I guess it’s time to focus on living a healthy lifestyle. Our family has been hit with illnesses left and right lately and I have not been spared. My blood cholesterol levels are off the charts, my blood sugar levels borderline and my live enzymes high. I have been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, which basically comes with a triad of diseases: (mild) hypertension, fatty liver and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Basically if I don’t watch what I eat and lose weight, I am headed to a very costly life ahead. Metabolic syndrome is a combination of factors that increases the risk for developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke

So what do I do?

Basically I am slowly switching to a low-fat, high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet. I am slowly eliminating white carbohydrates from my diet – white rice, white bread, starches, sweets. I have switched to brown rice as well. Basically, I am trying to switch to heart-friendly meals and move more.

Benefits of Brown Rice

It has been said that the brown layer of the rice we usually eat is more nutritious and heart friendly. You just need to soak it 30 minutes to an hour before cooking to soften. When you eat brown rice you are guaranteed to take in its quality products as well.
1. It Lowers The Risk Of Developing Diabetes
2. It’s High In Fiber
3. It’s A Good Source Of Manganese And Selenium
4. It Can Prevent Weight Gain
5. It Can Lower Cholesterol
6. It Offers Many Cardiovascular Benefits
7. It’s A Good Source Of Phytonutrients
8. It Reduces The Risk Of Developing Metabolic Syndrome
9. It Reduces The Risk Of Childhood Asthma
10. It Promotes Bone Health

What is a Heart Healthy Meal?

For people with high cholesterol levels, here are some tips to make sure the meals you are preparing are heart-friendly and healthy:

To be called “heart-healthy” dishes should have no more than 3 grams of saturated fat. Fish entrees can have up to 5 grams, since the benefits of omega-3 fats outweigh the saturated fats. Heart-healthy sides, salads, soups and desserts should have 2 grams or less of saturated fat.

Preparing Heart Healthy Meals

1. Make only one main dish and supplement with frozen vegetables and bagged salads.
2. Stock your pantry and fridge with staples like fruit, veggies, whole wheat pasta, lean meat, and low-sodium seasonings.
3. Add easy, low-fat cooking techniques to your repertoire: stir-frying, steaming, broiling, and microwaving.

A Guide to Heart-Healthy Foods

Aside from brown rice, salmon, flaxseed, oatmeal, black or kidney beans, almonds, walnuts, red wine, tuna, tofu, soy milk, blueberries, carrots, spinach, broccoli, sweet potato, red bell peppers, asparagus, oranges, tomatoes, squash, cantaloupe, papaya, dark chocolate and tea are all heart-friendly. You can build your meals and menu plans around these ingredients and watch your cholesterol levels drop!

Thank God for laser.

I could never say that enough. Because of laser services, I have been able to remove hair in unwanted places and lighten scars. But the most beneficial have been getting Dr. Sondheimer’s lasik eye surgery service to regain my 20/20 vision.

I come from a family who have bad eyesight. I’ve battled with astigmatism since I was eight. It was such a huge blessing that laser surgery was made available when I turned 18 and that it was covered under my health insurance! The surgery was relatively easy, short and painless too.

I went in for a check-up to see if I was qualified for the procedure and when I found out I was, I was given the necessary reminders to prepare myself for surgery. During the day of the surgery it was over in about 30 minutes, anesthesia already included. I was told to take it easy for the next week and what was amazing was my eyesight was immediately sharper and changed!

I would recommend the procedure for everyone. It feels great to finally see the world without glasses!

Medical advancements such as IVF (in vitro fertilization), sperm donor and banking and surrogate parenthood have been the very least controversial, especially among conservative and religious communities. However, it has given hope and absolute joy to couples who have exhausted all possible means to get pregnant but have not been as lucky.

The advantages of IVF are so many. Infertile couples struggling to get pregnant finally have hope, thanks to this procedure and a good ivf doctor. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection, genetic counseling and assisted hatching may help to improve the chances of success. Some even choose to freeze embryos for use in future cycles. This procedure also carries a higher success rate than other procedures such as intrauterine insemination (artificial insemination), although the circumstances surrounding each case are often different so patients should consult a fertility specialist to determine which treatment is right for them.

The only disadvantage of IVF is that it is not always a 100% success. Couples rarely get pregnant on the first try and usually need to go through a lot of cycles to finally get pregnant.It is also expensive but some states have health insurance cover it.

There are many health supplements out in the market today, claiming many benefits for one’s body and saying they are derived from the word’s most natural ingredients. There has been a shift towards all-natural and organic medicines and food today, with the emergence of new diseases all linked to the intake of artificial and processed foods. Examples of natural health supplements are Acai Berry, Moringa and Krill Oil.

What is Krill Oil?
Krill oil is oil from a tiny, shrimp-like animal. Baleen whales, mantas, and whale sharks eat primarily krill. In Norwegian, the word “krill” means “whale food.” People extract the oil from krill, place it in capsules, and use it for medicine.

What are the benefits you can derive from Krill Oil?

Not only will it reduce your risk of heart attacks and other heart-related illnesses, but it will raise your good cholesterol, lower your bad cholesterol, and help to increase your energy by over 50 percent.

Sound like a total miracle product, right?

Another feature of pure krill oil is that it will help to reduce harmful triglycerides by up to 27 percent and actually make your joints feel better and your skin look younger.