposits in the arteries that nourish the heart muscle. It can cause angina or even lead to a heart attack if the blood vessels become completely blocked.

Dr Francesca Crowe said: “The main message is that diet is an important determinant of heart health, I’m not advocating that everyone eats a vegetarian diet.”

The results showed the vegetarians had lower blood pressure, lower levels of “bad” cholesterol and were more likely to have a healthy weight.

Tracy Parker, from the British Heart Foundation, said: “But remember, choosing the veggie option on the menu is not a shortcut to a healthy heart. After all, there are still plenty of foods suitable for vegetarians that are high in saturated fat and salt.”

The study was originally published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The Isagenix IsaLean Shake

The meal replacement shake is great for heart health because it’s nutritious, low in calories and provides a balance of quality whey protein, active enzymes, fiber, and other essential vitamins. It helps burn fat and maximize nutrient intake, preventing food cravings and overeating.

ActiveForever carries these and other Isagenix products.

ActiveForever Blog

Millions of Happy Customers since 1993!

Tag Archives: hearthealth