Vesta Health Media Guides

Tell to eat fish instead of other kinds of meat as a source of proteins as it contains omega fatty acids which lower the level of cholesterol

I reversed my diabetes and high cholesterol, I show on my page especially the rave diet vid I have on my page if you click my name on the left, You will see cancer,diabetic and heart disease patients reversing their disease with natural diet, it shows that by cleansing the body of toxins with a all vegetable diet you body will heal itsef, I love the testimonials given by real patients on my page that confess to healing themselves even when facing terminal disease

Its an interesting question but with just a little bit of research, it seems that there is little support for your hypothesis, rather there is evidence to suggest the opposite. High cholesterol is related to depression and/or mood disorders.

The higher rate of depressive symptoms in the subgroup with metabolic syndrome (high cholesterol, high b/p, overweight, high blood sugar) suggests that the metabolic syndrome may be an important predisposing factor for the development of depression. Effective prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome could also be important for the prevention of depression.
J Clin Psychiatry. 2008 Feb;69(2):178-82

The monoamine oxidase-A (MAOA) gene plays a vital role in the metabolism of neurotransmitters, e.g, serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. (All of the important neurotransmitters we know to affect mood) Higher total cholesterol (p<0.03), LDL/HDL ratio (p<0.01), triglycerides (p<0.02), and VLDL (p<0.02) were associated with low activity MAOA genes. Low activity MAOA has been associated with higher body mass index (BMI) and morbid obesity. (In sum this article seems to say low activity MAOA is responsible for high cholesterol and depressed/anxious mood)
Med Sci Monit. 2008 Feb;14(2):CR57-61.

The serum concentrations of serotonin and lipids–triglycerides, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein–were determined in 18 normal dogs and 23 dogs diagnosed as aggressive on the basis of interviews with their owners and an assessment of their behaviour with reference to a canine overt aggression chart. The serum serotonin levels in the aggressive dogs were significantly lower than in the normal dogs (P<0.01), but the differences in serum lipids between the two groups were not statistically significant.
Vet Rec. 2007 Jul 14;161(2):59-61.

If you have more interest, go to the web site "Pubmed" and type in your search terms. You may need to get a science friend to interpret the study results, but they are the true scientific journals rather than what popular media has chosen to report – which almost always misses important points about the studies.

Lastly, it is curious that you were given an anti-cholesterol medication when you don't have a cholesterol problem. And this is a very unusual medication to use for treating cholesterol. There are many more potent ones out there. Is this treating chronic diarrhea, perhaps?

We never learn new things if people don't ask the question. It seems from the research done, there is not too much support for your hypothesis…and in the clinic we don't necessarily see people with extraordinarily low cholesterol having a lot of depression and migraine headaches. Its usually the other way around.

ADDENDUM
Mayo Clinic does good work. I like their web content as well. The author was noting LDL of 40 or less was associated with lower serotonin. I assure you it is not very common at all to find such a low number in the general population. While you don't mention it, LDL usually is roughly 75% of total cholesterol. Cholestyramine lowers your cholesterol by about 25% at maximum dose. Working through the numbers, even if you were taking the medication with your current cholesterol level, you still are not in the 40 range by quite a lot.

The connection between cholesterol and serotonin is not very well known – seems too much is a problem, too little is a problem. Therefore it is not surprising that practioners are not very familiar with link. Indeed, the vast body of information on biology and medical information is staggering. If I were to spend my entire waking hours reading medical and science journals (and I somehow had perfect recall), there still would be plenty that I didn't know!

The experience you had with your medical provider is not uncommon. You went to him with a problem that you perceived important and a sign of potentially a serious condition. He took you seriously and entertained the idea enough to perform an invasive procedure, (not without cost to the medical system and potential complication) a colonoscopy to evaluate it. When he found nothing he knew (from years of experience and having many other patients) that this was a benign and self limiting condition. He prescribed a medication that will address the symptoms in a final effort to help you. And you are completely unhappy.

Here's the point where you want more and he has nothing. You want a REASON WHY this is happening. He has no answers and probably nobody else does either. You're frustrated with no answer and he's frustrated because despite his best effort and a genuine interest in helping, you walked away unhappy. Further you did more research on the medication and found that this might not be the most ideal medication for you…well now he's really a jerk.

If you want to evaluate a problem that seems to have no answer, go to a facility known for their medical research. It is the only environment where an medical provider can take signficant amounts of time to explore such unknowns. Good luck.

It is a time-honored tradition to make resolutions at this time of year. If your resolution is to lose weight – and keep it off, then keep reading! Here are six simple tips that will have you losing weight in a balanced and healthy way.

1. Lose weight with water.
Water is essential for everybody – it is also the key to losing weight. If you haven't been drinking enough water, your body has developed a pattern of storing water. This water retention equals extra unwanted weight.

By drinking more water, you are not only flushing out toxins, you are also teaching your body that it no longer needs to store water. Drink at least 60 ounces of water (about 8 glasses) a day. Boil water and sliced lemons, and drink this throughout the day to help with fluid retention. If you are still not sold on the merits of water, try this on for size: water is a natural appetite suppressant.

2. Soup up your weight loss program.
A simple dietary change will have you shedding pounds: eat a bowl of soup at least once a day. Nutritious, low-salt soups will nourish you as they flush waste from your body. People who eat a serving of soup daily lose more weight than those who eat the same amount of calories but don't eat soup. Go for homemade soup whenever possible, as canned soups are loaded with salt and chemicals.

3. Eat early to keep weight off.
The human body follows a circadian rhythm, which means that the same foods eaten at breakfast and lunch are processed differently than when eaten at dinner. Studies show that when you eat your daily protein and fat at breakfast you tend to lose weight and have more energy; however, eating the same things at dinner tend to increase tendencies toward weight gain. I suggest that you eat your last meal of the day by 7 p.m.

4. Eat smaller meals, more frequently.
Follow an eating schedule with five little meals every day. Eating steadily through the day keeps you from becoming famished and overeating at your next meal. Make a low-fat trail mix from raw almonds, pumpkin seeds, dried plum, and apples and have it available at all times to avoid the tempting lure of high-calorie snacks.

5. Adopt a balanced approach to your diet.
Most of the fad diet programs out there nowadays are extreme in a few recommended foods, or else deprive the body of food altogether. This works in opposition to our metabolism and the results usually don't last, producing a yoyo effect that depresses your metabolic function – not to mention your self-esteem. We are natural beings that need a balance of nutrition from all sources.

Your diet should consist of a balance of organic sources of lean protein, complex carbohydrates, whole grains, legumes, nuts, fruits, and vegetables. Instead of white rice and pasta, opt for brown rice, bulgur, millet, or buckwheat.

Eat more green, chlorophyll-rich foods such as broccoli, kale, spinach, and asparagus. Eliminate candy, sugar, soda, and all simple sugars from your diet. Excess sugar ends up being stored as fat in your body, which results in weight gain. Also, keep dairy to a minimum because most dairy products are high in saturated fat. Avoid fatty foods, processed or fried foods.

6. Walk off the weight.
The No. 1 cause of weight gain is inactivity. Physical activity is the key to speeding up your metabolism and burning excess calories. The best way to be physically active is to use your legs! Walk as often and as long as you can. Always take the stairs instead of the elevator.

Step outside during your break at work and take a walk around your building. Consider joining a local hiking club. Try taking a walk 30 minutes in the morning or 30 minutes in the early evening.

I hope this article helps you shed some pounds and add on the years! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

-Dr. Mao

- – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Source(s):
Yahoo! health

Here is a cookie recipe my dad has developed through trial and error, and he has had many friends ask for the recipe. He kindly sent me the whole thing in great detail. Since oatmeal and flax seed meal are both beneficial for cholesterol levels and heart health, it might be okay.

CRISPY OATMEAL COOKIES

MY SHOPPING LIST:
FROM TRADER JOE’S
1. ORGANIC RAW WALNUTS, HALVES AND PIECES
2. McCANN’S QUICK COOKING IRISH OATMEAL
3. TRADER JOE’S ORGANIC BROWN SUGAR
4. TRADER JOE’S ORGANIC MAPLE SYRUP, dark amber
5. RED HILL BRAND ORGANIC whole ground GOLDEN FLAXSEED MEAL, (after use, keep in freezer, flax meal spoils very easily)
EGGS
CANOLA OIL

HARDWARE:
MIXING BOWL
MEASURING SPOONS
MEASURING CUP
1 OR 2 BAKING SHEETS, lightly greased or use parchment paper, (my choice)
mixing spoon
fork
INGREDIENTS;
DRY INGREDIENTS:
In to a mixing bowl goes:
1 cups oat meal
1/2 cup brown sugar, more or less, (the stuff is hard to measure because it packs down).
In a measuring cup, put
1/4 CUP finely chopped walnuts, more or less plus 1 round tablespoon of flaxseed meal plus
enough oat meal to fill the cup.

Mix the dry ingredients in the bowl, breaking up any lumps in the sugar.

WET INGREDIENTS:
Add to the dry ingredients, the wet ingredients:
1 egg
4 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons maple syrup and mix well. If the oat meal still seems dry add a little more oil or syrup to get the oat meal wet. If you don’t the cookies will be crumbly, which is ok.
Leave to soak for 15 minutes.

Fill up the measuring cup with water,
Using a tablespoon that has been dipped in the water for each cookie, place tablespoons of the mixture well apart on the prepared baking sheet(s).

Using the fork that has been dipped in the water for each cookie, press each mound of mixture so they’re kinda flat.

Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes or until they are golden brown, (I find 10 minutes is usually enough)
Leave to cool for a few minutes, then transfer, with a spatula to a wire tray if you have one, I just put them on a plate to cool.

When cold, store in an airtight container.
Makes about 16-18 cookies that are like the ones you saw.
Have fun, this recipe is very forgiving. Adding cinnamon or nutmeg is fun, substitute other nuts, have fun

****************

And another one, this time from A New Way to Cook by Sally Schneider. The author has compiled low fat recipes and has some health information in the index. I have had good luck with the many recipes I tried from her book, though unlike the cookies above I never tried this one in particular.

Apricots Roasted with Cardamom (p. 478)
213 cal, 2.8 gm protein, 55.2 gm carbohydrates, total fat 0.4 gm, saturated fat 0 gm, fiber 0 gm, sodium 7.0 mg

Use California dried apricots, which are more tart and hace a more consistent texture than Turkish apricots.

If you should happen upon great fresh apricots, roast them as directed below, using 1 pound apricots, halved and pitted, and only 1/2 cup water (soaking is not necessary).

8 ounces large California dried apricot halves (about 30)
2 cups water
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 vanilla bean
3 cardamom pods
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Place the dried apricots in a medium bowl and pour the water over them. Set aside to soak for at least 6 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 400 F

Drain the apricots, reserving 1/2 cup of the soaking liquid. Arrange the apricots skin side down in a baking dish.

Place the sugare in a small bowl. With a sharp paring knife, split the vanilla bean lengthwise in half. Scrape out the seeds and stir them into the sugar. Crush the cardamom pods and stir the black seeds into the sugar; discard the pods.

Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the vanilla sugar over the apricots. Reserve the rest. Drizzle 6 tablespoons of the reserved soaking liquid and the lemon juice over the fruit; reserve the rest.

Roast the apricots until they are tender, about 30 minutes, spooning the juices over them twice. (If the juices are evaporating too quickly, add some of the reserved soaking liquid to the dish.)

Sprinkle the apricots with the remaining 2 teaspoons vanilla sugar and roast for 10 minutes longer, or until the apricots are well glazed and tinged with boran and almost all of the liquid has evaporated. Serve warm or at room temperature.

You can roast the apricots up to 5 hours before serving. To serve warm, heat gently in a shallow pan on the stove top.

I better stop eating fast food………man

when I shop at my local butchers I am fully aware of how the animals are reared, how they are slaughtered and how they are then cut up for sale. But you’re right, a business is there to make money, and not to look out for your health, just look at statins and the pharmaceutical companies that sell them.

You should see your healthcare provider first and foremost. A cholesterol problem comes from two main sources – your body and your diet. Famiy history, genetics etc. plays the major role on your body. Many people, despite very strict diets, still have trouble maintaining "good" cholesterol levels and thus must turn to meds. Again, the best way to deterimine what you should do is to go to your healthcare provider and seek advice from him or her.

As cholesterol has been demonized for so many years we have not been able to clear the blackboard and rethink… all studies of dead people have failed to show an association between their intake of saturated fat, or their serum cholesterol, and the degree of atherosclerosis. People who avoid all saturated fat and who have low cholesterol become just as atherosclerotic as people who gorge in animal food and whose cholesterol is high.

– Doctor Uffe Ravnskov