sun dried goji berries - Guide Blog: Health discussion<BR><BR>

goji berries wholesaleHelpful Hints to Lower Cholesterol

Are there ways you can lower cholesterol levels in my body without drugs? We live in such a drug heavy society that I want to be able to improve my health without taking drugs. Lowering cholesterol levels in our bodies can improve our overall health. It certainly isn�t that the drugs don�t work, they really will lower cholesterol in most cases, but there is that risk of long term or short term side effects from them.

One of the best ways to lower cholesterol levels is through diet. It sounds like a simple and straightforward solution to the problem, but it really is one of the best things you can do. By eating a low fat and low cholesterol diet, you can actually lower your cholesterol in addition to improving your overall health. The two go hand in hand and will help you feel better and put a smile on your face when those cholesterol level tests come back.

Another lifestyle change you can make to lower cholesterol is to exercise. One of the best steps you can take to lower your cholesterol is to improve your overall cardiovascular health through exercise. The exercise is actually not even what will lower your cholesterol. The exercise will strengthen your heart and your circulatory system to reverse the effects of high cholesterol.

This may seem obvious to some, but if you are a smoker, quit smoking. In smokers, the build of the plaque that high cholesterol builds in the arteries is accelerated. As the plaque builds up, your heart has to work harder and harder to push blood through the arteries. This harder work can cause a heart attack or even a stroke. If you quit smoking you can lower cholesterol levels and slow the build up of plaque in the arteries.

Get lower cholesterol levels by, of all things, taking it easy from time to time. Believe it or not, chronic stress can actually affect your cholesterol levels. In fact, if you are following a good diet, not smoking, and exercising but are still stressed, you may not see any improvement. Take the time to relax a little bit as part of your road to lower cholesterol levels. Get a massage, take a walk, or just kick back from time to time and enjoy time with your family or friends. Anything to make sure you are letting go of all the stresses in your life so that your body will be able to help you.

If you are trying to lower cholesterol levels, you will be amazed at how much you can actually accomplish without drugs. You can see improvement in a matter of weeks if you are disciplined and dedicated to making it happen without fear of side effects associated with certain drugs. Talk to your family doctor about other non-drug treatments to lower your cholesterol, and put yourself on the road to a healthier you without pumping prescription drugs into your body.

If you would like to find more of my personal articles on cholesterol please check out my health website!

We Need to Feed the World; So Why do Environmentalists Attack GMO Foods?

Have you ever considered that right now there is a huge food shortage for helping the Third World Nations and the deficit is getting bigger, not only due to more mouths to feed and transportation costs, but because there really is a food shortage. Recently this was discussed in our Online Think Tank.

A student graduating from the University of Colorado noted that WFP or World Food Program, like the UN and other major NGOs had a food shortage and she willfully donated her $10 monthly monies to the cause. The issues are indeed the dire. We need GM Foods to feed the Third World. GM Foods have less spoilage in shipping and greater yields in the fields. Without this edge; can we still feed the World?

After all we need to Feed the World; so why do Environmentalists attack GMO Foods? Well they believe that they are; �unnatural, minimally nutritious and some studies have tried to link some GMO foods to various diseases.�

Some people will not eat GM Foods and the EU will not allow them to be sold. Some fair criticism has been issued and that is that we do not know the full results of GM Crops yet and therefore we need to know more before we start feeding them to the world. Yes, but if we wait and the food shortages grow more people (humans) will indeed starve to death, which is not a good thing.

So our Online Think Tank has been debating both sides of this issue rather vigorously, do we let people starve today to save them from a possibly potential eventuality some time in the far off future? I certainly hope this article is of interest and that is has propelled thought. The goal is simple; to help you in your quest to be the best in 2007. I thank you for reading my many articles on diverse subjects, which interest you.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

The Health Benefits of Kale

When you mention kale, the majority will look up with raised eyebrows and mumble �What�? �What�s that�? An old, hardly spoken of and powerful green food. Kale is a leafy green vegetable with a mild earthy flavor. The season for kale is between mid winter and early spring where it can be found in abundance in most produce sections of the local grocery store. However, one can find kale year round. Thankfully, kale is starting to garner well deserved attention due its nutrient rich phytochemical content which provides unparalleled health promoting benefits.

Kale absolutely rich and abundant in calcium, lutein, iron, and Vitamins A, C, and K. Kale has seven times the beta-carotene of broccoli and ten times more lutein. Kale is rich in Vitamin C not to mention the much needed fiber so lacking in the daily diet of processed food eating Americans. The �Icing on the Kale� are the natural occurring all important phytochemicals sulforaphane and indoles which research suggests may protect against cancer. Let�s not forget the all important antioxidant Vitamin E. Rest assured kale spares nothing in providing one with much needed nutrients and associated health benefits.

The naturally rich sulfur content of kale deserves a bit more discussion. Science has discovered that sulforaphane, helps boost the body�s detoxification enzymes, possibly by altering gene expression. This is turn is purported to help clear carcinogenic substances in a timely manner. Sulforaphane is formed when cruciferous vegetables like kale are chopped or chewed. This somehow triggers the liver to produce enzymes that detoxify cancer causing chemicals, of which we all are exposed on daily basis. A recently new study in the Journal of Nutrition (2004) demonstrates that sulforaphane helps stop breast cancer cell proliferation.

Kale descends from the wild cabbage which originated in Asia and is thought to have been brought to Europe by the Celtics. Kale was an important food item in early European history and a crop staple in ancient Rome. Kale was brought to the USA during the 17th century by English settlers.

A leafy green vegetable starting to gain widespread attention, kale belongs to the Brassica family, a group that also includes cabbage, collard greens and Brussels sprouts. Choose kale with small leaves as they will be tenderer and offer a sweeter taste. Make kale leaves a regular addition to your salads. A saut�ed side dish of kale, onions, and garlic drizzled in olive oil is second to none. Enjoy your kale. You�ll be glad did.