Heart Healthy Christmas Dinner

Having a glass of wine with your Christmas dinner will actually be good for your heart health. A glass or two of wine per day will increase the Omega-3 fatty acids in the blood. A research study carried out at the Catholic University in Campobasso, Italy;  found that the benefits were better among wine drinkers, than those who drink beer and other alcoholic drinks in moderation. Wine reduces the chances of blood clots by boosting the blood levels of your good cholesterol HDL.

While searching for ways to make a heart healthy Christmas dinner, I came upon some great recipes guaranteed to make your dinner a memorable one. You can make some of the dishes ahead giving you more time to spend with your guest. The dinner recipes come with shopping planners, so that you will have everything to complete your delicious holiday meal.

Where to find your recipes: Christmas dinner 

Giving your guest a gift box of homemade cookies, which are made with healthy ingredients, will make your Christmas dinner even more memorable. Christmas cookies

Heart Healthy Brazil Nuts

With the holidays upon us we are all looking for healthy treats that will be enjoyed by everyone. One of the all time favorite treats for this time of year has to be (Brazil nuts). I remember as a child there was always a large dish of nuts on our holiday table.  Brazil nuts adorned my mother’s Christmas cakes as well as her cookies; little did we know that this treat was actually good for our hearts. If you are entertaining make sure to include some Brazil Nuts not only are they delicious they are also healthy.

When enjoying treats you should always remember to eat them in moderation, just 2 Brazil nuts a day can aid in your overall heart health.

Brazil nuts are the best way to add selenium to your daily diet they are also very tasty. A study carried out at the University of Otago in New Zealand shows us that eating just two Brazil nuts a day is even more effective in increasing selenium in your daily diet than taking supplements. Eating Brazil nuts can eliminate the need for high-selenium foods in the diet and you could avoid the fortification or supplements to improve selenium levels.   

It has been proven that (Selenium) is a trace mineral that is essential to good health but required only in small amounts. It is used in creating important antioxidant enzymes that help prevent cellular damage from free radicals. Research has proven that (Free radicals) are natural by-products of oxygen metabolism that are seen to contribute to the development of chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease. Patients with thyroid problems will be pleased to know that selenium is also critical for proper thyroid functioning, it also plays a large role in a healthier immune system.

When placing Brazil nuts in your families’ lunches for school and work, not only are you giving them a tasty treat you are also protecting their health from future chronic diseases.

Healthy Life In Seven Steps

Instead of waiting for the first of the year why not start building a healthier life as of today.

I received a wakeup call when my health care provider sent me for a cholesterol test and it showed I was on the high end.

At that point I went in search of a way to turn my life around; I found there is no limit to articles on healthy lifestyles. You can find everything from healthy recipes to daily exercise suggestions.

With obesity being so prevalent in today’s society causing heart disease and diabetes we should all take a good look not only at our life, but the lifestyle of our family as whole.

To help you on your way to a healthier life you will need to:

• Limit saturated and Trans fats in your daily diet, which causes high cholesterol and coronary artery disease.
• High protein low fat foods will aid in making your diet healthy. Foods such as lean poultry and fish, using egg whites or egg substitutes instead of the whole egg. Eliminate butter and whole milk use skim milk and yogurt instead.
• Add fiber, minerals and vitamins to your families’ diet by including fruits and vegetables. It is much easier today to get your family to eat these foods with all of the recipes you find on line.
• Select whole grain cereal, breads and snacks for breakfast and pack them in a healthy lunch. Whole grain foods are filled with fiber, nutrients, vitamins and minerals for your families’ healthy heart.
• When adding salt to your diet you are adding the risk of high blood pressure, which can cause cardiovascular disease. It is in your best interest to eliminate salt as much as possible.
• Cutting back on the amount of food you put on your plate and not going back for seconds is a tremendous help in watching you weight and gaining a healthy body.
• Planning your meals ahead of time will allow you to add fiber and eliminate foods high in fat and cholesterol.        

To find more information click here: Heart healthy diet