Simple Health Cures

   Ginger- This spice kicks up the flavor of your dishes and comes with the added benefits of mega-watt anti-inflammatory power. Ginger is teaming with a group of plant chemicals called xanthenes that are one of the most potent naturally occurring anti-inflammatory agents nature provides. Inflammation is the root cause of heart disease so enjoy this spice regularly to help protect your heart and arteries.

   Dark Chocolate Pecans- This delectable treat gives your heart the best of both worlds. Dark chocolate is loaded with the antioxidants flavonoids that boost blood flow while pecans are brimming with heart healthy monounsaturated fats, like those in olive oil, that lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and boost HDL (good) cholesterol.

    Almonds- Almonds are virtual cardiac miracle pills. Of their 8 nutritional attributes, 7 specifically benefit your arteries. Almonds are uniquely high in a special form of vitamin E called gamma tocopherol that is a true work horse when it comes to keeping your arteries open and your blood flowing. So go nuts over nuts and feel great about what you are doing for your heart while your enjoy them. For best results, include a small handful of nuts in your diet each day.

   Blueberries- This diminutive blue jewel is power packed full of life preserving agents and comes turbo charged for heart health. Blueberries contain more than a dozen vitamins and minerals, but are most special because of the dazzling array of heart disease busting antioxidants they provide. Blueberries are one of the reigning world.

    For many people, the answer is yes! We have such a proliferation of sugary foods, refined carbs and sweet beverages that sugar consumption has skyrocketed! The annual US average is around 150 pounds ( that’s pounds) per year. That’s the weight of an entire person each year!

    Our bodies are not designed to handle that much sugar, because many of us are less active. According to the American Heart Association and Dr. Oz, Americans consume more than 20 teaspoon of sugar daily, triple the maximum recommended intake! And that consumption has a terrible affect on health, weight and energy levels.

    Some Basics for Sugar and Carbs:

   Regular table sugar is sucrose. Also common is high-fructose corn syrup ( a processed blend of sucrose and fructose). These are concentrated forms of sweeteners is processed foods. They metabolize quickly and cause blood sugar to spike.

   Fruits have fructose ( fruit sugar), but whole fruits contain vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. They are considered complex carbs. They are slower to digest and don’t tend to spike blood sugar. Compared to refined carbs and sugary drinks, whole fruits are healthier.

   Some veggies are starchy, like corn and peas, but they are still complex carbs. Like whole fruits, they contain vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber,  Fresh or frozen, veggies digest more slowly than processed carbs and don’t spike blood sugar. So colorful veggies are also healthy!

   Milk and dairy have lactose ( another type of sugar) but again, with the proteins and fats in milk and dairy, the lactose is less likely to cause a spike in blood sugar and is digested more slowly.

   The problem foods are refined and white carbs and snacks, such as cookies, snack crackers, potato/ corn chips, sodas, sugary drinks, etc., and white carbs (white potatoes, white rice, breads, biscuits and soft pasta). These refined carb/ white foods are high-glycemic foods. They tend to spike blood sugar, The are nutritionally unbalanced.

   Fast Ups and Downs:

    Imagine you are feeling stressed or your energy is low, and you have corn or potato chips and soda. Those foods have little nutrition ( they lack vitamins, minerals, or significant fiber) so they digest quickly, starting in the mouth, where chewing and saliva begin the break down of carbs into simple sugars. The process finishes in the stomach and small intestine where those sugars are broken down with enzymes and converted to glucose, the form the body uses.

   High-glycemic foods move quickly into the bloodstream, causing the blood sugar to spike. That triggers insulin to be released, which brings the glucose level down. The glucose gets stored in the liver and muscles with the extra going to fat cells. Unless you are active enough to use the glucose daily, you will have a surplus, adding more fat.

   After the initial lift of energy from your snack, your energy drops again and you look for another lift. This cycle goes on daily for many people, and it’s a downward spiral.

   Even if you don’t eat lots of sugary foods and snacks, sugar is common in processed foods, from ketchup and barbeque sauce to salad dressing and “low fat” foods. Reading labels is the only way to know! Refined carbs and simple sugars also use up vitamins and minerals during digestion, causing additional nutrient deficits and metabolic stress.

   Declining Health, More Disease, and Early Death:

   The daily spikes and drops from refined carbs and sugars stress the pancreas, liver and other organs. Organ function is compromised, which increases metabolic stress. You gain weight and increase systemic inflammation because fat cells, especially those in the abdomen, are metabolically active. They grow and release inflammatory chemicals and waste products! You also get more wrinkles and develop additional health and organ problems, a downward spiral whose origin is eating of too many processed, man-made carbs pretending to be food!

   Over time, more serious problems often arise, including, high triglycerides and LDL cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, liver problems, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, depressed immune function, cancer, and chronic inflammation. This is not normal aging! The end result is a shortened life span: early death from heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or other disease.

    The Solution:

   Switch to more healthy, whole foods and non-carb snacks. They will provide more sustained energy throughout the day and minimize the spikes and drops of blood sugar you’re having now. You need less of the quality foods and snacks because you get more nutrition and sustained energy, costing you less money! You’ll feel more vital and youthful! Look for healthy foods on sale ( nuts, whole fruits, lean proteins, veggies, etc) and stock up ( basic frozen veggies are okay too).

   Make small adjustments in what yo eat now, and your body will reward you forever!

    I bet you’ve of the following conditions and disease: high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, heart disease/ atherosclerosis, stroke, overweight/obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation, cancer, plus wrinkles, ED and More!!!

   And when these conditions or disease turn up, I hear people bring up their family history/ genetics, normal aging, or both.

   The surprise is that all of these conditions and diseases are strongly influenced by lifestyle choices. The wrong foods (those lacking a balance of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants), and lack of activity are trial basis of declining health!

   Many experts agree that health is mostly due to the choices people make rather than genetics or family history: the choices you make each day are the most significant drivers of your health issues (about 70% of our health status is a result of our lifestyle choices as we get above 35 or 40). Even if genetics contributes to our health, you can’t change your genetics. What you can change is what you eat, how often, and how active you are!

   Refined Carbs and Inactivity the Basis of Disease?

   Let’s look at what happens when we eat common snacks or foods, such as chips, fries/fries foods, snack cakes, candy bars, white/refined or flavored crackers, cookies, soda/sugary drinks, and ice cream. ( I also include white carb: potatoes, bread, rice, biscuits, and well-cooked pasta).

    These food digest quickly because they are high-glycemic ( or sugar-like) foods. They cause a spike in blood sugar and glucose levels climb too high. We secrete insulin to bring the levels down ( if the pancreas is still able to). Did you know that high glucose levels are toxic to many tissues and organs? High-glucose levels irritate and inflame arteries, stress the pancreas ( insulin-producing cell can die), the liver ( which gets fatty from glucose storage), the brain and more! These foods can increase oxidative stress and inflammation which can spread. And they bring down your energy!

    The addictive quality of these carbs ( often including salt and unhealthy fats) cause us to crave more. The damage becomes chronic over time. Other processed foods are also part of this problem, from ketchup and barbecue sauce to salad dressings and so-called “low-fat” foods. These foods are common in our diets because sugar, refined carbs and high fructose corn syrup are everywhere in manufactured foods! Convenient but toxic in the amounts we are consuming ( about 150 pounds per year)!

    Many studies relate weight gain/obesity, high LDL cholesterol, heart disease, high BP, and cancer to high-glucose food consumption. What’s worse is that the spikes and drops of blood sugar cause hormonal and energy problems and we feel less motivated to be active when our energy is low. Less activity means glucose levels stay higher ( adding to weight gain), so being inactive/ not exercising contributes significantly to declining health and chronic disease.

    Less is More With Age!

   As we age, our ability to metabolize processed foods decreases, especially if we are less active. The solution is to simplify our food choices using more nutritionally-balanced, whole foods. Good choices are lean meats, fatty fish ( for omega-3 fats), soy beans and tofu, eggs and egg whites, nuts, veggie and greens, olives, avocados, beans, legumes, whole fruits, moderate amounts of healthy fats ( olive oil and omega-3 fats), and light amounts of dairy ( milk, cheese, etc).

    Avoid all hydrogenated oils/ trans fats ( read label and ingredients, they are very common), processed meats ( with nitrites, they are everywhere too). and only have red meat a few times per week.

   More nutritionally balanced foods like those suggested above will keep your blood sugar more level, especially if you have smaller meals every 3-4 hours ( that’s why non-carb snacks are important). That will help to balance your blood sugar all day long. Your energy will climb and you will feel better. We are made to move, not slump in a recliner for hours at a time! Our bodies suffer when we become inactive, including emotionally!

    The Choice Is Yours!

   It’s no longer a question of whether our lifestyle choices are contributing to, or causing most of the health conditions and chronic diseases we face today. Most health experts agree: they do.

    Why not decide to feel better today? It’s easier than you think! Just make one small change every week or two. Start by switching to non-carb snacks, and begin to work in light activity as you go. Increased activity gets the body moving which can help burn excess glucose and keep muscles leaner and organs more healthy. Build on things you like to do already ( biking, walking, dancing, swimming, gardening, etc). You’ll feel more like a well-tuned engine in a few weeks. Start with 10-15 minutes and work toward 15-30 minutes 4-5 times per week when you can.

    Unfortunately, Type 2 diabetes is not a equal opportunity offender, Although the disease does do a number on women and their overall health, it is men who reap the worst repercussion as a result of having diabetes and unstable blood sugar levels.

   Starting with the head and working down to the feet, you can see vision is acutely affected by diabetes due to high and uncontrolled blood sugar levels. There are several conditions that appear to advance more rapidly in diabetic men than women. One is retinopathy, which is a vision disorder as a direct result of diabetes. Retinopathy is the enlargement, breakage, or leaking of tiny blood vessels in the eye, which can spill blood into the eyeball and threaten vision. Once this condition sets in, men tend to progress into blindness faster than women.

   The brain is more susceptible to disaster too. The likelihood of stroke or strokes are higher for men. Adding high cholesterol and elevated triglycerides, or fat in the blood, to this problem only makes it more probable. Let’s not forget high blood pressure. It goes hand in hand with obesity, cholesterol and low activity.

   Traveling to the heart we see the increased opportunity for health issues. Since men are more prone to heart disease, it goes without saying they need to focus more attention on keeping this area as healthy and fit as possible. In fact, studies show if a man is diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes before the age of 60, they are two and a half times more likely to suffer from a heart attack than non-diabetic men of the same age.

   When you get to the midsection, things get serious. For a man, it comes down to impotence. There is a direct correlation between out of control blood sugar levels and erectile dysfunction. The condition can appear even in the early stages of diabetes, but the chances of acquiring it, dramatically increase as you age. Sine the causes are due to impaired blood flow, nerve damage and muscle function, it is imperative to keep these areas in check through proper diet and exercise. Also, maintaining a healthy weight is ideal for making sure this doesn’t become an issue.

   Lastly, it all comes down to circulation. Men seem to have a much higher rate of limb amputation due to poor circulation, than women. In fact, statistically, men are between two and three times more likely to need amputation of their feet or legs as a result of circulation restriction and/ or nerve damage. This is where getting up and moving around can benefit. Any form of activity exercise will keep this debilitating action at bay.

   Men…keeping yourself healthy and controlling your blood sugar through…

   - stress reduction techniques

   - a balanced diet

   - regular exercise

   Is the best bet to reduce or avoid these complications of type 2 diabetes.

   If you are one of the million people who drink diet soda because  you think it’s healthier or you think it’s lower in sugar then you need to listen up. It’s becoming clearer and clearer that diet sodas are worse for us then the regular full sugared varieties.

   Soda is not  a healthy drink. Regular sodas contain high amounts of sugar, phosphoric acid and the dark ones contain the carcinogen caramel coloring. Nearly every dentist agrees that drinking soda increase the destruction of teeth.

   Just one regular soda a day can lead to a 24 pound weight gain. For people who will are at risk for diabetes, this is about 40 g of sugars in your system without the benefit of any nutrients.

   This is why people think that drinking diet soda is healthier. The lack of sugar means the risk of decaying our teeth goes away, the pounds will go away and the risk of diabetes goes down. That’s not the case. In fact, new studies are showing that people who drink diet soda put on more weight and the risk of diabetes increases.

   Most diet sodas contain the chemical aspartame. Aspartame is a chemical that within the human body breaks down to formaldehyde. We all know formaldehyde from our high school, mostly because it’s banned because it’s too toxic to be around children. Aspartame can cause liver damage and kidney damage.

   Aspartame also stimulates the hormone cortisol, which is the hormone in our body that encourages fat storage. People drinking diet sodas for weight loss end up storing more fat then they lose. Sine cortisol is also a stress hormone, people who drink diet sodas have an increased risk of stress related health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure and certain psychological issues such as depression.

   Perhaps the worst part about sodas is the caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant drug. In small quantities, especially those that come from natural sources such as tea and chocolate, caffeine can help us work better, have clearer minds and reduce the risk of heart disease. Any more caffeine more than a half a can of soda or half a cup of coffee can throw off our body systems.

   People who consume too much caffeine in the short-term develop jitteriness, inattentiveness, insomnia, and skin problems like flushing. In the long term the excess caffeine can damage our brains, resembling Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, increase high blood pressure and damage the liver.And let’s not forget that caffeine dehydrates the body. You actually need to drink twice the amount of water as soda in order to counteract the dehydrating affects caffeine has on your body.

   Since the average teenager consumes 30 to 40 ounces of soda every day, nearly 10 times an acceptable level, we need to get the word out about just how bad these drinks are. As an occasional treat, no more than once a day, a small glass of soda is okay to drink. But any more than that and you’re not doing your body a favor.

   Most of us recognize  the most serious thing that could possibly happen to us in our lifetime is the lose of our health and productivity. This of course would not only affect us personally but our family and loved ones as well.

   Surely the inactive but often stressful lives we lead in our modern world alert us that we need to increase our need to get and stay in optimal physical, mental and emotional well being. Our health should take priority as ultimately it gives us the opportunity to fulfill our goals and dreams. Conventional insight over the past 60 old years has maintained that the task and responsibility for our health was predominantly the domain of the medical establishment.

   Well, those days are well and truly over, which means you and not the medical system should be in control and in the driver’s seat. Now is the time to reclaim a level of self-responsibility towards our own health, wellness and longevity that people have not practiced for a least a century.

   Never before in history has we had so much extensive scientific evidence to back what our grandparents knew to be true that proper exercise and good nutrition are the most basic components of a long active disease free life. Only if you have a good reserve or balance of these good habits in your wellness ” Bank Account” do you have ammunition to withstand the occasional bout of flu or even surviving a more significant health crisis.

   However, if you settle for a lifestyle with not enough muscle building and maintaining activity, poor nutrition and an insidious attitude that your health is not your responsibility or within your control, then you have some work to do. It is fully recognized now that how we live our life actually affects disease processes which was a revolutionary concept for the health establishment around 20 years ago.

   Not only can we not afford the high price tag of medical supervision for health maintenance the whole idea of someone else being responsibility for our health is not a good idea in our drive to stay well. Not only does it cultivate a level of helplessness and a lack of accountability it extracts a higher price on our overall health and well being in the long run.

   Good health and long term wellness is so much more than simply not being sick and is not an accident, it does require your active participation. Even geneticists agree that over 70 percent of what happens to as in the way of preventable disease that causes disability and the possibility of an early death is within our own control.

   And since your health is a most treasured asset, it should never be put on the back burner of your life and instead be put right at the top of the totem pole of priorities right up there alongside family and career.

   Without question and right at the very core of wellness is the important positive action you can take to protect yourself from disease and illness is proper strengthening exercise. It has long been proven to prevent a very long list of diseases from the “big three”, heart disease, cancer and diabetes to mental illness that include depression, anxiety and stress related problems.

   Although some of these conditions can be treated and reversed with proper exercise and good nutrition, some cannot. Preventing them from getting a foot hold in the first place is the number one goal. You will have heard of preventative medicine, now get ready for preventative fitness with proper exercise.

   We live in a world obsessed with cholesterol levels. Cholesterol levels and fat content…

   This may be come as a shock to you, because what I am about to tell you is going to contradict the many messages delivered by adverts on TV. After all, everything you hear on TV is true, right?!

   Elevated Cholesterol Levels Are Not The Main Cause Of Heart Attacks And Stroke!

   Just like fats in the body, if cholesterol levels are exceptionally high, problems may start to occur. This does not mean that eggs and meat should be avoided like the plaque. Raised cholesterol level are usually an indication that there is a systemic imbalance in the body that cholesterol is not being utilised efficiently. So really the answer is to look at the body as an integrated system in order to help address the balance. This is where clever nutritional therapy comes in.

   Rather than panicking after a high cholesterol reading and vowing to turn vegan, take some productive steps towards supporting your body and heart in the pursuit of a tidy ticker.

   First let’s get our FACTS straight:

   Cholesterol is a waxy steroid of fat which is naturally produced by the liver and intestines. It is vital for hormone production, cell membrane formation and is transported through the blood. Cholesterol is an essential structural component of our cells: needed to establish proper membrane  permeability and fluidity. Additionally, cholesterol works in the body to produce bile acids, steroid hormones and the bone health essential, vitamin D. So please note that cholesterol is not a bad guy, and without it, our body would fail to function effectively.

   There are two types of cholesterol. Low Density Lipoproteins )LDL) and High Density Lipoproteins (HDL). It is important to keep these two types at a healthy ratio. This is the principle concern when it comes to cholesterol. We should not be obsessed with overall lowering of cholesterol, rather getting the balance right. Damaging triglycerides are behind the blockage of arteries and fatty tissue around the heart. And what makes these triglyceride formations? Sugar!

   Foods which are high in naturally occurring cholesterol, like eggs, meat and natural fats are important for our health and actually help to keep our good cholesterol levels in balance. Butter for example, actually works to increase HDL “good cholesterol” levels and lowers damaging LDL levels. In fact, a major risk for heart disease is having a low fat and low cholesterol diet! People with low cholesterol have a 3 times higher incidence of heart disease than those with healthy levels. And people with exceptionally LOW cholesterol account for 40% of all heart attacks! 20% of cholesterol comes from the diet and the remaining 80% is made by the liver. If we did not have cholesterol in our bodies, our cells could not function, and we would die. Sta tins are cholesterol lowering drug prescribed by GP’s. These drugs block the liver’s natural production of cholesterol: including the essential cholesterol needed for every cell in our body to function which at the same time puts an artificial strain on the liver. Once again, unnatural measures are taken to control a symptom rather than the cause and this brings with it a cascading array of side effects. When people then seek medical attention for any side effects, they will be met with another prescription of some other pharmaceutical money spinner which will put further stress on the poor liver!

   50 ears ago, cholesterol was rarely mentioned. This was until the processed food industry came into fruition, and started to make bold claims about natural food sources, like eggs and animal proteins that had sustained millions of very healthy hearts for hundreds of years. Suddenly there was a new oil to sell, and the only way it would get noticed was to bad mouth its existing NATURAL competitor. This was the birth of margarine full of trans fats and chemical nasties which are both alien and detrimental substances to the body.

   The “cholesterol” alarmists then made way for the pharmaceutical companies to make a killing by inventing statins. The good old pharmaceuticals always there to make the world a healthier place huh! Unfortunately, money overrides health, safety and efficacy. But not Truth!! Oh No!

   The TRUTH is, cardiovascular disease is caused by a number of factors and cholesterol is not on the list. High sugar/carbohydrates diets, refined plant oils, obesity, hormonal imbalance, elevated catecholamines, stress, imbalanced insulin levels, nutrient deficiencies…These are just some of the jigsaw pieces that together represent the whole intricate “heart breaking ” picture. A number of factors trigger diseases of the heart, and most of them are inflammatory processes that stimulate arterial damage.

   Therefore, building your anti-inflammatory pathways now will help to prevent problems occurring in the future. This is where the link is to omega 3…For once the media have got the buzzword appropriately placed! A heart-healthy diet is rich in omega 3, plenty vegetables, animal and plant proteins, as well as eggs, a small amount of butter, and plenty of naturally anti-inflammatory polyunsaturated oils. In other words- Low sugar, low refined carbohydrates and zero “trans” Fats!

   Hundreds of thousands fall victim to heart disease every year. The health-care cost to treat this devastating condition will triple by 2030. In this article you’ll discover the exact numbers and learn three natural ways to prevent heart disease naturally, without pharmaceutical drugs.

   One in three Americans have some form of heart disease. What’s more, the cost of medical care for heart disease will rise from $273 billion to $818 billion if our ability to prevent this condition stays the same. “We were all surprised at the remarkable increase in costs that are expected in the next two decades,” says Paul Heidenreich, chairman of the American Heart Association expert panel.

   Fortunately, if we take a closer look at what cause high blood pressure, stroke, coronary heart disease, heart failure and other common conditions, we will see how to prevent them- or even treat them-naturally. Here are three simple and scientifically proven tips that will help you keep a healthy heart.

   1. Eat a healthy Diet- stay away from processed meat such as bacon, sausages and salamin. Scientists from Harvard University have discovered that every 1.8 ounces of processed meat consumed pre day raised the risk of heart disease by 42 percent. You should also increase your intake of anti-inflammatory foods, such as fresh vegetables and omega-3 fats.

   2. Exercise regularly- ongoing research has shown that exercise is good for the heart and circulation because it lowers blood pressure, reduces strain on the heart and increases good HDC cholesterol. Aim for a half hour walk every day, or an hour three times per week (aerobic exercise are best)

   3. Learn how to deal with stress- even allopathic physicians now agree that stress can play a key role in the development of chronic heart disease. That means you should identify situations in your life that cause you to experience severe stress and learn how to deal with them. This could mean meditation, yoga, or simpler deep breathing exercises.

   Pharmaceutical drugs won’t fix heart disease. In 2006, a drug from Pfizer called torcetrapib was found to miraculously raise HDL and lower LDL cholesterol. The result? A 25 percent increase in deaths from heart attacks and 200 percent increase in overall deaths in those taking the drug. After spending $800+ millions in development. Pfizer had to cut off torcetrapib trail because of an imbalance of mortality and cardiovascular events.

   In the United States heart disease is the number one killer. Statins are the number one selling class of drugs. Do they result in fewer heart attacks and deaths? No. In order to save more lives, it is needed to raise awareness of the possible ways to prevent heart disease naturally!!!

   Whether you want to lose weight, give your skin a boost, or keep serious diseases at bay, you can do it all with alkaline water. Alkaline water has benefits that you simply can’t get anywhere else. Luckily, though, it’s easy to get all the alkaline water you need, right in your home thanks to water ionizer.

   A water ionizer may be small, but it’s capable of doing some major work. Roughly the same size as a kitchen faucets water filter, you don’t have to worry about your water ionizer taking up too much room. No matter how small your kitchen is, you can make room for a water ionizer.

   So, what does it do?

   When water passes through a water ionizer, it puts it through a process called electrolysis that breaks hydrogen bonds in the water and turns it into alkaline water. Alkaline water is the opposite of acidic, so one of alkaline water’s main benefits is that it eliminates excess acid in your body. Having too much acidic waste in your system can actually lead to weight gain so, the less acid you have, the less you’ll weight.

   Alkaline water can also make your skin look younger. The hydrogen molecules in ionized water latch onto “free radicals” in your system. Free radical are tiny toxins that damage your cells and cause serious problems, like premature aging. But, if you can fight off the free radicals, you can get rid of wrinkles, fine lines, and even eczema.

   But it’s not just about your looks.

   If free radicals do enough damage, they can lead to even more serious health issues like cancer and heart disease. But by drinking alkaline water, you can get plenty of hydrogen molecules to battle the free radicals in your body!

   And there are even more alkaline water benefits!

   Since a water ionizer breaks up the hydrogen bonds in your waters, it leaves the water molecules physically smaller. Smaller molecules have an easier time getting absorbed into your system so your thirst will be quenched faster and you will get water’s vitamins and minerals into your organs faster. A water ionizer is a great tool that can flush out your system, leaving you healthier and better looking. And it’s as easy to install as a kitchen faucet water filer!!!

   The current crisis in American health reflects the promise that curing disease is the essence of health. However, as evidence accumulates that modern medicine is not as good at curing today’s killer disease as society is at creating them, it appears that a more useful approach to health and wellness would be one that emphasizes health eating and prevention as well as treatment.

   1. Be Familiar with your Health Condition: Knowing more about your health, both when something ails you and when you feel fine, helps you to live a healthier lifestyle. It reduces your fears of health impediments to your quality of life. People who take an active interest not only in their illnesses but also in their overall health are 15% more likely to feel that their health problems are not reducing their satisfaction with life.

   2. Eat Grapes and Oranges and Drink Both Grape and Orange Juice Regularly: The bioflavonoids (chemical compounds related to vitamin C) in grape juice interferes with the process by which cholesterol sticks to arteries. Regular consumption of grape juice reduces the likelihood of clogged arteries and lower the risk for heart disease and strokes. Vitamin C, found in many fruits including oranges, also inhibits the process of artery clogging as well as lowers blood pressure. Regular consumption of vitamin C is found to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and premature death.

   3. Have a Tomato in Different Ways: Unlike fruits and vegetables, the tomato retains its health effects in any form, cooked or raw. Include some form of tomato product in your diet whether it’s canned, raw, cooked, in soups, sauce, ketchup or juice, at least five times a week. This provides enough lycopene (a member of the protective and immunity building carotenoid family) to cut the risk of cancer and heart disease in half and to improve the health of lungs, eyes, and the skin.

   4. Eat Less, But Eat More Often:  If you’re think about cutting back on the amount of food you eat by cutting back on the number of times you eat, don’t do it. Eating fewer times reduces the efficiency of our bodies in processing food as fuel. In other words, skipping meals maximizes the calorie effect of the food we eat. A study found that people who ate five or six times a day had 5% lower total cholesterol and were 45% more likely to be able to sustain their target weight than people ate once or twice a day.

   5. Choose a Doctor You can Connect With: It is important have a doctor that you can connect with. We need to have a good feeling towards our doctor. This include knowing that our doctor is truly listening to us and responding positively to our concerns rather than seeing us as just another number. People who rate their doctor as being friendly were two times more likely to seek medical attention at the first sign of distress and were three times more likely to follow medical instructions.