The last thing on most parents mind is the possibility of their child having high cholesterol.

It would be a very wise decision to notice their consumption of junk food or should I say lack of healthy foods.

Studies have shown that atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries - the leading cause of heart disease — begins very early. It is recommended that children over the age of about 2 years, as well as all adults, adopt a heart-healthy eating pattern to reduce their risk of developing heart disease as adults. You can lower the risk for the both of you by maintaining a healthy weight and by being physically active.

You can help shape their dietary habits by making sure that they learn about healthy eating and educating them on the right foods.

Keep in mind that you have to set the example by choosing a healthy diet yourself.

One way of reforming your “Junk Food Junkies” is to prepare their snacks for them. Most children are looking for good tasting snacks and could care less if it’s healthy or not.

Try to buy healthy snacks, remember that they are mainly concerned about how the snack taste.

One way to encourage physical activity is to join them in an activity that’s fun for the both of you.

Consult your medical professional for advice on cholesterol screenings.

“The decisions you fail to make today, will determine your health tomorrow!”

Michael Flowers was diagnosed with high cholesterol over 10 years ago and has been able to keep it under control naturally by utilizing the methods he writes about his site http://www.you-and-your-cholesterol.com

Tags: children, cholesterol, diet, exercise, food, health, herbs, naturally, snacks, supplements, weightchildren, cholesterol, diet, exercise, food, health, herbs, naturally, snacks, supplements, weight

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Recently, a Japanese study showed dramatic results of organ fat loss and increased muscle strength, in test rats fed rare phytochemicals from baby green apple skins.

Without additional vitamins or supplements, these rats lost 27% of their internal organ fat — “belly fat” in you and me– and increased in muscle strength by 16%, in just three weeks. Should these findings translate to humans, we could be looking at a true health breakthrough of the new century.

Belly fat in mice and men is a signature of aging. The body deposits additional fat around the organs and raises blood levels of cholesterol in response to uncontrolled oxidative stress (aging) in the organism, because body fat and blood fat are the natural protectors of every cell in our bodies.

Exercise, which elevates human growth hormone, was the only proven way to reduce organ fat before the discovery of the remarkable water-soluble polyphenols given to these test animals.

What could this mean for you? It means that a concentrated natural apple extract, with no side effects, may reverse some of the aging markers in the human body. It is also worth noting that every drug which is given to humans has first shown its effectiveness and safety in mice and rats.

Ancient Supermen

In ancient mythology, the apple was considered to be the Goddess’s sacred heart of immortality. The Celts called the western paradise Avalon, which means “Apple-land.” The Irish kings received the Goddess’s magic apples of immortality. King Arthur was taken to Avalon (Apple-land) by the triple Goddess, in the form of the three fairy queens.

The Scandinavians thought apples essential to resurrection. The Greeks said Mother Hera kept the magic apple garden in the West, where the tree of life was guarded by her sacred serpent, represented by icons showing the great Goddess offering life to her worshippers in the form of an apple. The Norse Goddess Idun kept all the gods alive with her magic apples.

And now science is proving the mythic legends. In recent human tests, polyphenols from apples dramatically raise the biological activity of all three of the body’s anti-aging, disease-fighting enzymes- superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase, and catalase. No wonder the apple eaters were considered to be “consorts of the Goddess.” Such a man would be stronger, look better, and live in radiant health much longer than his non-apple-eating peers.

Modern Medical Marvels

Phytochemicals in baby apple skins may be the closest thing to “magic” to come out of the labs since penicillin. The list of health conditions that these botanical compounds improve or prevent is truly impressive. Apple phytochemicals are showing promising test results in 3 of the 5 leading disease killers of Americans, including seven types of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

Apple polyphenols are 6 times more powerful than vitamin C against human cancer cells in lab tests. They may prevent asthma attacks, inhibit dental carries, lower cholesterol, and stabilize insulin response. Recently, scientists from Cornell University proposed that extracts from apples “could reduce the risk of neurodegenerative disease such as AD (Alzheimer’s Disease).”

But unfortunately, an apple a day won’t keep the doctor away. Polyphenols in ordinary grocery store apples are lost through ripening, storage and processing. Immature green apples, which are too bitter to eat, contain up to 10 times more polyphenols than mature fruit. And in nearly every study, the test animals are not eating whole apples. They are given dehydrated, highly concentrated powder extracted from the apple skins, the richest source of these phytochemicals.

The blessing of these natural botanicals are our inheritance as children of the legendary Goddess, Gaia. Her crown jewels are the fruit of the trees, and the blossoms of the rain forest. And her most precious emerald gems– baby apples– may one day reverse aging, cure disease, and help her children realize their ultimate perfect health and longevity.

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Katrina Kern is an author, women’s health counselor and former practicing nurse. More information on these exciting health discoveries, and her new e-book, “How to Absolutely, Positively Know When Your Body is Burning Fat,” are available now at http://www.applepoly.com/bellyfat/. You can find a link there for current medical studies and breaking news on apple phytochemicals.

Tags: apple, atkins, belly fat, bellyfat, diet, fat, fat loss, health, muscle, phytochemical, polyphenols, weightapple, atkins, belly fat, bellyfat, diet, fat, fat loss, health, muscle, phytochemical, polyphenols, weight

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Now that it’s summer, it’s almost impossible to avoid the ever-popular summer BBQ. Some of our favorite meals are cooked over charcoal, but we still need to be aware that many of the traditional ’summer’ foods are packed with fat and calories!

Isn’t it ironic that some of the ‘fattest’ foods make their debut in the summer when we’re all trying to fit into that bathing suit?

So which traditional summer foods will break the belt?

HOT DOGS. Although they’re small, the typical hot dog contains about 30% of your daily saturated fat intake! At about 180 calories each, hot dogs may seem quite harmless until we realize that 140 of those calories are from FAT. Don’t forget that the average hot dog bun has 110 calories, which boosts the total to 250 calories per hot dog.

HAMBURGERS. Ground beef comes in all sorts of varieties, from ‘full-fat’ to ‘low-fat’. You’ll pay more for the low-fat version, but it’s worth it. The average hamburger has about 275 calories and 12 grams of fat (includes the bun). That’s slightly less fat than the hot dog, but more calories. “The secret to keeping the burger lean is to avoid the high fat toppings such as mayonnaise, bacon, cheese or sauces and instead, garnish simply with ketchup, mustard, tomatoes, onions and relishes” (Source: Ontario Cattlemen’s Association). Pile on the high-calories toppings and you’ll boost the calorie count to 800 or even higher!!

POTATO CHIPS. A summer BBQ just wouldn’t be a BBQ without the chips! But while we’re enjoying the crunch, we’re putting on the pounds. Many brands of potato chips contain about 150 calories per serving. Doesn’t sound like much? Consider that what they call a ’serving’ is really one ounce…..11 chips. Here’s another way to look at it: each SINGLE potato chip provides a bit more than 1% of your daily recommended fat intake!

So what’s a summer-BBQ-lovin’ person to do? Relax! There’s no need to avoid the fun this summer! By just making a few creative adjustments to the menu, we can enjoy the family picnic while keeping our diet under control.

Try fruits, veggies and baked beans instead of chips. We all know the health benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables, so focus on those instead of full-fat potato chips. High in fiber and low in calories, these choices will help us feel full without putting on the pounds.

Try a ground turkey patty instead of a hamburger. It will save you more than 100 calories, and it’s really not bad tasting! Be sure to look for SKINLESS ground turkey, which has far fewer calores than just ‘ground turkey’.

Consider putting some boneless, skinless chicken breasts on the BBQ instead of beef. Lower in calories and fat, chicken breasts are a good choice for any event.

Don’t forget about fish! The choices are almost endless, and the health benefits are overwhelming. Put some salmon on the BBQ and enjoy! “We recommend eating fish (particularly fatty fish) at least two times a week. Fish is a good source of protein and doesn’t have the high saturated fat that fatty meat products do” (Source: www.americanheart.org).

Finally, watch the drinks. High-calorie beverages like lemonade and Kool-Aid boast between 60 and 100 calories per glass, and sometimes even more. A single can of soda usually contains about 160 calories. Choose low-calorie drinks like iced tea (unsweetened) or just plain old water.

With just a little effort, the summer BBQ doesn’t have to add inches or pounds! Choose healthy, low-fat and low-calorie foods instead of the traditional fare and keep those pounds off!

Have a GREAT summer!

* Copyright 2005 Pick Up The Pace. Permission is not required for the distribution of Pick Up The Pace articles as long as they are used in their entirety, are properly credited to Pick Up The Pace, and are accompanied by our website link: www.letspickupthepace.com.

* The information in this article and on this site is for general reference purposes only and not intended to address specific medical conditions. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice or a medical exam. Prior to participating in any exercise program or activity, you should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional. No information in this article or on www.letspickupthepace.com should be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition.

Tracie Johanson is the founder of Pick Up The Pace, a 30-minute exercise studio for women, focusing on fitness, health and nutrition for maximum weight loss. Please visit http://www.letspickupthepace.com for more information.

Tags: diet, exercise, express, fat, fit, fitness, health, lady, nutrition, pace, shapes, slender, slim, weigh, weightdiet, exercise, express, fat, fit, fitness, health, lady, nutrition, pace, shapes, slender, slim, weigh, weight

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