Using fish as part of a healthy eating plan
Tony Robinson

It is hard to beat fish and seafood for high protein and low
fat. Fish has been shown in study after study to have a positive
impact on health, and to lower the risk of heart disease and
other diseases. In addition, fish is delicious and easy to
prepare.

Many nutrition experts recommend eating fish at least once or
twice every week. The most nutritious varieties of fish, and
those that contain the greatest amounts of heart protecting
omega-3 fatty acids, tend to be those that live in cold ocean
waters. These varieties of fish include salmon and sardines.

The benefits of a fishy diet Fish has long been thought to have
a positive benefit on the heart. So far the results of clinical
studies have been inconclusive, but research into the heart
healthy effects of fish continues. No matter what the benefits,
there is little doubt that fish is a healthy food, containing
significant levels of protein and smaller amounts of fat and
calories than other types of meat.

As a matter of fact, fish is one of the best sources of protein
there is. Everyone needs protein for building muscles and
repairing damaged body tissues. In addition, protein plays a
vital role in the growth of nails and hair, in hormone
production and in many other vital bodily processes.

In addition to fish, many other animal based products, such as
meat, eggs, poultry and dairy products, contain significant
amounts of protein. Plant based sources of protein exist as
well, in nuts, beans and lentils, among others.

The key to getting sufficient protein in the diet is to balance
the healthy effects of protein on the diet against the large
amounts of fat and cholesterol that protein rich foods often
contain. The combination of high protein and low fat is one of
the things that makes a diet rich in fish so appealing.

With the exception of salmon, almost all commonly eaten
varieties of fish are very low in fat, and even salmon contains
lower levels of fat than many varieties of meats. In addition,
fish is low in saturated fat, the type of fat that is most
associated with heart disease and clogged arteries.

Fish is low in unsaturated fat because of the nature of where
and how they live. Instead of storing energy in the form of
saturated fat as land animals do, fish store their fat in the
form of polyunsaturated oils. That adaptation allows their
bodies to function normally in the cool oceans and streams where
they swim. It also makes them a great choice for anyone seeking
to cut levels of saturated fat in the diet.

For all these reasons, fish remains an important part of any low
fat, heart healthy lifestyle. Substituting high fat, greasy
foods like hamburgers and ribs is a great way to make a change
for healthy living.

One note about fish and pollution, however. It is true that many
fish caught in polluted waters contain high levels of mercury.
While most commercially caught and grown fish is low in mercury,
it is important for fisherman to limit their consumption of
locally caught fish. Pregnant women are also advised to limit
their intake of fish, due to the potential harm to the baby.

Fitting fish into your busy lifestyle Many people avoid fish
because they do not know how to prepare and cook it. While it is
true that fish can present more of a challenge for the
inexperienced, there are many recipes and cookbooks that make
preparation easier. In addition, many packaged seafood products
contain cooking tips and serving suggestions that take some of
the mystery out of preparing a nutritious and delicious meal of
fresh fish.

Even those who do not cook, however, can enjoy the many benefits
of fish in the diet. There are a number of canned seafood
products on the market, including canned salmon, sardines and
the ever popular tuna. So there is no reason fish cannot fit
into your healthy eating plan.

About the author:

Tony Robinson is a Company CEO, webmaster husband and dad. In
his busy lifestyle he has placed importance on health and
fitness. Visit http://www.eat-healthily.com for good eating tips
and techniques to assist you maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Tags: 3 Fatty Acids, animal based products, Author, Best Sources Of Protein, Bodily Processes, Body Tissues, Building Muscles, canned seafood products, Cold Ocean Waters, Company CEO, dairy products;, Diseases, energy;, Fish And Seafood, fisherman, Healthy Eating Plan, Healthy Food, heart disease;, High Protein And Low Fat, Hormone Production, Lentils, Nutrition Experts, Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Protein In The Diet, Protein Plant, Protein Rich Foods, Risk Of Heart Disease, Sardines, seafood products, Sources Of Protein, Tony Robinson, webmaster, webmaster husband and dad —

The One Nutrient You Must Have To Stay Healthy
Brad Bahr

Even if you eat right and take a vitamin and mineral
supplement you most likely are still deficient in omega 3
fatty acids. Most people just don’t get enough of this vital
nutrient in their diet.

Here are just some of the many benefits you can get from
taking an omega 3 supplement such as fish oil.

Fish oil prevents second heart attacks better than any drug
it was tested against!

Fish oil is probably the best “medicine ” available to
prevent sudden cardiac death!

Fish oil works better then aspirin as a blood thinner.

Fish oil has been used effectively in the treatment of
Alzheimer’s Disease.

Fish oil improves memory, I.Q. and helps obliterate age
related memory lapses.

Fish oil helps people with multiple sclerosis.

Fish oil plays a key role in brain development.

Fish oil lowers blood pressure.

Fish oil reduces the incidence of stroke caused by clotting
of brain blood vessels!

Fish oil lowers triglycerides and raises good HDL
cholesterol, reducing the risk of heart disease.

Fish oil is a very potent anti-oxidant and one of the few
that cross the blood-brain barrier.

Fish oil improves personality, mood, and mental disorders!

Fish oil is a potent natural anti-depressant!

Fish oil improves the health of cartilage and joints!

Fish oil improves the ratio of testosterone to its
metabolite, DHT, and in studies was shown to be useful in
treating prostate, breast and colon cancers.

Fish oil improves hormone levels and improves the health
of your joints. It’s great for athletes, helping to speed
recovery time from hard workouts!

Fish oil balances hormonal levels in the body.

Fish oil reduces inflammation in the lungs and can be used
to treat allergies, asthma and excema.

If you do decide to try a fish oil supplement, make sure it
is Pharmaceutical Grade. Don’t just take the cheap stuff at
the local drug store. Pharmaceutical Grade fish oil has all
the bad things like mercury and PCBs taken out.

To find good quality fish oil, go to your favorite search
engine and search for “pharmaceutical grade fish oil”.

About the Author

About the author: Brad Bahr is the author of many health
related articles and websites. He has been testing and
reviewing health supplements for many years. Try his new
health article search engine at http://www.findustuff.com
where you can browse and search by keyword over 6,000
interesting health related articles.

Tags: 3 Fatty Acids, Allergies, Allergies Asthma, Alzheimers disease, Anti Oxidant, asthma;, Author, author of many health related articles and websites, Best Medicine, Blood Brain Barrier, Brad Bahr, Brain Blood Vessels, Brain Development, breast cancers, Cheap Stuff, Colon Cancers, favorite search engine, Fish Oil, Fish oil helps people, fish oil supplement;, Hdl Cholesterol, health article search engine, heart disease;, Hormonal Levels, Hormone Levels, inflammation, Local Drug Store, Memory Lapses, mental disorders, multiple sclerosis, Natural Anti Depressant, Oil Fish, Omega 3 Fatty Acids, pharmaceutical grade fish oil, quality fish oil, search engine, Stroke, Sudden Cardiac Death, Testosterone, treatment of Alzheimer's Disease, Vitamin And Mineral Supplement —

Nuts To You… Just One Way to a Healthy Heart
Dr. John Rumberger

Nuts are readily available and provide a highly nutritious food. In addition to protein, carbohydrate, and fat, nuts contain many other important nutrients: fiber, vitamin E, folic acid, potassium, and magnesium. Although on some food charts you may see nuts listed in the same food category as diary products, eggs, and red meat because of the fat content, new information calls into question this designation.
While nuts do contain a high proportion of fat, tree nuts such as almonds, walnuts, pecans, hazel nuts, Brazil nuts, and macadamia are actually low in saturated fat. Most of the fat comes in the form of monounsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids, which are considered to be acceptable forms of fat that actually “reduce” the incidence of heart and vascular disease.
Several large studies have examined the relationship between the risk of heart disease and intake of omega-3 fatty acids from plant sources. In the Seventh Day Adventist Health Study researchers found that those who reported eating nuts more than four times per week had a 50% lower risk of heart disease than those who rarely ate nuts. The Nurses’ Health Study found that heart disease risk was reduced by 35% in those who ate nuts compared with those who rarely ate nuts. An addition study found that the risk of type 2 diabetes went down by nearly 1/3 in women who consumed 1/4 cup of nuts five times per week compared to those that did not eat nuts at all.
One recent study looked at almonds in particular. They examined the effects on LDL [“bad”] cholesterol values. Each person served as his own control and they were each on three different “diets”: almonds representing about 1/4 their entire daily calorie intake, OR a “handful” of almonds per day, OR a muffin [containing about the same number of calories as a “full dose” of almonds]. The LDL cholesterol went down about 10% when the subjects took a “full dose” of almonds, went down about 5% with intake of a “handful” of almonds, and did not go down at all with eating a muffin. In those with the higher “dose” of almonds, the “ratio” of bad to good cholesterol [LDL/HDL ratio] went down by 12%.
The American Heart Association (AHA) recognizes nuts [including almonds, walnuts, pecans, peanuts, macadamia, and pistachios] may help to lower your blood cholesterol and may be a very healthy “snack”. However, they also warn that they are a source of calories and should not be used to great excess in those with calorie restricted diets and that you should avoid nuts with added oils or added salt. The AHA recommends eating an overall balanced diet that is high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and includes low-fat [or non-fat] diary products, fish and lean meats. If you add nuts to your diet, just be sure that you don’t inadvertently add considerable total calories – despite the benefits of nuts, maintaining an ideal body weight is more important. Weight is often a simple lesson in physics – what comes in either stays [as increased pounds] or is used up for energy and metabolism [which is increased by a regular exercise program].

Disclaimer: If you are under 18, pregnant, nursing or have health problems, consult your physician before starting any weight loss plan. The information here is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. Please consult your physician before beginning any course of treatment.

About the Author

Dr. John Rumberger’s experince in the field is extensive, and includes achieving his doctorate in 1976 (Bio-Engineering/ Fluid Dynamics/ Applied Mathematics) from Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio, with a dissertation on, A Non-Linear Model of Coronary Artery Blood Flow. He has just completed his book The WAY Diet available on amazon.com or direct through the publisher at http://www.emptycanoe.com

Tags: 3 Fatty Acids, American Heart Association, Author, Bad Cholesterol, Brazil, Brazil Nuts, Cholesterol Values, Daily Calorie Intake, diabetes;, Diary Products, energy;, Fluid Dynamics, folic acid, Food Category, Food Charts, food;, Hazel Nuts, Health Study, Healthy Heart, Healthy Nuts, Heart Disease Risk, heart disease;, John Rumberger, Ldl Cholesterol, Monounsaturated Fats, Nurses Health, nutritious food;, Ohio, Ohio State University, Ohio State University Columbus, Omega 3 Fatty Acids, physician, Plant Sources, Rumberger, Tree Nuts, Type 2 Diabetes, vascular disease —

Is That Healthy Fish Really So Healthful?
Margot B

Is That Healthy Fish Really So Healthful?
By Margot B

ELLE Magazine’s April issue explores how the most health-conscious eaters may be exposing themselves to dangerous levels of mercury. For years fish has been a dietary staple among weight-watchers and the most health-conscious consumers. Many believe that the omega-3 fatty acids in salmon and tuna can prevent heart disease and wrinkles as well as make their brains both brainier and less susceptible to depression.

However, Dr. Jane Hightower, [an Internal medicine specialist] reports in ELLE’s April issue, that a dangerous level of mercury is found in some very common types of fish: swordfish, shark, ahi, canned tuna. She discusses the three-year study that led to her concluding that too much of the wrong kind of fish can give you a nasty case of mercury poisoning.

Hightower reports the symptoms of mercury poisoning to include fatigue, headaches, hair loss, and neurological problems, ranging from numbness, muscle weakness, altered vision and hearing, slurred speech, to convulsions and dementia.

Hightower’s claim has touched off controversy from nationwide, pitting federal agencies and fishing industry against environmentalists and health enthusiasts. ‘Virtually all fish contain traces of methyl mercury’ Hightower reveals. ‘In lakes and rivers, where pollution is often quite concentrated, even small fish can have large amounts.’ ‘In oceans, it’s the big predatory species at the top of the food chain that ends up with

the most mercury; these fish may feast for years on smaller fish before becoming fillets themselves. Swordfish, which may be among the largest sea creatures regularly consumed by humans, may accumulate several million times the amount of mercury found in the surrounding water, according to the EPA.’
Some healthy hints from Dr. Hightower:

* Eat more salmon – the fish highest in omega-3-like salmon and

sardines, contain very low levels of mercury.

* Limit fish if you are pregnant [or trying]. Eat no more than 12-ounces

a week, and avoid swordfish, shark, king mackerel, and tilefish.

* Go for variety – eat different kinds of fish.

* Think small – little fish tend to be lower in mercury. Eating smaller

portions also helps.

* Don’t be afraid – occasionally bingeing on sushi or eating

swordfish all week on vacation won’t hurt you.

Source: ELLE
Web site: http://elle.com/
Mar 14, 2003 09:23 ET

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Margot B
mailto:margotb@authorsden.com
Web site: http://margotb.tk

About the Author

Margot B is the author of a book and 100s of articles, specializing in health and the environment….and is a Web site designer. Samples:
http://margotb.tk
http://nuchatlaht.tk
http://margotbworldnews.tk
http://websitebldg.tripod.com/

Tags: 3 Fatty Acids, Author, Canned Tuna, Dangerous Level, Dietary Staple, Environmental Protection Agency, Fishing Industry, food chain, Health Enthusiasts, Hightower Reports, Internal Medicine Specialist, Jane Hightower, Kind Of Fish, king, Lakes And Rivers, Largest Sea, Methyl Mercury, Nasty Case, Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Predatory Species, Sea Creatures, Small Fish, Specialist Reports, Top Of The Food Chain, Types Of Fish, Web site designer —