LDL HDL Ratio

So many resources on weight loss vacation have already been written. Several have recommended a healthy weight loss diet, others consisted of a weightloss exercise. Some required you to hire an orange county personal trainer, but the question is, do you understand what healthy weight loss really is? What is a healthy weight?

The US National Heart Lung and Blood Institute uses three criteria in assessing the health risks associated with obesity and overweight – the body mass index (BMI), the waist circumference and other healthy risk factors.

The BMI is one of the most popular weight assessment systems being used today. In this system, a person is given a score depending on his/her height or weight. The higher your BMI score, the higher your risk of developing health related illnesses. The normal BMI for both men and women is between 20 to 24.99. Anything lower, and you’re underweight, higher and you’re either overweight or obese. People who have a BMI of 40 and above is categorized under morbid obesity and have the highest risk for health related problems.

The drawback of the BMI is that the weight categories it uses are not universally accepted. Aside from that, it doesn’t take into account the muscle-fat ratio and can overestimate risks for athletes and people who are into physical exercise. Also, there is no allowance made for age or sex which could underestimate the risks for old people who have lost muscle mass.

The waist circumference is an independent indicator of health risk. According to several studies, fat which is stored in the abdominal area poses greater health risk than fat which is stored in the lower part of the body. Excess abdominal fat can cause hypertension, health disease and high cholesterol level in adults. Women who have a waist circumference of 35 and above are high risk for health related illnesses while men whose waists are over 40 have substantially increased health risks.

Aside from BMI and the waist circumference, there are other health risk factors which need to be considered. Physical inactivity, unhealthy lifestyle, family history of premature heart disease, high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, high triglycerides and high blood sugar can cause excessive weight gain leading to obesity.

The importance of taking pure omega3 cannot be understated if you want to enjoy the many health benefits they provide and with so many on the market being such poor quality, there are some simple factors to look for to ensure you end up with the most effective and safest oil.

 Without doubt the best source is cold water oily fish with Hoki in particular having the highest levels of pure omega3. The problem with fresh fish as you may know is that today they contain so many toxins that it is only advised to eat one portion a week of oily fish.

This makes it hard to get enough omega3 as the body cannot make it so it must come from your diet, and with over 85% of people being deficient in it, quality fish oil supplements provide the perfect solution.

To make sure you get the most effective pure omega3 supplement you need to know that the two most important omega3 fatty acids are DHA and EPA.

DHA is by far the most beneficial and responsible for most of the health benefits including prevention of heart disease, lower LDL cholesterol levels, improved brain functioning leading to better memory and awareness and treatment of arthritis to name just a very few of them.

To avoid the toxins commonly found in fresh fish, molecularly distilled oil is the only choice as this process removes these impurities like mercury, lead and PCB’s to leave only pure and safe concentrated oil with much greater omega3 content.

The oils should be so pure that if you open a capsule you will only detect a faint ocean aroma, anything else and it is the sign of stale or rancid oil and will provide little benefit.

Another very common feature of poor quality fish oil supplements is those fishy burps you can get, and indeed stops many people from taking them. This is easily overcome by selecting high quality oil as you should never have to suffer from any kind of repeating.

In fact the pure omega3 I personally take has been proven to be the purest in the world and guarantees no fishy burps ever!

It is also a fact that most on the market have higher levels of EPA as it is cheaper to produce. You should look for a 2:1 ratio of DHA to EPA with a least 250mg of DHA per capsule to enjoy the maximum benefits.

If you follow these tips you will soon be able to start enjoying pure omega3 oil and all the many benefits it provides without any of the risk.

I’m sure you’ve heard a lot about omega3 health recently, especially as over 90% of us are deficient in these essential fatty acids, but you may not be aware of just the range of benefits they provide and how to find the best source.

These are the good fats, polyunsaturated and the main ones are DHA and EPA with DHA providing most of the health rewards.

The list is endless but the main ones are prevention of heart disease, fighting breast and prostate cancer effectively, improved brain health, lowering your high LDL cholesterol and also lowering high blood pressure.

Due to its anti-inflammatory qualities, omega3 health is crucial to avoid a premature death.

What makes inflammation so deadly is that it sneaks up on you and over time, the cumulative effect is a chain reaction of various health conditions ranging from arthritis and chronic pain to more serious issues such as atherosclerosis, strokes, brain disorders and ultimately death.

Recent research from the UK shows how taking a daily supplement can slow down or even halt AMD or age related eye disease which affects many people over fifty, and separate studies show how effective it is for skin ailments like acne and psoriasis. As well as being great for skin health in general to slow the signs of aging.

When it comes to getting the most from omega3 health, the ultimate source is distilled fish oils. You may be surprised I didn’t say fresh fish but today they contain many contaminants like mercury and arsenic that are carried in their skin.

Other vegetarian sources like flaxseed are good but the type of omega3 they provide, ALA, is rarely converted into the more useful ones and so much of the impact is lost.

Many on the market contain little of the essential omega3’s, especially DHA so look for a 2:1 ratio of DHA to EPA and ensure you get at least 250mg of DHA per capsule or soft gel to get the most impact.

The other important factor is to get only molecularly distilled oil which means all the impurities I mentioned earlier have been removed and only pure and safe oil in its natural state remains.

There is no other natural substance on earth that can provide this range of potentially lifesaving benefits and now you know what to look for to provide you with the very best omega3 health, why not include it in your daily routine and start enjoying all the benefits, risk free.

If you would like to learn more about the high quality DHA omega 3 supplements I personally take daily, visit my website today.

DHA is one of the hottest buzz words in nutritional medicine right now. Short for docosahexaenoic acid, it is one of the most important omega-3 fatty acids needed for optimal health and although there is no official recommended normal dose of EPA or DHA, here are some important guidelines to get the most from it.

The most important factor when you are looking for a normal dose of EPA or DHA, is that it is DHA that is responsible for most of the benefits, so you want at least a 2:1 ratio of DHA to EPA for the best results.

EPA is still important, but to a far lesser extent and many supplements today contain more of it as it’s cheaper to produce, so check the website or label with care.

The ultimate source of DHA is oily fish with the Hoki from New Zealand being the best and others like salmon are also good if they are not farmed. The problem is the recommendations to only eat one or two portions a week due to contamination make it hard to get enough which is why experts advise a daily distilled fish oil supplement.

With over 90% of use being deficient in these essential fatty acids as we cannot make it ourselves, it is vital we get more of it to get the benefits like prevention of heart disease, treatment of arthritis, improved brain health, lowering of high blood pressure and LDL or bad cholesterol and even helping in the fight against breast and prostate cancer.

To give you an idea of what I would recommend as a normal dose of EPA or DHA, I take two soft gels daily, each one contains 1000mg of oil with 280mg of DHA and 120mg of EPA and it also has over twice the anti-inflammatory qualities of any other oil.

Any fish oil supplement should have been molecularly distilled to remove any existing impurities like mercury and lead to leave only safe oil.

I hope you now have a better idea of the right dosage and can what to look for in the best oils so you can soon start enjoying the maximum health benefits with none of the risks.

If you would like to learn more about the high quality DHA omega 3 supplements I personally take daily, visit my website today.

 

There has been much in the press recently about the two main omega 3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA and recent research shows us that it is DHA that is responsible for most of the benefits.  Here’s a brief guide to finding the safest and most effective DHA supplements.

Like any nutritional product on the market today there are good and bad ones and omega 3 is no exception.

It is actually quite hard to find DHA supplements that have more DHA than EPA! This is because EPA is easier and cheaper to produce and helps boost a company’s profits.

The best ratio is to have at least 2:1 DHA to EPA with a minimum of 250mg of DHA per capsule or soft gel.

Purity is another main concern with all the contaminants the fish carry these days, as fish oil is by far the best source possible. Vegetable sources like flaxseed contain ALA fatty acids which are rarely if ever converted into DHA.

To avoid this just make sure your chosen DHA supplements have been molecularly distilled to remove any remaining toxins like mercury, lead and arsenic. Again, many on the market do not do this and you can unwittingly ingest these toxins. So check the website or label with care.

The importance of DHA is illustrated by the fact that over 30% of an adult brain is composed of it! This is also why it is vital for brain health and with over 90% of us being deficient in it as it must only come from our diet, it is vital to select a supplement with care to make sure you receive enough.

Other benefits of DHA supplements include prevention of heart disease, a weapon in the fight against breast and prostate cancer, effective treatment of arthritis and lower LDL cholesterol and blood pressure levels to name a few.

The best source of omega3 in the world currently is the hoki fish from the pristine oceans of New Zealand as they have the highest DHA levels of any species and the lowest level of contaminants.

Now you know more about DHA supplements and what to look for, you can confidently go about selecting the very best to start enjoying all the many amazing benefits they bring.

If you would like to learn more about the high quality DHA omega 3 supplements I personally take daily, visit my website today.

It never fails to amaze me how natural substances can have such a dramatic effect on our health, and omega3 fatty acids are one of the most important, especially as our bodies cannot manufacture them, so they must come from what we eat. Here are some of the many health benefits they provide and how to get the very best source.

The main two omega3 fatty acids EPA and DHA are the ones that give the most benefits with DHA being the more important of the two.

It is the powerful anti-inflammatory qualities that are responsible for their incredible healing and preventative qualities.

 Inflammation is so deadly because it sneaks up on you over time and the effect is a chain reaction of different health issues ranging from arthritis and chronic pain to much more serious ones such as aneurisms, brain disorders, strokes and even death.

Prevention of heart disease and strokes, lower LDL cholesterol, the prevention of breast and prostate cancer and maintaining proper brain health and mental well-being are some of the big health issues they can help with.

It is estimated that these omega3 fatty acids are responsible for saving thousands of lives each year when taken as a daily supplement as 9 out of 10 people are deficient in them, putting their health at risk.

The very best source is oily fish such as hoki and salmon with vegetarian sources like flaxseed providing you with a fatty acid called ALA which is not as effective as the others and is rarely converted into them.

The problem with fresh fish is that it contains so many contaminants like mercury and lead that it is not advised to eat more than two portions a week and experts agree that daily fish oil omega3 fatty acid supplements are the best solution.

It is vital to ensure any supplement you take has been molecularly distilled to remove all those contaminants and leave only concentrated pure oil with much higher omega 3 levels. These types of fish oil capsules can also be known as pharmaceutical grade.

The DHA level is crucial and a ratio of around 2:1 DHA to EPA is best, with around 250mg per soft gel or capsule. Many on the market contain very little DHA as it is more expensive to produce so check the website or label carefully.

Fish oil omega3 fatty acids from the right source can significantly reduce your chances of falling victim to many degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer later in life while also helping you to maintain excellent health now.

If you follow these simple steps you can soon look forward to all the benefits of fish oil omega3 fatty acids with none of the associated risks.

If you would like to know more about the DHA omega 3 supplements that I personally take, visit my website today.

Whilst many of us are aware of the relationship between fish oil and heart disease, many fail to realize the potency of fish oil omega 3 fatty acid and the dramatic heart health benefits that they bring.

There is a lot more to fish oil and heart disease than meets the eye and it is said to be responsible for saving thousands of lives each year in the US alone.

It is the extraordinary power of the fish oil omega 3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA that help fish oil for heart health be so effective. They stop the platelets in the blood from sticking together, which helps to prevent clotting and improves the circulation. They are also proven to reduce the blood fats (triglycerides) related to cholesterol to help lower blood pressure.

They also, according to recent research, help to strengthen the heart’s electrical system and prevent any heart-rhythm abnormalities from occurring, further helping to prevent attacks and strokes.

It is the powerful anti-inflammatory powers that provide the main heart benefits, as it is inflammation within the body that is so deadly, as it sneaks up on you over time and strikes before you have any idea that anything’s wrong.

The most important of the fatty acids is called DHA and is credited with being responsible for most of the benefits including lowering of LDL cholesterol, treating arthritis, helping to fight prostate and breast cancer and great for skin issues like psoriasis and acne.

There is no other natural substance that comes close to fish oil and heart disease prevention and the most effective way to benefit is via a daily fish oil capsule as fresh fish today contains too many dangerous contaminants like mercury and lead to be beneficial.

A quality omega 3 fish oil supplement will have undergone molecular distillation to remove these impurities and should contain a 2:1 ratio of DHA to EPA for the maximum benefits. The one I personally take contains 280mg per soft gel of DHA and 120mg of EPA in a 1000mg capsule to give you a guide.

If you are serious about your heart health and want to avoid many of the degenerative diseases later on in life, then quality distilled fish oil will help you achieve it.

Fish oil and heart disease prevention is just one of the many benefits this super oil can provide.

If you would like to learn more about the high quality DHA omega 3 supplements I personally take daily, visit my website today.

When it comes to fish EPA omega 3 fatty acids, there are a number of important factors you need to know, including the fact that EPA, while important, is not the most beneficial of the fish oil omega 3 fats.

Recent research has shown that the other main one, fish DHA fats, is responsible for most of the health benefits, especially heart and brain health, and not fish EPA as was previously thought.

When you consider that 30% of an adult brain is made up of DHA omega 3 fats, you can see just how important it is!

The DHA can help with heart disease prevention, lower high blood pressure and even lower you LDL cholesterol levels while effectively treating rheumatoid arthritis and helping to maintain correct brain health and mental well-being.

Now don’t get me wrong, fish EPA is important, it’s just not that important, so if you are looking for a quality supplement, I would recommend a 2:1 ratio of DHA to EPA with at least 250mg of DHA in each fish oil capsule or soft gel.

The reason I stress this is that almost all of the fish oil supplements available today contain much more EPA as it’s cheaper to produce and makes the company more money. So check the label or website carefully.

Another thing to ensure is that the fish oil pills have been molecularly distilled to remove all the dangerous impurities like mercury and lead. This will also provide even higher omega 3 levels for you.

On the subject of expense, poor quality fish oil supplements, including fish EPA ones, are not necessarily cheaper and most are actually much more expensive, some over $40 for a month’s supply! You should expect to pay less than $20 a month for the best ones.

It just shows you that price is no indicator of quality!

If you would like to learn more about the high quality DHA omega 3 supplements I personally take daily, visit my website today.

As your personal fitness trainer my passion is to teach, coach, understand, push, prod, cajole, investigate, research and apply, over and over… As a ‘Fitness Role Model’…well…I feel vulnerable with weakness, so, in hopes we can all learn, from my own weakness, here goes…My Confession. Last year I had a number of clients who started stubbornly on the Atkins diet despite my warnings. Immediately I saw almost profound results in their weight loss. I reminded them it was the loss of water weight, and warned of the strain on the kidneys and the high cholesterol risk. During this time I was mastering my yoga practice as a complete vegan but found that my immune system had been profoundly compromised and I was currently on my third cold for the fall seasonAtkins was in the media again because of new study results indicating lowered cholesterol. I went to the Atkins book yet again with a more open mind, and decided to try the diet. I liked the contrarian view point to the current AMA position of the low fat diet, which seemed to be producing a society of increasing obesity. Atkins view of sugar as the culprit making you fat, not fat, made sense and the extra work from all the protein for the kidneys… it’s benign. I wanted to use his diet as a tool to get myself entirely off of any sugar.I started out on the high protein, low carb aspect of the diet. As I reintroduced the animal proteins into my diet I could feel myself get stronger and the colds, finally stopped. I also saw my muscle bellies start to open and swell again. The cold of winter was not as painful as it had been while on my vegan diet.I then summoned up the courage to start bringing fats into my diet, including bacon, egg yolks, cream cheese, heavy cream, whipped cream, even bacon rinds. On a daily basis I would marvel at having eaten these “forbidden foods” only to awaken the next day thin, svelte. I couldn’t believe this, result! I was loving eating all these foods so familiar yet banished since …childhood I was in full swing eating the high fat, high protein, low carb diet at the time when the pictures on my website were taken. www.vitalsignsfitness.com I felt strong, but I had no energy!!! My walks on the beach were lethargic, I had to force myself to go that extra mile. I was thin but I felt like a beached whale. My love affair with Atkins continued a few more months. I followed his prescriptions religiously.Eventually I had to add more carbs, I needed more energy. By carbs I mean vegetables, salads and whole grains. At this point I gained back the total of two pounds I had lost on Atkins. Body fat went from 16% to 18%, my energy was better. After 7 months I decided it was time to get the blood checked out and to my horror discovered that my cholesterol which had always been around 150 had rocketed up to 300!! Luckily my HDL to LDL ratio was still at a healthy level. Thanks to my forcing myself to exercise, I kept my HDLs high. I immediately started drinking hot lemon juice with cayenne pepper every morning to clean my blood. I have now thrown away all the high fat foods and have once again, come back full circle to moderation and balance. A balanced diet. It takes a little more discipline but my energy is back and I can now eat the same meals as my husband so dinner preparation is simpler. My weight has not changed since I gradually introduced the carbs. I avoid at all costs the “white foods” flour, sugar, milk. I drink unsweetened soy milk I avoid foods in packages, boxes and bags. I feel a fine layer of fat but that’s okay its winter, I need it, and in the summer, heat always melts it off. I am completely off sugar and alcohol to keep blood sugar low.Log into www.vitalsignsfitness in the Chat page where a discussion has already begun re: Atkins and other diet plans, add your comments or just read and muse. Or go to the Nutrition Program page and find out how many calories (protein, carbs, fats) you should eat to sustain your current or ideal weight.

At times you have heard people say things like “I used to do that when I was younger. But I don’t think my body can take that now”.

This is proof enough that when the body doesn’t get reasonable doses of exercise on regular basis, things begin to go wrong. The body grows stiff, muscles lose their tone, the joints lose their suppleness, and fat starts to accumulate around the waist and along the spine.

When a lack of fitness is allowed to go on, very soon the body begins to suffer as we become less and less capable of dealing with the stress of everyday life, both physical and mental stress. We may even become susceptible to various illnesses. That is why regular exercise is very important for optimum health.

Exercise is the closest  thing yet to the fountain of youth, and truly the only way to change the appearance, shape and strength of your body. EXERCISE IS GOOD FOR YOU! Just to put a little more emphasis on the issue, you will be given a list of 20 reasons why you should find the time for exercise on a regular basis. If you can find even one benefit on this list, you will have enough reason to begin an exercise program and take steps to take care of yourself.

   Regular exercise can … Ø Help you lose weight, especially fat. Ø Improve your physical appearance. Ø Increase your level of muscular strength and endurance. Ø Maintain your resting metabolic rate to prevent weight gain. Ø Increase your stamina and ability to do continuous work. Ø Improve fitness levels, or your body’s ability to use oxygen. Ø Provide protection against injury. Ø Improve your balance and co-ordination. Ø Increase bone density to prevent osteoporosis. Ø Lower resting heart rate and blood pressure. Ø Lower Body Mass index (BMI) – your height-to-fat ratio. Ø Reduce triglycerides, bad cholesterol (LDL), and raise good cholesterol (HDL). Ø Enhance sexual desire and performance. Ø Reduce heart disease and stroke. Ø Reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer. Ø Increase insulin sensitivity, thereby preventing type 2 diabetes. Ø Reduce your level of anxiety and help you mange stress. Ø Improve function of the immune system. Ø Improve your self – esteem and restore confidence. Ø Help you sleep better, relax, and improve mood.

In addition, the tremendous health benefits associated with a well orchestrated strength, flexibility and cardiovascular training program can add quality years to your life. Everyone exercises for different reasons. But no matter your initial motivation, you’ll still get all the benefits.

At least half an hour of exercise (even brisk walking) three or four days a week can go a long way towards putting you on the path to physical fitness. It is recommended that you check with your doctor before beginning any workout program, particularly if you are out of shape, have cardiovascular problems or simply haven’t worked out in a long time.

After making the decision to start working out, it may be necessary for you to make some lifestyle changes, especially as it regards eating. So, cut down on processed and high-fat foods, reduce your intake of alcohol and quit smoking. Eat more of natural foods like whole grain, lean meat, fruits and vegetables, and above all, be consistent in your workout routine. A combination of proper diet, a good workout program and appropriate relaxation techniques will begin to effect a change in your body beyond belief.