Category Archives: HEALTH & BEAUTY

CHOLESTEROL – Is yours good or bad?

 

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CHOLESTEROL – is a type of fat lipid that is essential for all animal life, in the right amounts.  It is much like fats but can’t be exercised off, sweated out, or burned for energy.

It helps make the outer coating of cells; makes up the bile acids that work to digest food in the intestine, and allows the body to make Vitamin D and hormones, such as testosterone in men and estrogen in women.  Check out these cholesterol facts. 

Is cholesterol good or bad for you?  Fats and cholesterol is like a fat-slick topping if it was dumped directly into your blood.  However, the body transports fat and cholesterol by coating them with a water-soluble “bubble” of protein. This protein-fat bubble is called a lipoprotein.

High cholesterol is one of the major risk factors leading to heart disease, heart attack and stroke. High cholesterol does not produce symptoms until significant damage has been done; blood testing is the only way to find out these important numbers.

Low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) carry cholesterol to the tissues. This is “bad” cholesterol, since high LDL levels are suspected to increase the risk for heart disease.

High density lipoproteins (HDLs) carry excess cholesterol back to your liver, which in turn, processes and excretes the cholesterol. HDLs are “good” cholesterol. The more HDL you have, the lower your risk for developing heart disease. HDLs and LDLs are found only in your blood.

It always help to watch your diet and exercise regularly to maintain good cholesterol.  Here are a few recipes to get you started.

9 tips for a healthy winter

9 tips for getting through the winter healthy

Winter is here and we’ve begun to have cold, hazardous weather. Have you planned how you will continue your healthy lifestyle before the season takes its toll? Being consistent with your exercise routine and healthy eating habits would help. Don’t sit back and accept changes to your life that would be unhealthy. Resolve to eat right, stay active and do what it takes to avoid seasonal depression. Yes, winter does bring on depression for some people who have a problem with the days ending earlier, resulting in less daylight. Some have to be medicated to ward off depression.

Start now by being proactive. Implement some DOs and DON’Ts that will keep you on the path of staying healthy.

  1. Set your goals – continue or set up a regular healthy routine that will remind you daily of your goals and deadlines. With the holidays just passed, many ditch their regular routine, but now is the time to get back up and resolve to start that routine again. Block out some time on your calendar, after family, friends, and deadlines, to allow you time for your exercises and healthy eating. Make sure some of your outings are active ones, not just shopping or the movies. If you don’t put it on your calendar as a daily/weekly commitment, you won’t do it. Make your health and exercise just as important as any other calendar item.
  2. Protect yourself again flu and cold this season by making sure you wash your hands regularly. This should be done especially while touching doors and taking public transit. Get your flu shot and get adequate rest, especially if you start feeling like something is off. Some simply take a vacation in the winter to rejuvenate?
  3. With all the fun activities available for everyone you should be able to plan some activities that involves moving, like skiing, skating or sledding. Be sure to wear appropriate clothing during these activities. Join an exercise class for when the outside is not cooperating.
  4. Plan Regular Gatherings to keep you on a routine. Sometimes just staying busy with some routine can help you avoid a slump. Immediately after holidays can be depressing if you don’t stay busy with a regular routine. If you can’t plan regular gatherings, join a Club, even if it’s a book club that meets regularly. It’s the perfect opportunity to meet new people and get out of the house. Once you’re committed, you’re more likely to follow through. You will have people to keep you accountable. Or simply make a routine of meeting a friend for breakfast or coffee. Simply schedule it – and do it.
  5. Watch your calories – You’ve probably increased your fat and sugar intake from the holidays. Now you must fight that unhealthy habit, however temporary it was by planning healthy meals rich in vegetables. And always remember not to overindulge, moderation is key. You’ll have your waistline back in no time and your mental attitude will be healthier.
  6. Sleep – Do you get enough sleep every night? Its understandable when you pushing against a deadline, but it should not be your regular routine. You cannot allow your sleeping habits to affect your overall health. Your body heals and refuels in the process. With too little sleep you will skip other important things like exercising or cooking healthy. Your immune system will get weaker for lack of sleep and become more vulnerable to viruses. With improper rest, it becomes harder to recuperate when you do get sick.
  7. De-Stress – with shorter, cooler days tend to have a negative impact on every area of your health. Some lose their will to exercise which will increase their stress along with weight gain that affects their overall personal and business relations. Many, like myself, have Seasonal Affective Disorder, which is basic winter depression. I can’t adjust to shorter days, less light. Take a vacation.  But to counteractive the onset of depression, I schedule a lot of activities with clubs and social outings in the evenings to make the time go faster. Put it on your calendar as a regular routine to meet with friends, play a sport, exercise, or simply read a good book. The key is to do it regularly.
  8. Snack Healthy – while the winter blues may drag you down and cause stress and overeating, you can still snack on healthy foods. Don’t load up on high fat/sugar foods that will only make you sluggish. Select snack foods that have antioxidants, protein, vitamins, protein and fiber. A well-rounded diet will quench your hunger while boosting your energy and add strength to your immune system.
  9. Alcohol in Moderation – While people tend to drink more during the holidays, be aware of the quantities and don’t stay consistent after the holidays are over. People tend to not be aware of their alcohol intake when they are celebrating, laughing and socializing. Alcohol has high calories and its been proven that excessive drinking can be damaging to your health. Know when to say NO. And please, please don’t drink and drive!!!

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Come back often – we will be following up with other health and life-related articles.

5 Important Bucket List Items

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There are many things you have on your Bucket List, but let’s talk about how you actually do those things.

It’s like when you were in school/college and your teacher asked you to list what you would do if you knew you only had 5 years to live, what would you do; then if you had 1 year, what would you do?;  So its just as easy.  Looking back at my calendar I realize there are a few things I didn’t get done I so wanted to do.  Like going to the Beach with my Grandkids.  Everyone was so busy that when we got together we hurried up to put everything into the little time we had.

  1. Plan your days, don’t just live them, PLAN THEM and  DO IT!
  2. Include your Family in all your Plans for 2016.  Start on your Plan B (we will elaborate on Plan B in another Post.  Plan B can actually retire you early)
  3. Take a Trip/Vacations at least 4 times this year.  Each season brings different visions of what to do.  Spring brings flowers, fresh air, a great time to go on nature walks; air out everything and spend time with your family.  Many quick trips can be local as a one-day trip.  Summer brings freedom to wander afar to the beaches and train trips and visiting families not local.  Fall brings nature and many festivals that can be local.  Winter brings Christmas lights and festivities, while New Years bring more hope and promises.  You see, it doesn’t have to be a long trip; a trip to a local Museum in your hometown is time well spent with family and friends. Don’t forget to share those experiences to allow others to see the world through your ventures.  There are many platforms for doing this like Facebook, Twitter, etc.
  4. Health – make sure you get your annual check-ups.  Check-ups should stay on your Bucket List.  Keep yourself healthy!
  5. Time – Each day you should take a few minutes to just relax and meditate/ponder how well your life really is.  Shut off everything-the TV, radio, and simply be quiet.  Many do not have quiet time, but without it we continue on without the time to allow our minds/brains to rest up to give you more.
  6. Okay, I said 5 items, but this was necessary.  Plan B.  What would you do if you had to stop work right now or lost your job?  Put a Plan B in place for those unexpected incidences. Here is a way to get started and provide a legacy for our family.

Now there is a lot more you can add to your Bucket List.  I added a Hot Air Balloon ride over wine country in San Francisco.  I found a trip with an itinerary of hopping on and off trolleys to tour the city; hot air balloon ride over wine country, all inclusive.  Already packaged for me and it couldn’t get more awesome than that.  The plan is to take that trip as one of my 4 this year.

A helicopter ride was something I never had the nerve to do but found a package deal to view New York City by helicopter.  So, of course I added this to my list.  And of course, the Eiffel Tower.  I could go on and on, but this is about your List.

You get how easy it is to fill your Bucket List up.  Mine are only examples/suggestions.  Yours will probably be more inclusive to your interest and family. The key is to just get started.  It is January.  Start now!

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