Cholesterol is a type of fat that is produced in your body and is also found in foods that come from animal sources (such as dairy and meat product, fish, and poultry).  The cells of your body require cholesterol in order to function properly.  However, it’s not unusual for excess cholesterol in the bloodstream to build up a plaque in your arteries (atherosclerosis), which causes the arteries to narrow.  Atherosclerosis is the cause of most circulatory and heart problems.

What is the difference between good and bad cholesterol?

Cholesterol moves through the bloodstream attached to proteins.  The combination of cholesterol and protein is called a lipoprotein.  There are two lipoproteins that are the main carriers of cholesterol:  high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LSL).

• LDL, also known as “bad cholesterol,” transports cholesterol from the liver to other areas of the body.  Under specific conditions, LDL cholesterol can cause a plaque to form on the walls of the arteries.  Having a high LDL cholesterol level greatly increases your risk of stroke and heart attack.

• HDL, also known as “good cholesterol,” helps to remove the LDL cholesterol from the body by picking up cholesterol from the bloodstream and moving it back to the liver for removal from the body.  Increasing your HDL cholesterol level may help to reduce your risk for heart disease.

What do the numbers mean?

Not all doctor’s agree on which cholesterol numbers are most useful in establishing a person’s risk of developing heart disease.  The most regularly used values are shown here.  However, the importance of these numbers varies from person to person, depending on whether a person has additional risk factors for heart disease.

All of the following are the desirable levels for cholesterol:

• Total cholesterol (HDL level added to LDL level) should be below 200
• HDL level of cholesterol in men should be above 35,  and above 45 in women
• LDL level of cholesterol should be below 130

Borderline high-risk of heart disease includes one or more of the following factors:

• Total cholesterol level of 200-239
• LDL cholesterol level of 130-159

High-risk of heart disease includes one or more of the following factors:

• Total cholesterol level of 240 or greater
• HDL cholesterol level of less than 35 in men, and less than 45 in women
• LDL cholesterol level of 160 or greater

Triglycerides are a different type of fat that can be found in the bloodstream.  A high triglyceride level can also increase a person’s risk of having a stroke or developing coronary artery disease.

Screening for high cholesterol

You and your doctor should establish the schedule for cholesterol screening that is most suited to you based on your risk factors for coronary artery disease.  One recommendation is to begin screening men at age 35 and and women at age 45.

Basic cholesterol screening tests are quick, easy, and moderately priced.  You can contact your local health department to find out when free or inexpensive cholesterol screenings are available.

If your total cholesterol level is greater than 200 milligrams per deciliter(mg/dl), or if you have any of the following risk factors for coronary artery disease, you will probably want to have your cholesterol checked more frequently:

• Having high blood pressure (greater than 140/90) or taking blood pressure medication
• Being a cigarette smoker
• Having diabetes
• Having a family history of early heart attack (prior to age 55 in brother or father; prior to age 65 in sister or mother)

If your total cholesterol is over  200 mg/dl, and you are not sure what your HDL and LDL levels are, more in depth testing can assist you to better evaluate your actual risk.

Dogs begin to show signs of aging anywhere between the ages of six and thirteen years.  Older dogs require special care and attention to keep them healthy, comfortable, and feeling loved in their old age.  Here are some steps to follow to ensure that your dog leads a healthy and happy senior life:

1. Ensure that your dog receives a moderate level of exercise every day.  Make sure not to overdo the exercise.  Signs of over exertion include excessive panting and a drooping tail.  This means that the exercise routine is too rigorous for the activity and fitness level of your dog.

2. Feed the dog high-quality dog food that targets the dog’s specific dietary needs.  Older dogs have different nutritional requirements than young ones in order for them to stay healthy.  Typically, their nutritional needs can be met by changing to a food that is made for senior pets, as the nutrient concentrations are intended for dogs in this older age range.

3. Make an effort to be consistent with the dog’s schedule and try to minimize household disruptions.  The schedule would consist of activities such as exercise time, feeding times, and even bed time.

4. Pet and show affection to your aging dog frequently to reassure it that it is still your puppy and that you love it.

5. Groom the dog on a regular basis, checking for lumps and bumps.  Many breeds of dogs are prone to growing tumors as they age, so regularly checking for any new lumps can ensure that a tumor is caught as early as possible.

6. Take the dog to the vet at least once per year  to be screened for pancreatic, kidney, liver, and heat disease.

If you follow these steps, you are guaranteeing that your pet is living the last years of his life in the healthiest and happiest way possible.

Hairballs can cause vomiting, constipation, and loss of appetite in your cat.  Though rare, there are cases where removal of the hairball requires surgery.  Hairballs are a messy, and potentially costly issue that most cat owners have to deal with.  The best option is to prevent the formation of hairballs, in the first place.  In order to prevent hairballs, you should follow these steps:

1. Make a point of brushing your cat on a daily basis, particularly during times when the cat is shedding.  This will help to prevent the formation of hairballs in the cat’s stomach.

2. Use a rubber or bristle brush on short-haired cats.  Use a wire slicker brush or wide-toothed comb on long-haired cats.

3. Feed your cat a “hairball control” cat food that is rich in vegetable fiber, or dispense a commercial hairball prevention available at pet supply stores or from your veterinarian.  Some of the commercially available hairball prevention treatments include:

• Hartz hairball remedy plus
• Laxatone cat hairball remedy
• Petromalt hairball remedy
• St Jon nutrimalt

4. As an alternative home remedy treatment, mix on teaspoon of mineral oil or petroleum jelly into the cat’s food.  This will assist you cat in passing any hairballs.

5. Be aware that feeding any other types of oil to you cat will be ineffective.  compounds like vegetable oils will be digested and absorbed, rather than remaining in the gastrointestinal tract and acting as a lubricant.

If you are able to prevent the formation of hairballs, your cat won’t only feel better, you will not have to clean up hairballs from the floor or spend large amounts of money on vet bills.  Just as is the case with most ailments in humans and other animals, prevention is always better than the process of trying to alleviate a situation after it has already taken place.  Both you and your cat will be grateful that he is not suffering from hairball buildup in his gut.

One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to get in shape and/or to lose weight.  Here are some ways to begin a workout process that you can stick to regardless of your fitness level:

1.  Set a fitness goal. The most important part of this process is to allow yourself enough time to reach your goal.  You can’t realistically plan to lose 100 pounds in two months, that would just set yourself up for failure.  Feeling like you have failed is the main reason that people give up on their fitness goals.  Make sure to set some smaller goals along the way, so you can feel a sense of accomplishment as you conquer some of the smaller goals on a regular basis.  Some examples of small goals could include doing 20 push ups, or riding the elliptical machine for five more minutes.

2.  Devise a workout plan. You should try to plan for at least three 40-minute workouts per week at scheduled times.  If you are not physically able to work out for 40-minutes, do not allow yourself to get discouraged, simply workout for as long as you are able.  The more you exercise the stronger you will become, and your endurance will build.  It is also good to vary your workouts, like playing softball with friends one day, and going hiking in the mountains another.  Variation in workout routines will help to keep you interested and excited about getting exercise, as well as making it fun.

3.  Do a reality check. It is extremely important to be honest with yourself about your fitness level.  The process of getting in shape is a personal journey the requires realistic self-perspective; many people who are wanting to lose weight and get into shape are overly ambitious and set goals or workout plans that are well beyond their fitness level, and when they fail, they give up.  It is far more important to take it slow, maintain your focus on improving your health, and paying attention to the progress you make, instead of dwelling on the fact that you did not accomplish your goal the very first day.

4.  Find a workout buddy. You are more likely to actually keep your scheduled workout session if you know a friend is waiting for you.  Seek out a partner who enjoys the same type of exercises that you do and who has a encouraging “You can do it” attitude.  Your joint workout could be taking a Pilates class or going for a 2-mile walk first thing in the morning.  The most important thing is to get your blood pumping and your body moving.

5.  Eat right. You will get more from your workouts if you are using the best foods to fuel your body.  Of course, the healthier you are eating, the more likely you are to lose weight.  You should incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, and lean proteins into your diet.  Drinking plenty of water is also key to keeping your body energized and well-hydrated.  On the days that you do not work out, you should consume  a minimum of six glasses of water, and more on the days that you do workout.

The most important thing to remember is not to feel defeated, you need to continue exercising even if you are not able to accomplish as much as you hoped right away.  You will eventually get there; you’ll start to feel healthier, and have a sense of pride in your commitment to your health.

You don’t want to forget your furry friends and children during the holiday season, so while you are spending time making holiday goodies for your human friends, family, and neighbors, set a little time aside to make these tasty chicken dog biscuits for the special dogs in your life.  They will love you, as always, but these treats will remind them that they are also very much loved by you.

This recipe makes approximately 36 dog biscuits.

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups whole wheat flour, sifted

½ cup dry powdered milk

1 cube chicken bullion, crumbled

1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt

1 cup cooked chicken thighs, diced up

1 cup carrot, grated

1 large egg

6 tablespoons vegetable shortening

1/2 cup ice cold water

___________________________________________________________________

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.  Spray two cookie sheets with non-stick  cooking spray and set aside.

2. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, powdered milk, chicken bouillon, and salt.  To the flour mixture, add the grated carrot, diced chicken, egg and shortening.  Stir into the dry ingredients, then slowly add the cold water while stirring.  Eventually, the dough will come together in a stiff ball.

3. Lightly flour your work surface, and roll the dough out to an approximate thickness of ¼ inch.  Cut out the desired shapes with cookie cutters.  Then, gather any remaining scraps of dough into a ball, roll them back out and cut out more biscuits with cookie cutters.  Repeat this process until all dough has been used.  Place the biscuits 2 inches apart on th prepared cookie sheets.

4. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the 350°F preheated oven, or until the bottoms of the cookies are browned.  Allow the biscuits to cool on the cookie sheets for 10 minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely.

These are healthy and delicious dog biscuits that all of your K-9 friends are sure to love.

Some people mature and become even more attractive with age, like a fine wine.  However, there are frequently times when people want to reduce the signs of aging on their bodies.  Here are some easy steps to help reduce the visible and physical sign of aging:

1. Behave in a younger fashion-people are really only as old as they act, and when a person is young at heart, they appear younger than their actual numerical age.

2. Drink at least one cup of hot cocoa per day.  Cocoa is rich in flavonols, which play a key role in repairing sun damage.  Cocoa also contains a fair amount of phenyethylamine, which is a chemical that increases the production of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, which are associated   with being happy or in a good mood.  Phenylethylamine also increase the production of the neurotransmitter oxytocin, which aids in relaxation.  This is the reason that people seem happier and more relaxed after consuming chocolate that has a high concentration of cocoa.

3. Make a habit of eating cinnamon.  As people age, their lips tend to thin.  Cinnamon aids in the dilation of the  tiny blood vessels in the lips, which causes the lips to plump immediately and completely naturally.

4. Use soy products.  Both soy products that are consumed and soy containing creams contain isoflavones, which increase the production of collagen.  Collagen is the support structure of the skin, which increases both the thickness and the elasticity of the skin.  Collagen is plays a key role in decreasing wrinkles and sagging of the skin.

5. Make sure to drink plenty of water.  Human bodies are made up of 70 percent water, and it is crucial for our general well-being.  Water also helps to keep skin hydrated and healthy, as well as the rest of our bodies.

6. Don’t forget to moisturize.  Moisturizing skin daily keeps moisture locked in and makes skin stay smoother.

7. Get plenty of vitamin C.  Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that provides a defense against the damaging effects of free radicals.  It can even help to reverse some of the damage that is  already present.  You can get vitamin C through nutritional supplements, or through foods such as cabbage, tomatoes, and citrus fruits.

8. Sleep on your back.  When sleeping on your stomach or side, it causes your face to wrinkle while you are sleeping.  Over time, this can increase the chance of developing premature wrinkles.

9. Make sure to eat nuts and seeds as part of your regular diet.  Nuts help with circulation, especially almonds and sunflower seeds which are loaded with vitamin E.  Vitamin E is critical to good circulation, so adding these type of foods to your diet is as good for you as it is tasty.

There you have it, some little tips and tricks to help fight off the signs of aging.

Natural pest control is far less expensive than purchasing and spraying your garden with pesticides.  It is also better for the environment, and safer for the plants and the people who will be eating the plants to control pests naturally.

One of the best ways to prevent insect damage to the garden is to deter the insects from coming into the garden in the first place.  Having a healthy garden is one of the best means of protection.

1. Reduce insect habitat.  Garden areas that contain large amounts of debris, weeds and old leaves are breeding grounds for insects.  Remove any dead plant material and weeds, and use fresh, clean mulch.  Clean mulch will be free of insect eggs and larvae, where as, old mulch has a potential of containing the eggs or larvae of harmful insects.
2. Create healthy, organic soil. Using natural composting methods, top-dressing, and mulching the soil with natural fertilizer or compost is one of the best ways to grow strong, healthy plants.  Healthy plants are far less susceptible to attack by insects.
3. Remove any weak plants from the garden. Weak, scrawny, or slow-growing plants may already be infected.  If they are not already infected, they will attract predatory insects.  Pull the weak plants and dispose of them in an area away from the garden, so the dead plants will not become breeding grounds for insects.
4. Use seaweed spray or mulch to nourish plants. Seaweed is very nutrient rich, containing the trace elements barium, calcium, iron, zinc, sulfur, and magnesium, all of which promote healthy growth and development in plants.  Seaweed in spray-form or mulch will give the plants the health and strength to withstand disease.  Seaweed mulch also has the added bonus of repelling slugs.
5. Keep the plant foliage as dry as possible. Make sure to water the plants in the early morning, so that the foliage can dry and remain dry for the majority of the day.  Wet foliage is a haven for insects and fungus, that can cause serious damage to the plants.
6. Disinfect your garden tools. Make sure to thoroughly disinfect your garden tools when working with infested plants, before moving on to other areas of the garden.  This will reduce the speed of invading insects, and keep you from directly introducing predatory insects to healthy plants.
7. Intermingle plants and rotate crops. Insect pests are typically specific to certain types of plants.  When plants are mixed in a garden, it is far less likely for the pests to spread throughout the entire crop.  Rotating crops each year is a good way to avoid re-infestation of pests that have wintered in the soil bed.

There are also a multitude of beneficial insects that prey on harmful insects and their larvae.  Some of these beneficial insects can be attracted to your garden, while others may need to be purchased from a catalog.  There are many different species of beneficial insects for specific problems.

Now that you know how to protect your garden from insects without using pesticides, you can feel good about the food that you are growing.  It is safer for the environment and your family.

Weight loss surgery is one of those issues that can leave people very divided on what to do or think about the procedures. Weight loss surgery, often called bariatric surgery or gastric bypass surgery, is a surgical way of making the stomach area smaller, thus helping the patient eat much less. By eating less, the patient loses weight – in some cases, enormous amounts of weight in a short period of time.

It is often recommended for those who are facing serious health risks due to their weight. Certain conditions, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and the like can be alleviated or even reversed with gastric surgery. But as with any surgical procedure, there are risks involved. Understanding the risks, and then weighing them against the potential positive outcomes, will help you make a choice on whether weight loss surgery is right for you.

The Risks

Any surgery runs the risk of excessive bleeding, infection, or reactions to the anesthesia. These risks are not unique to gastric bypass surgery, but they are a very real consideration. If your immune system is weakened, you have any conditions that could cause serious bleeding, or if you have shown an adverse reaction to anesthesia in the past, think long and hard before having any surgery, including weight loss procedures.

Risks more specific to weight loss surgery include:

• Vitamin and mineral deficiencies, as a result of eating so much less
• Dehydration, as a result of drinking less
• An intolerance to certain foods
• Low blood sugar or hypoglycemia, again as a result of eating less
• A bleeding stomach ulcer or hernia at the incision site
• Kidney stones or gallstones

Other serious problems, such as blood clotting in the legs, pneumonia, issues with the surgery itself, and a risk of death from the surgery are all slight possibilities, but are possible nonetheless. No surgery is risk-free, and the same holds true for any sort of weight loss procedure.

But keep in mind the benefits of the surgery as well. Often weight loss surgery is done because the patient has several looming medical problems that will become worse without the surgery. The risk of diabetes, heart problems, high blood pressure, and even death is lessened by the weight loss that results from the surgery. Problems like sleep apnea and acid reflux are also lessened. The weight lost means you can be more active, which then results in even further weight loss – and the benefits are increased over time.

If you are considering weight loss surgery, talk to your doctor about what you can expect, and carefully weigh the pros and cons before making that very important decision.

You might have heard about Superfoods and what they can do for your body. Many people might write superfoods off as a new-age proposal that has nothing to do with real dieting, just a fad that will fall to the wayside soon enough. But superfoods are definitely not a fad – in fact, they have been around for thousands of years, and we are just now realizing how important they really are.

You have probably been eating them for years without knowing it. One of the hallmarks of a superfood is that it is often eaten raw or unprocessed, sometimes straight from the tree or vine. Superfoods are known to help prevent heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, being overweight, and other medical issues that can make your life difficult. It can all be helped or even eliminated with the help of a bit more of what you are probably eating already!

The most common superfoods include the following:

Blueberries
Oranges
Tomatoes
Pumpkins
Broccoli
Beans
Spinach
Soy
Oats
Tea
Yogurt
Salmon
Turkey
Walnuts

Blueberries and other fruits are excellent for inflammation, lowering cancer risk, and diminishing your chances of developing heart disease. The general rule of antioxidants is that the more color they have, the better they are for you…and the good news is that frozen is just as healthy as fresh.

Fish and lean meats are loaded with omega-3 fish oils, and these are great for your heart health. Cold-water fish are best. These same antioxidants are found in walnuts and some eggs. They help lower cholesterol, helps arthritis, contributes to a boost in memory, and can even reduce depression.

Soy, beans, and tea are superfoods that do a serious job on lowering your cholesterol. They are also great for weight loss, as they encourage your body to burn more fats. Fruits and vegetables in addition to beans and soy are good ways to boost the power of superfoods even further.

Which ones have you been eating all this time, but didn’t realize it? And which ones sound appealing to you? The next time you hit the store, put the superfoods on your list and buy in bulk…your body will be glad you did!

Campylobacter bacteria is one of the leading causes of food-borne illness.  Babies less than one year old, teens, and young adults are the people most commonly infected with Campylobacter (also known as campylobacteriosis).

Campylobacter bacteria is typically transmitted through contaminated food or water.  Campylobacter bacteria can infect the gastrointestinal tract and cause fever, stomach cramps, and diarrhea.

Campylobacter is found in the intestinal tracts of many domesticated and wild birds.  The bacteria are released in the animal’s feces, which can cause infection in humans through contaminated food, meat (chicken is the most commonly contaminated meat), non-pasteurized milk (pasteurization is a heating process that kills bacteria in the milk), or water from contaminated sources (streams where animals graze).

Campylobacter bacteria can be passed from one infected person to another, when a non-infected person comes into contact with fecal matter from an infected person.  It can also be carried and transmitted by family pets to their owners.

Once the Campylobacter has been ingested by a person, the bacteria infects and attacks both the large and small intestines.  In rare cases, the campylobacteriosis can get into the bloodstream and cause bactermia.   Campylobacteriosis  can sometimes cause Guillan- Barré syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder.

Symptoms of campylobacteriosis typically appear between 1 and 7 days after ingesting the bacteria.  The most common symptoms of campylobacteriosis are fever, abdominal cramping, and diarrhea (ranging from mild to severe).  Diarrhea can lead to severe dehydration, so this will need to be closely monitored.

Bowel movements associated with campylobacteriosis are typically watery in the beginning, but later may contain mucus and/ or blood.   For many people, the abdominal pain is a more significant symptom than the diarrhea.  Because of the severe abdominal pain, campylobacteriosis can sometimes be mistaken for a problem with the pancreas or an appendicitis.

Prevention is pretty simple.  Do not drink water from streams or rivers, drink only inspected drinking water;  drink only pasteurized milk; kill bacteria in meat by cooking meat (especially chicken) thoroughly and consuming while it is still warm; make sure to disinfect all surfaces that the raw meat touches; wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water after caring for someone with diarrhea; clean and disinfect the toilet after the infected person uses it; thoroughly wash your hands after caring for a pet with diarrhea and contact your veterinarian.

If you believe that you or a member of your family has campylobacteriosis, you should contact your physician.  Your physician will take a stool sample to test for Campylobacter bacteria, and will then decide whether or not you require an antibiotic.  While you have diarrhea, it is important to remain hydrated, so you should drink a lot of fluids.  Also, follow any instructions given by your doctor.