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The Many Benefits Of Removing Sugar From Your Diet

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Every day, there are new guidelines about what you should and should not eat! Unfortunately, often you’re presented with contradictory information and advise.

Just think back a few years ago.

Back then, the debate was about how much fat should be in our diet. At first, we were told to eat as little fat as possible; low fat was the thing.

But now, we’re told we need some fat in our diet. The message is that fat in the diet is not always bad, depending on what type of fat it is.

We’ve also heard about the damaging effect of consuming too much salt, and we were told to cut back on how much of it we eat. However, the recommendations concerning salt haven’t changed over the years.

Next, we were told to cut back on sugar. Research has shown that there is a link between sugar and obesity, type-2 diabetes and a whole wealth of other health problems.

Just last year the general advice was to drop sugar from your diet altogether. Of course, that’s tough to do, particularly if you have a “sweet tooth.’  [Read more…] about The Many Benefits Of Removing Sugar From Your Diet

Cholesterol – The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

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Cholesterol, mainly high cholesterol, has been a debated topic for years (and for good reason).

The CDC, the Centers for Disease Control, reveals some interesting facts about cholesterol.

  • Those who have high cholesterol are 2 times more at risk for heart disease, which, is the leading cause of death in the United States.
  •  71 million American adults, which equates to 33.5% of the population, have a high LDL (bad cholesterol) count.
  • Only 1 out of every 3 adults with high cholesterol manages to get it under control.
  • Less than 50% of those with high LDL counts seek treatment or incorporate the necessary lifestyle changes required to lower their levels.

So what is cholesterol, LDL, HDL and why does it matter to you? [Read more…] about Cholesterol – The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

Wrong Medications – Protect Yourself!

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Are you taking the wrong medications? A study published in The Lancet in 2007 points to various problems in the use of medicationsMedications in Pharmacy specifically appropriate drug use. This includes things such as

  • Being prescribed medications that are not needed.
  • Medications are given in inappropriate doses – that includes under prescribing medications.
  • Being given the wrong medications

Here is some information on safe medication practices including questions to ask that may protect you are your loved ones.

The more medications you are on the more likely you are to have medication interactions that could pose a problem to you.

Here is a real life example. [Read more…] about Wrong Medications – Protect Yourself!

No Amount of Tobacco is Safe

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This news release points out once again that smoking of any sort is not good for you.

Just yesterday I met a young woman who had a four month old baby. She had just quit smoking one week ago. She deserves lots of congratulations as she is doing extremely well given many of her challenges.

She was rightly worried that her mother continues to smoke, even when caring for the infant. That is rude beyond belief to me.

Second case in point. I saw another woman yesterday who has smoked for many years. Her blood pressure has been slowly creeping up over.

When I saw her just weeks before I told her to take her blood pressure and pulse at home BEFORE she had a cigarette, and then again right after. The results were even more dramatic that I suspected they would be.

Her blood pressure rose by nearly 40%!!!

If you smoke, try this yourself… it will give you that final push to stop smoking for good.
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Any Tobacco Use Raises Heart Attack Risk
08.17.06, 12:00 AM ET

THURSDAY, Aug. 17 (HealthDay News) — All types of tobacco use or exposure — smoking, chewing, or secondhand smoke — boost a person’s risk for heart attack, Canadian researchers say.

Researchers at McMaster University in Ontario analyzed data from more than 27,000 people in 52 countries and factored in other lifestyle traits — such as diet and age — that could affect heart attack risk. They found that any form of tobacco use or exposure was harmful.

Publishing in the Aug. 19 issue of The Lancet, they found that moderate and heavy smokers had a three-fold increased risk of a heart attack and light smokers (8-10 cigarettes a day) had a two-fold risk.

The risk decreased with time after a person stopped smoking, the study said. Among light smokers, there was no excess risk 3 to 5 years after they quit smoking. Moderate and heavy smokers still had an excess risk of about 22 percent even 20 years after they kicked the habit.

The researchers also concluded that exposure to secondhand smoke increased the risk of heart attack in both former smokers and nonsmokers.

People with the highest levels of secondhand smoke exposure (22 hours or more per week) have about a 45 percent increased risk of heart attack, the study said.

Chewing tobacco doubled the risk of heart attack, the researchers found.

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You’ll find more information about smoking and quitting at the OlderWiserWomen Smoking Cessation page.

Need help to quit smoking?

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You know all the reasons to quit smoking, yet you still do it. That is the power of that Nicotine Demon that lives in your head. I tell my patients that their little demon is akin to a toddle having a major temper tantrum in the middle of the cereal aisle at your favorite upscale grocer.

Becoming a smoke free individual is not easy, but there are lots of resources available to help you quit. In WA State we have Quit Line – a service where you can actually call and talk with a Quit counselor 7 days a week. Your state health department may have a similar program.

Other online resources to check out include:

Tobacco Free Nurses – the first national program focused on helping nurses and student nurses to stop smoking
Tobaccofreenurses

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Tobacco Information and Prevention Source
CDC.gov/tobacco/

Surgeon General – ‘You Can Quit Smoking’ Consumer Guide
surgeongeneral.gov/tobacco

American Lung Association – Tobacco Control
lungusa.org

American Cancer Society – Guide to Quitting Smoking
Cancer.org

Quitnet.com – Savings Calculator
Quitnet.com

Smokefree.gov
Smokefree.gov

 

Smoking is an issue that seems to penetrate all aspects of an individuals life. It’s not just an individual health issue anymore…it’s a quality of life issue, a societal issue, a financial issue, and a public health issue. It affects you, your children, your grandchildren, your partners, your friends.

It’s time to stop…for good.

Protect your Heart!*

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Heart disease is the number one cause of death in women over the age of 50 and is largely preventable.

Modifiable risk factors include smoking, obesity, abnormal cholesterol profile, elevated glucose, hypertension, and lack of exercise.

What can you do?

Reverse the above risk factors, and see your provider on a regular basis for appropriate testing. Eat a healthy diet, get exercise daily and consider medications that may be appropriate.

If you have non-modifiable risk factors such as belonging to a race or ethnic group that is at higher risk for heart disease (African American, Mexican American, Native American and native Hawaiians), and if you have a family (mother, fathers, sister, brother) history, then it is essential for you to follow the above recommendations to maximize your health and minimize your risk.

(c)2005 Barbara C. Phillips, NP
OlderWiserWomen

(*excerpt from “Protecting Your Health” by Barbara C. Phillips, NP)