How to Cut Your Risk of Suffering Stroke and Heart Attack by Half?

 

Click Here to Find Out How You Can Completely Clean Out the Plaque Build-Up in Your Arteries

This Oil Prevents Heart Attacks and Repairs Broken Hearts

The #1 cause of death in the world is heart failure of some sort.

So, if you were to discover one single type of oil that could repair your heart in 30 minutes, I think you would be pretty interested, wouldn’t you?

Well, that’s exactly the result from a new study conducted by the University of Illinois at the Chicago Center for Cardiovascular Research.

What’s more, this type of oil is available in every supermarket and you most likely already have it in your kitchen.

For the study, researchers used rats with heart failure, a condition in which the heart has become too weak to pump blood effectively and metabolize fat.

They actually extracted the rat’s failing hearts and kept them pumping outside the body.

Fat is essential to the heart to make it function smoothly. A failing heart is like a car engine running out of lubrication oil. The metal parts in the engine are just scraping together until it eventually completely burns up and ends with a bang (a heart attack).

The purpose of this study was to find out what kind of fat was best for helping failing hearts to restore themselves. The researchers applied two different types of fats to the hearts to see their effects:

1) Palmitate (the kind of fat typically found in palm oil, animal fat, and dairy products).

2) Oleate (found in olive oil).

Observing the effect of these fat particles using special NMR spectroscopy, they discovered something amazing.

First, not so surprisingly, the failing hearts injected with palmitate functioned/dysfunctioned pretty much the same.

But the hearts injected with oleate (olive oil) had completely restored fat content and began to show normal contractions after the injection.

What’s more, it happened within just half an hour!

Now, of course, you’re not going to inject your heart directly with olive oil, so your heart is not going to heal in half an hour. But this study shows for sure that consuming olive oil regularly can drastically improve your heart health.

One thing to keep in mind when shopping for olive oil is to go for high-quality, pricier brands. Cheaper brands have often been treated in a way that removes all health benefits (even if it’s called “cold-pressed Extra Virgin”).

I recommend always picking oil that is labeled from a specific location. For example, Tuscany, Italy, or Crete, Greece. These oils are much more likely to be clean and unprocessed.

Another thing you absolutely must do to keep your heart healthy is to keep your blood pressure under control.

The best way I know to lower blood pressure is using 3 easy exercises. Learn more about these simple blood pressure exercises here, and try them out for yourself…

One of the most important things, however, is to cut your risk of suffering stroke and heart attack by half and remove all cholesterol plaque buildup from your heart arteries. And that can be done by cutting out this one hidden ingredient explained here…

Cut Stroke Risk 38% By Avoiding This Food

In the past two decades, a growing number of researchers have started arguing that one of the biggest risks for high cholesterol and heart disease is inflammation.

The Journal of the American College of Cardiology has contributed to this debate in the last month by publishing two studies that show the dangers of inflammatory foods for heart health.

In the first study, the scientists used data from 74,578 women from the Nurses’ Health Study I, 91,656 women from the Nurses’ Health Study II, and 43,911 men from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. These studies followed their participants for around 32 years.

The participants completed a questionnaire every four years to examine their food and beverage intake and also underwent medical examinations. They were all free of cancer and cardiovascular disease at the beginning of the studies.

The scientists also used the Dietary Inflammation Index, which was compiled from available research and investigates signs of inflammation in people’s bodies caused by different types of foods. The index ranks foods from most to least inflammatory.

The researchers found that—compared to participants who consumed a mostly anti-inflammatory diet—those who consumed a mostly pro-inflammatory diet had a 38% greater chance of developing cardiovascular disease and a 28% greater chance of having a stroke.

This is after the scientists accounted for the participants’ body mass index, level of physical activity, family history of heart disease, and their consumption of anti-inflammatory drugs.

So, what are the foods that worsen inflammation?

The main enemies are basically processed meat, refined grains, fried foods, organ meats, and sugary treats and beverages, with diets rich in red meat scoring quite high as well.

The most anti-inflammatory foods are leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, yellow and orange vegetables, berries, apples, poultry, fish, legumes, dairy, and nuts.

This leads us to the second study in the same journal, in which scientists split their 634 participants into a group that ate 30 to 60 grams of walnuts per day and a group that ate none.

They knew that previous studies had shown a lower heart disease risk in people who ate a lot of walnuts, so they wanted to see whether these people had low inflammation levels in their bodies to identify that as the cause for improved heart health.

After two years, the walnut consumers had substantially lower levels of six of the 10 inflammatory markers tested. They also had lower cholesterol levels.

Therefore, pay attention to the inflammatory potential of the foods you eat to combat heart disease, cholesterol, and stroke.

OK, finally the traditional health system is catching up with the inflammation/heart connection that I have been discussing for years.

Cut Your Risk of Suffering Stroke and Heart Attack by Half – But there is another factor behind the inflammation that nobody is talking about— and that’s the real underlying cause of stroke and heart attack. But avoiding all this is as easy as cutting out one food item explained here…

Cut Stroke Risk 40% By Eating This Delicious Snack

If you could take a magic pill that caused absolutely no side effects and cut your risk of suffering stroke and heart attack by half, wouldn’t you take it?

How about if there was one small, delicious snack that had the same effects?

You can find this snack in every supermarket and you probably already have it in your kitchen. Isn’t that easily worth saving your life?

And just to set the record straight, this snack was proven more effective than any cholesterol or blood pressure drug in a recent study recently conducted by Oxford University.

Mom was right all along! Fruits and fresh, leafy vegetables are good for you.

And it took a study spanning seven years conducted on half a million people to prove mom right. It involved 451,681 people with no previous history of cardiovascular disease at the beginning of the study.

The participants were divided into five groups based on their fruit-eating habits: Daily, 4-6 days a week, 1-3 days per week, monthly, and never. About 18 percent of the participants ate fruits every day, while at the other end of the spectrum, about 6.3 percent of participants never ate fruits at all.

Over the course of 7 years, 19,300 heart attack cases and 19,689 cases of stroke were recorded.

Those who ate fruits daily, compared to those who never ate fruits, had a 15% lower risk of developing cardiovascular diseases overall.

But when it came to stroke risk, the numbers were stunning. Those who ate fruits daily were 40% less likely to suffer a stroke than those who never or seldom ate fruits.

Better still, people who ate fruits regularly also had blood pressure readings 3 points lower than those who avoided fruits.

Citrus fruits were discovered to be the best options that offered the maximum benefits. So make sure you snack on some delicious oranges, mandarins, grapefruits, or other citrus.

Another study conducted by University College London revealed that eating about 7 portions of fresh fruits and vegetables daily can reduce the risks of death by all causes by up to 42 percent.

If you aren’t convinced already, this is the time to make fruits and vegetables an essential part of your diet. Next time push away that bag of chips and take a piece of fruit instead.

Watch this video – How to possibly cut your risk of suffering stroke and heart attack and other heart disease

But if you already have high blood pressure, changing your diet habits may not be enough to bring it down to a healthy level. Instead, try these 3 easy exercises proven to lower blood pressure—starting today…

Or, if your cholesterol is too high and want to cut your risk of suffering stroke and heart attack by half, learn how cutting out ONE single ingredient will normalize your cholesterol in 30 days or less and clear out clogged arteries…

This post is from the Oxidized Cholesterol Strategy Program. It was created by Scott Davis. Because he once suffered from high cholesterol, so much so that he even had a severe heart attack. This is what essentially led him to finding healthier alternatives to conventional medication. Oxidized Cholesterol Strategy is a unique online program that provides you with all the information you need to regain control of your cholesterol levels and health, as a whole.

To find out more about this program, go to Cut Your Risk of Suffering Stroke and Heart Attack by Half.

11 Healthy Coffee Substitutes You Should Try Right Away

 

Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

Addicted to your morning cup of joe? Try one of these alternatives to coffee to slowly wean yourself off it!

Although most of us love the caffeine-soaked buzz of coffee, we also recognize that it may not be the healthiest of beverages. Too much coffee can make us anxious, unable to sleep, and may keep our stress hormones burning all day long.

Whatever your motivation, there are lots of good reasons to give up coffee. Here are 11 alternatives to coffee that can help you get off of the “hard stuff”.

1. Teeccino

This is typically what I have most clients go with if they are coming off of a strong coffee addiction, or simply really enjoy the mouthfeel of coffee. There are many different flavors, and it is always happily reported back to me that “this stuff tastes nearly identical to coffee!””

One of the other benefits of Teeccino is that it is loaded with a prebiotic known as inulin. This natural soluble fiber is a component of chicory root, and helps to support a good population of gut flora. Inulin passes through your large intestine and is then eaten by your “good” bacteria (like bifidus and lactobacillus).

This is just one of the many ways to get your gut working well for you! Coffee on the other hand, can have a poor effect on your digestion and stomach (though this depends largely on individual differences and dietary choices).

2. Chamomile Tea

My personal favorite way to unwind, though not at all “sexy”, chamomile tea is caffeine-free, and helps people to unwind, de-stress and may even help improve sleep. It’s probably not your go-to beverage for an early morning — I like to consume chamomile tea around bedtime.

Many experts in a variety of health and wellness circles have long suggested that chamomile tea is an excellent want to relieve stress, anxiety and nerves. The science actually backs up this anecdotal evidence, as well.

The warming aroma of chamomile makes it ideal for late night drinking, and it can be included on a regular basis for the rest of your life, if so desired. Drink up!

3. Ginger Tea

This tea may help improve your digestion, which is something many people struggle with on a daily basis. Unlike the chamomile tea, ginger tea can actually give you a nice, swift, kick-in-the-pants in the morning. Ginger tea may be the first beverage you’ll want to turn to if you absolutely have to have a warm drink in the morning.

Ginger tea also helps with inflammation and can help those who suffer from joint problems. You can even rub it on the skin directly! As mentioned above, ginger tea is also a great digestive aid, and possibly will help you to eat fewer calories (something coffee is routinely praised for).

Some also tout ginger tea as good for helping with nausea and motion sickness. While I haven’t personally tested this one (luckily I do not suffer from motion sickness) it is worth a try if you have to deal with this problem. Ginger tea would be my second recommendation if you are looking for a nice kick that is close to coffee!

4. Kombucha

This one is more for the diet soda aficionados than the coffee connoisseurs, but kombucha has a variety of flavors, and you can even make your own. GT’s Gingerade flavor is the best substitute I’ve found for clients to consume in order to wean themselves off of soda. The combination of slight carbonation and sweet taste will help quench your thirst on a hot summer day.

Many clients ask me how kombucha is actually made, and the answer is scientifically interesting. This tea is fermented with a SCOBY (that stands for a “symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast”). If making your own, this process can take up to 2 weeks.

Though initially containing a decent amount sugar, most of that is dissolved away during the fermentation process, leaving you with a semi-sweet, but very low-calorie beverage!

5. Yerba Mate

This drink will give you some of the buzz of coffee, but with some added nutrients and an interesting interaction with theobromine. Theobromine is a vasodilator, not a vasoconstrictor, so this causes greater relaxation and better blood flow. Yerba mate may also help with insulin sensitivity issues, though the jury is still out on that one.

Yerba mate is sometimes preferred over coffee because it has amino acids, antioxidants, and vitamins and minerals. It even contains more antioxidants than the much-publicized “super-drink” green tea!

If you’re looking for a similar buzz to coffee, but with more focus, fewer jitters and a less intense crash, yerba mate is probably what you will want to try first. It can even be combined with other teas to make a potent neuronal cocktail, if so desired!

6. Peppermint Tea

This is a personal favorite of mine, and I’ve found the delicious taste makes me forget about making any unhealthy choices. Peppermint tea has a strong, pleasant flavor, and also has no caffeine. This goes well with cold winter nights and a good book.

The sweating you may experience from drinking peppermint tea (very mild) is a result of the menthol content. The menthol will conversely cool your body down internally, leaving you feeling very relaxed.

Some claim that peppermint tea can be used this way in order to deal with fevers, and though I haven’t personally tried it, the idea is certainly interesting. This tea feels like a treat, and I often drink it when I’m feeling a craving for something less healthy.

7. Licorice Tea

Licorice tea has a wide variety of uses, such as treating sore throats and as a possible way to reduce body fat. Because this tea has stronger effects, constant daily consumption is not recommended. It may also interfere with some medications, so check with your doctor if you may be concerned about drinking it regularly.

If you are a recovering sugar junkie, licorice tea may help ease your cravings, as it has a fairly sweet taste. I have recommended this many times to clients who can’t stop eating their 3 p.m. candy bar, and it seems to do the trick!

The sweetener found in licorice tea (a natural sweetener) is called glycyrrhizin. This is more than 40 times sweeter than table sugar, and helps to explain why people can’t seem to get enough of this warm treat!

8. Coconut Water

Coconut water is definitely one of the more popular beverages in the Paleo world, and with good reason. Boasting more potassium than a banana, and less sugar than other fruit juices (I’m looking at you, apple juice) coconut water is a safe way to drink some liquid calories.

Preferred after workouts or at lunchtime, coconut water is not usually a morning beverage – but that’s not to say that some creative folks can’t try and make it one! If you have a crazy night out and consume a few too many alcoholic beverages, coconut water can also be a great way to ease your stomach the next morning.

If you are looking to replace electrolytes, consuming some coconut water may be able to help, as well. Some people even recommend applying coconut water onto your skin, and it is included in a wide variety of shampoos, conditioners and skin creams.

9. Rooibos Tea

Rooibos tea is another caffeine-free choice on this list, and it is also low in tannins. People who drink it say that it can help with headaches and even with insomnia. Rooibos has an inviting taste, and is sometimes included as the main ingredient in many tea blends as a result.

Scientifically, rooibos is also interesting, because it has a wide variety of antioxidants, like nothofagin and aspalathin. Since our world is full of cell-damaging free radicals, it is important to consume a regular diet rich in antioxidants.

Some even claim that rooibos is so rich with flavonols, flavones and flavanones that it is a great way to fight back against cancer. While the jury is still out on that claim, there is no doubting the many health benefits of rooibos!

10. Turmeric Tea

Turmeric tea has an active ingredient called curcumin, which has been positively associated with lower rates of memory loss and Alzheimer’s. This is the tea for you if you are looking to boost your brainpower!

Besides the positive cerebral effects of turmeric tea, it seems to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer potential, as well. Many cultures with long life spans regularly consume turmeric in some form, and including it in one’s diet on a regular basis may be one way to potentially live longer.

Curcumin (the important active ingredient in turmeric) can sometimes be found on its own as well, and helps to block beta-amyloid plaque buildup. This is the reason why turmeric may have such profound effects on Alzheimer’s, as beta-amyloid plaque build up is one of the main associations with the memory-degrading disease.

11. Green Tea

Perhaps the most famous of all coffee alternatives, green tea is loaded with bioactive compounds. The diverse array of polyphenols found in this warm beverage includes catechins and flavonoids. These are the main antioxidants that go to work for your body, helping to stop cell degradation.

Of the many beneficial compounds, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), is by far the most famous. Many diseases have been aided by drinking green tea, and most researchers point to EGCG as the main reason behind these scientific benefits.

Green tea contains a small amount of caffeine, but also has L-theanine, a beneficial amino acid that will help you focus. This is what makes green tea such a great beverage for studying, waking up or even winding down!

Watch this video – How to: Make a Healthy Coffee Substitute |Caffeine-Free

Bottom Line

There you have it – 11 healthy alternatives to your morning cup of joe! Though the black liquid may be good on some stress-filled, busy days, it is important to include some variety in your life. And who knows – you may love one of these beverages and never go back to the “hard stuff”! Drink to your health!

Written by Casey Thaler

Author Bio:

Casey Thaler, B.A., NASM-CPT, FNS is an NASM® certified personal trainer and NASM® certified fitness nutrition specialist. He writes for Paleo Magazine®, The Paleo Diet® and Greatist®. He is also an advisor for Kettle and Fire and runs his own nutrition and fitness consulting company, Eat Clean, Train Clean®.

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook

3 Top Veggies for Boosting Brain Power and Memory

 

Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

A lack of vegetables is a big risk factor for cognitive diseases. Make sure you eat these 3 vegetables for optimal brain health.

When it comes to worrisome potential health problems, none may be more feared than neurodegenerative diseases. The loss of our brain’s function is a horrifying prospect for most of us, and more than ever, we are interested in just how we can prevent it.

It turns out that our high carbohydrate/low fat diets have in fact been instrumental in increasing the rates of these conditions, rather than decreasing them. So what should we eat for optimal brain health? Well, besides keeping sugar down and chowing down on brain optimizing fats like coconut oil, we should consume vegetables – quite a lot of them, in fact.

There are a wide variety of vegetables which can help you optimize your brain health, and the Paleo diet includes all of them! It turns out your mom was right – you really do need to eat your vegetables, for optimal brain health.

In fact, evidence suggests that oxidative damage (caused by free radical damage and the beta-amyloid peptide) can be protected against by dietary antioxidants. The science plainly shows that regular consumption of fruit and vegetables also helps to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Pretty incredible stuff.

Other studies have shown that fruit and vegetable intake even lowers your risk of cancer and heart disease. These may seem like elementary, obvious conclusions, but the majority of the United States still does not eat nearly enough vegetables. In fact, we’re not even close. This is a pretty scary reality, but reality nonetheless.

Why These Three?

Though the near-complete lack of vegetables is no doubt a big risk factor for brain-crippling diseases, the vegetables most Americans do consume are not the best choices. They tend to go for starchier sources, rather than nutrient-dense choices like broccoli, spinach and kale.

Coincidentally, these three vegetables are some of the best for cognitive health.

1. Spinach

Though you won’t get bulging muscles like Popeye from eating spinach, you will get a wide variety of brain-boosting nutrients. Researchers have found that even one serving of spinach per day may help your brain stay a decade younger than those who do not consume the green leafy vegetable on a regular basis. Pretty powerful stuff!

Spinach that is bright and colorful is also richer in vitamin C. This vitamin C also helps protect the oxygen-sensitive nutrients found within the spinach leaves themselves. Spinach is also rich in chlorophyll, which is good for blood.

Incorporating spinach into your daily routine is very easy and delicious. Even if you do not like the taste of spinach, you can mix it in with a chicken salad, cook it with coconut oil, season it with herbs and spices or even top it off with hot sauce. One cup a day is all that is needed for beneficial results, so why not start there? Your brain will thank you for it.

2. Kale

Kale is another brain-friendly vegetable, and with good reason. The current darling of the food world, kale packs a wallop of beneficial nutrients and vitamins. Kale is simply one of the most nutrient-dense foods in existence, and also is very flexible when it comes to hiding it in recipes.

Sulforaphane is one of the many beneficial compounds found in kale, and it is a phytochemical also found in lots of other vegetables. Sulforaphane is linked to possible cancer and heart benefits, as well as brain health.

The cost of a poor diet is so high for your brain because you are avoiding foods which protect your brain (vegetables) and consuming foods that hurt it (processed foods, sugar, etc.). This very simple concept is easy to understand, but hard for some to put into practice.

 An easy stepping stone is this great recipe for kale chips – which will give you the mouthfeel of potato chips, but the brain-boosting power of kale!

3. Broccoli

Broccoli is another beneficial brain vegetable, and it packs quite a punch, for very few calories. Though it can take some getting used to, there are a variety of recipes that include broccoli, so the taste isn’t as obvious at first. Chopping some up and putting it into a Paleo breakfast pizza is a good first step.

Broccoli also contains phytochemicals. Some of these beneficial compounds include glucosinolates, as well as their byproducts. Broccoli also has phenolics, antioxidant vitamins and dietary minerals. Researchers also note that vitamins E, C, K and minerals like iron, zinc and selenium are largely responsible for making broccoli so healthy.

In addition to all these healthful elements, broccoli also contains kaempferol, quercetin glucosides and isorhamnetin. Not bad for just one vegetable!

Stress

Your brain is constantly under stress (in this modern world, more than ever!) and antioxidants, vitamins and minerals all help to slow or even reverse damage your lifestyle may be causing to it.

Think of your brain as a car. It accumulates wear and tear, and it needs to have the proper fuel put into it regularly, as well as have proper maintenance. This is what a healthy diet, and a balanced, low stress lifestyle can provide.

Don’t Forget the Fat!

Your brain is in constant need of nutrients, fats and thousands of other things. Without a daily supply of good food (which a Paleo diet has in spades) you are in big, big trouble. Obesity and diabetes both wreak havoc on your brain, and many of us now suffer from both those conditions.

Since your brain is more than 50% fat, you need less sugar, and more fat in your diet. In addition to vegetables in your diet, you need to consume lots of healthy fats to truly optimize your brain’s function and potential. This means avocados, coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil and nuts.

It does not mean processed foods, trans fats and fast food cheeseburgers. And yet, this is still the very foundation of the American diet, along with grains and dairy. Why is this so?

Do Not Follow the Food Pyramid

The food pyramid is not made with your health (and especially your neurological health) in mind. It is made for industry profit. Perhaps accidentally (depending on your level of cynicism) it also benefits the pharmaceutical industry, by allowing them to sell more drugs, because more of us are sick.

Do you see the vicious and self-perpetuating cycle in play here? If we really take the time to educate one another, make long-lasting changes, and stop giving the food industry and pharmaceutical companies so much of our hard-earned money, we can see a real, widespread change in our world’s health.

Keep It Simple!

As mentioned, good brain health depends on essential vitamins and minerals to function. If you don’t supply your brain with these vital building blocks, you will fail to thrive. And this is not what we want, in an increasingly stressful world.

You need to have every advantage possible. Vitamin K (found in all three of the foods mentioned today) is one such advantage, as it is a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect fat.

But one need not understand all of the numerous scientific details to consume a good diet. Including vegetables at every meal is the best first step you can take.

The Big Picture

Dark green leafy vegetables are always your best bet, and there are numerous vegetables that I did not include today that are all beneficial for your brain’s health.

The best takeaway from this article is to really look at the basics of how you are eating. Are you including dark green leafy vegetables at every meal? Are you eating enough healthy fats? Are you choosing good sources of food? Are you eating enough protein?

By contrast, are you avoiding lots of sugar in your diet? Are you leaving out empty calories like grains? These big questions, and having the right answers to them, are far more important than worrying about the minutia of brain-related compounds in foods (though they are interesting).

I have had so many clients who want to optimize their brain health and get really excited about small percentage results from certain vegetables… but won’t stop drinking alcohol every night. Remember not to get wrapped up into the minutia – keep an eye on the big picture.

Health is not a sprint – it is a marathon. The simplest truths are to eat vegetables, avoid bad foods, and live a healthy lifestyle. These sound very simple, but consistently putting them into practice takes a lot of brainpower. Treat your brain well – give it the proper fuel and nutrients it needs!

Want to look for more veggies for boosting brain power and memory? Watch this video – The MIND Diet

Written by Casey Thaler

Author Bio:

Casey Thaler, B.A., NASM-CPT, FNS is an NASM® certified personal trainer and NASM® certified fitness nutrition specialist. He writes for Paleo Magazine®, The Paleo Diet® and Greatist®. He is also an advisor for Kettle and Fire and runs his own nutrition and fitness consulting company, Eat Clean, Train Clean®.

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.

To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook