Sense Of Humor-Heart Disease-Heart Smart-Good Jokes

Know any good jokes? Researchers found that people with an active sense of humor...

Know any good jokes? Researchers found that people with an active sense of humor were less likely to have Heart Disease than those without--so LOL every once in awhile! (Brought to you by Quaker!) Click the link for 49 MORE Heart Smart tips.50 Simple Ways to Help Your Heart | Fitbiefitbie.msn.comSmall changes in the types of foods you eat and in the portion sizes you choose will quickly add up. Here are smart ways to help you cut 100 calories. Follow the tips every day to lose weight and get the body you want—just in time for summer! read more..

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American Heart Association-Smoked Salmon-Heart Disease-Soy Protein-Recipe Idea

5 Heart-Healthy Foods

Blueberries top the list as one of the most powerful disease-fighting foods. That’s because they contain anthocyanins, the antioxidant responsible for their dark blue color. These delicious jewels are packed with fiber, vitamin C, and are available all year long. Boost heart health by adding them into your diet regularly. Here’s how:
1. Top your whole-grain cereal with fresh or frozen blueberries to add delicious flavor, a dose of fiber, and heart-healthy antioxidants.
2. Power up pancakes, waffles, or muffins with fresh, frozen, or dried blueberries for a nutritious breakfast.
3. Eat them plain or mix with other fruit for a low-calorie, high-fiber tasty fruit salad, dessert, or snack.
Recipe idea: Make an irresistible trifle by layering lady fingers, light whipped topping or low-fat pudding, and blueberries. Or puree a batch of berries for a breakfast or dessert sauce.
This cold-water fish is a great source of protein and is also packed with heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. The American Heart Association advises eating salmon and other omega-3 rich foods twice a week for benefits that go beyond heart health. Americans love salmon because it is so versatile, easy to cook, and tastes great.
1. Salmon is easy to prepare on the grill, in the oven or microwave, or on the stovetop. Save leftovers to toss into pasta dishes, make into salmon cakes, add to salads, or mix into dips or spreads.
2. Smoked salmon comes in two varieties. The raw type is commonly used in appetizers and on bagels with cream cheese and capers. The dry smoked type has more of a cooked appearance. You can enjoy it the same way as the raw style, and add it to cooked dishes such as pasta.
3. Salmon cooks in a matter of minutes and its delicate texture quickly absorbs and showcases the flavor of added ingredients. For example, toss chunks of salmon into a chowder of corn and potatoes, or wrap salmon with herbs and chopped onion and tomatoes in parchment or aluminum foil and grill or bake 12 minutes for a satisfying meal.
Recipe idea: Marinate salmon in a lime, onion, garlic, and soy mixture for 15 minutes before grilling for a delicious fish taco or grilled fish sandwich.Soy Protein
This inexpensive, high-quality protein contains fiber, vitamins, and minerals — all the ingredients for a heart-healthy meal. Also, a diet rich in soy protein can lower triglycerides, which help prevent cardiovascular disease and keep your heart strong and healthy. In those with high cholesterol levels,the benefits of soy foods are due to their high levels of polyunsaturated fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.1. Pack a soy protein bar or a bag of soy nuts for a quick snack during the day.
2. Edamame (the Japanese name for green soybeans) are snacks even kids will love! Find these nutritious nuggets in the freezer section at your supermarket. Boil them, then serve warm in the pod. Pop them out of the pod to eat plain or with a low-fat dip.
3. Tofu, made of soy beans, takes on the flavor of spices and foods you cook with it. Saute cubed tofu with green and red peppers, sliced garlic, and a dash or two of curry powder. Or add tofu to soups for a healthy dose of fat-free protein.
Recipe idea: Soy milk is not just for the lactose-intolerant. Make a nutritious beverage with chocolate soy milk, a banana, and some ice for a delicious smoothie.
Grandma called it roughage and we need plenty of it each day. Oatmeal is one way to get it. Oats are nourishing whole grains and a great source of vitamins, minerals, and cholesterol-lowering fiber. The FDA allows manufacturers of oats to make health claims about the grain on their products, suggesting that a diet high in oats can reduce the risk for heart disease. Research shows oats lower cholesterol levels, keep you regular, and may help prevent certain cancers.
1. A warm bowl of oatmeal fills the belly for hours with its high fiber content. Top it off with fruit (such a read more..

Fruits And Vegetables-Blood Pressure Levels-Pancreatic Cancer-Health Benefits-Types Of Cancer

Health Benefits of Red Fruits and Vegetables

The red color in fruits and vegetables shouts phytonutrients such as lycopene, ellagic acid, quercetin and hesperidin. Their phytochemical properties may be beneficial in regulating blood pressure levels, reduce tumor growth, lower bad cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. Two powerful antioxidants– vitamins A and C may aid in preventing heart disease and are beneficial for various ailments.ApplesFresh, crisp apples are good sources of vitamin C and fiber. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that keeps the capillaries and blood vessels healthy, aids in the absorption of iron and protects the body’s cells from damage. Among the health benefits of fiber include: prevention of constipation, aids in weight loss and lowers your risk of digestive conditions. One medium apple has about 4.4 g of fiber.WatermelonsAside from its cancer-fighting lycopene, watermelon is also a good source of potassium, folic acid and vitamins B1 and B6. B vitamins in food have been found to reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer. This ultra-low calorie filling fruit is one of the rare food sources of citrulline, an amino acid found to have Viagra-like effects to the blood vessels of the body. A cup of watermelon contains 176 mg of potassium.StrawberriesStrawberries are excellent sources of vitamin C and manganese. Manganese acts as a coenzyme to assist metabolic progression in the body. The mineral is also involved in forming connective tissues, calcium absorption, proper function of the thyroid, and regulates blood sugar level. This heart shaped fruit is also a very good source of dietary fiber and iodine and a good source of potassium, folate, vitamin K and magnesium.CherriesRed and tangy sweet cherries are packed with vitamins and minerals. They are low in calories and low in fat. This luscious fruit is one of the few food sources which contain a significant amount of melatonin, an antioxidant which has been found to help regulate the body’s natural sleep patterns, aid with jet lag and prevent memory loss. Red tart cherries were found to contain the phytochemical anthocyanin which helps ease the pain of arthritis and gout.RaspberriesPreliminary medical research showed that regular consumption of raspberries is beneficial in inflammation, pain, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, allergies and age-related macular degeneration. Their antioxidant property is highest among fruits. They are also excellent sources of vitamin C and manganese and are one among fruits with the highest fiber content.Red Bell PeppersRed bell pepper is packed with two powerful antioxidants—vitamins A and C. A cup contains 5244 IU of vitamin A. It is also an excellent source of vitamin B6, an essential nutrient for normal brain development and function, and helps the body make the hormones serotonin and norepinephrine (which influence the mood) and melatonin (which helps regulate the body clock). Red bell peppers also contain lycopene, lutein and zeanthin.TomatoesHere’s an everyday vegetable that’s loaded with more than 20 vital nutrients. For several years, the lycopene in tomatoes have been extensively studied for its antioxidant and cancer-preventing properties. Lycopene from tomatoes may be beneficial against a growing list of cancers including: colorectal, prostate, breast, endometrial, lung and pancreatic cancers. Tomatoes are also very good sources of vitamin B2 and chromium. Vitamin B2, also called riboflavin has shown to be beneficial in reducing the frequency of migraine attacks, and chromium has been found to help keep the blood sugar levels of diabetic patients under control. read more..

Blood Cholesterol Levels-Cardiovascular Disease-Benefits Of Flaxseed-Milled Flax Seed

The health benefits of Flaxseed

Richest source of omega fatty acids and lignans (potent cancer fighters) known in nature. The immune-enhancing omega fatty acids 3, 6, and 9 are balanced in the combination your body requires for optimal health. Also loaded with vitamins and phytonutrients, and an excellent source of protein and fiber, flaxseed is nature’s gift to health!
Provides improved Immune Function- Immunity is the body’s ability to defend itself successfully against foreign substances. The alpha linolenic acid, as well as the lignans, decreases inflammation and promotes healthy functioning of the immune system. Flax seed may be useful to manage autoimmune and inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and lupus.
Weight Management - research indicates that including flaxseed in your daily diet can help you manage your weight. Besides stabilizing your sugar levels, flax expands five times in bulk when ingested. Flax taken half an hour before meals will help you eat less, so you will lose weight while simultaneously strengthening your immune system.
Affect on Hormone Levels - Flax seed, with its high concentration of lignans, is a great choice for all women, whether younger, middle-aged, or older, as a natural way to normalize the menstrual cycle, manage menopause, and lower the risk of osteoporosis, cancer and heart disease. Intake of flaxseed on a daily basis results in hormonal changes that are beneficial to women of all ages. In menstruating women who consumed 10 grams (about 2 teaspoons) of flax seed on a daily basis, significant hormonal changes have resulted. These changes are similar to those seen after consumption of soy isoflavones. Positive effects included fewer cycle changes, along with a reduction in ovarian disfunction. This, in turn, may decrease the development of breast and other cancers. As women reach menopause, the level of estrogens in their body decreases. This not only gives rise to menopausal symptoms, but also increases the risk of disease, including cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. In post-menopausal women the protective effects of lignans is due primarily to their estrogenic activity. Lignans have even been proposed as an alternative to hormone-replacement therapy in post-menopausal women.
Protection against bone loss - Daily dietary intake of flaxseed offers protection against bone loss, may increase bone density, and reduces the risk of osteoporosis.
Flax seeds have Anti-cancer Effects - Extensive studies on both breast and colon cancer indicate that flax seed may play an important role in cancer treatment, as well as prevention. A breast cancer prevention program done at the Princess Margaret Hospital and the Toronto Hospital, involving 50 women diagnosed with breast cancer revealed that- while waiting for surgery, half of the women received muffins containing 25 grams of milled flax seed daily while the other half received ordinary muffins. The women who received the flax seed muffins had slower-growing tumours compared to the other group.
Flax seeds help Reduce the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease - It aids in decreasing the so-called “bad” cholesterol. Increase the “good” cholesterol, decrease blood pressure, suppresse the development of atherosclerosis and inflammation, and enhances blood vessel tone. Researchers at the University of Toronto found that total blood cholesterol levels dropped by 9% and LDL (“bad” cholesterol) decreased by 18% when a group of nine healthy women added flax seeds to their regular diets. The women ate 50 grams of milled flax seed a day for four weeks
Seed for Fiber - The benefits of flaxseed in its whole seed form far surpass those of flax oil because freshly ground seed includes the fiber content that is so vital to maintaining digestive health. The insoluble fibre in flax seed is helpful in regulating bowel movements, increasing the frequency of bowel movements, and preventing or treating bowel irregularities and constipation. read more..