Tag: Heart Health

Meditation helps you stay calm and process stressful "fight-or-flight" situations better. It begins to shift your happiness set point and what you once perceived as a crisis, becomes a chance to generate new solutions. Studies prove that it can significantly reduce risk of heart disease, stroke or death. There are no set ways to meditate. Choose what suits you best.

Age, body fat, frequency and dosage of the drug determine how long the drug stays in your body. Drug traces can be detected in blood, urine and hair. Alcohol stays in the blood for 12 hrs. Nicotine traces can be found in the blood for 3 days. Cocaine can be detected for 2 days. Heroin and Amphetamines stay in the body for 12 hrs. Methamphetamine stays for 36 hrs.

A and AB types tend to have high cholesterol levels, and are more prone to blood clot formation and arterial inflammation. In O and B types, a low-fat, high-carb diet can lead to increase in triglyceride levels, blood sugar, blood pressure and abdominal fat. For a healthy heart, A types need gentle exercise, B and AB types need moderate exercise and O types need high intensity exercise.

Mix 1/2 cup chopped walnuts and almonds, 7 soaked chopped dates, crushed rose petals, pinch of nutmeg powder, Himalayan Salt into a gooey dough. Create cup mold. Refrigerate for 2 hrs. Layer with 1/2 cup melted dark chocolate. Refrigerate for 2 hrs. Blend 1/2 cup soaked cashews, 1 cup water, 2 tbsp date sugar, few saffron strands. Pour into cup mold. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

The brain of a lonely individual registers feelings of threat and pain signals that are similar to real physical pain and danger. Unaccompanied lonely people are more likely to have an early death caused by stroke, heart attacks or other complications. The feeling of loneliness raises the risk of Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease by 64% and causes disturbances in sleep.

First, breathe in through the nose very slowly (8 secs) by forcing your belly to expand gently. Then, hold your breath 4 secs and breathe out very slowly (8 secs) through the nose by contracting your belly so the stomach muscles pull in towards your spine. This is one Yang-Breath. Observe how breathing-in and breathing-out flow into each other. Ground yourself in this oneness.

Heart age signifies how healthy your heart is and does not depend on age. To reduce heart age keep your blood pressure under 120/80 mm Hg. Keep a tab on cholesterol levels. Include fruits, omega 3s and low cholesterol foods to your diet. Maintain a healthy BMI, 18-25 for adults. Exercise regularly to maintain optimum blood sugar levels. Avoid smoking and alcohol.

Reduce intake of salt and sodium rich foods like pickles, fried and canned foods. Exercise moderately for 25 mins/day. Maintain a healthy BMI, it reduces gestational hypertension and diabetes risk. Avoid stress, smoking and alcohol. Consume foods rich in potassium (beans, raisins), calcium (milk), folic acid (broccoli, spinach) and magnesium (leafy greens, fish).

For a healthy heart, improving blood lipids ratios is important. Total and LDL cholesterol should be within acceptable range, with high HDL and low triglyceride levels. Healthy body weight, increased intake of omega 3 and saturated fats, fiber rich food, lower intake of sugar and wheat products help lower triglyceride levels. Supplements help reduce inflammation.

High blood pressure in late pregnancy can lead to preterm birth, that increases risk of low birth weight and immature lung function in the baby. A large study involving more than 3,500 women, over 9 yrs, in Australia showed that a Mediterranean diet of virgin olive oil, fresh fruit, pulses, fish and small quantities of meat can prevent hypertension during pregnancy.

Hair loss may indicate lack of nutrients like iron, calcium, zinc, folate and protein. Anemia can lower hemoglobin levels that impact hair growth, color and texture. Metabolic disorders (diabetes, liver dysfunction), hormonal imbalances (endocrine disorders, thyroid), stress and unhealthy lifestyle choices lead to premature thinning of hair, graying and hairfall.

This condition called orthostatic hypotension is caused by blood gushing to the lower limbs leaving the brain devoid of enough blood. Reasons include low blood and adrenaline levels, neurological damage anemia, vasodilation, narrowing of aortic valves and some blood thinning drugs. Use leg compressors, stay hydrated, exercise regularly and change drugs.

By exercising regularly, cutting your sugar intake and quitting cigarettes, you can increase your HDL cholesterol levels by 5-10%. HDL boosting foods include oatmeal, walnuts, almonds, flax seeds and fatty fish. Men can consume 1-2 glasses of red wine daily while women can consume one. Drink 750ml orange juice daily to increase HDL cholesterol levels by 21%.

Fresh butter made from non-pasteurized, non-homogenized, whole fat milk from grass-fed cows, contains short and medium chain fatty acids and leads to fewer harmful, small dense LDL cholesterol. This along with minerals manganese, chromium, zinc, copper, selenium, iodine and fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, K2, make butter a healthy option for the heart.

Unsaturated fats help improve blood cholesterol levels, ease inflammation and stabilize heart rhythms. Polyunsaturated fatty acid prevents atherosclerosis, lowers blood pressure, improves lipid levels and reduces cardiovascular risk. Eating at least 2 servings of fish per week reduces risk of stroke by 50%. Also include grains and nuts to your diet.