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Our world moves at a hectic pace.It’s easy to slip into survival mode. Getting by day-to-day without truly feeling alive or fulfilled. Not taking care of ourselves, we’re tired, over-scheduled, and unhappy. We worry about the toll our lifestyles will have on our health.                                                                                                                                             What if we can stop weathering the storms and start dancing in the rain? What if we could shift from merely surviving to truly THRIVING?A key step in this journey is understanding and improving our health. It starts with something as routine as our blood test numbers.

Switching from beef to chicken with the hope of lowering cholesterol levels is a myth that needs dispelling. Contrary to popular belief, a 2019 study found that both chicken and beef equally raise cholesterol levels, showing that substituting beef with chicken does not bring the anticipated benefits for cholesterol management. It highlights the misconception that chicken is not meat or somehow healthier in terms of cholesterol impact, shedding light on the fact that all meat, regardless of its source, is problematic due to compounds like carnitine and choline which promote inflammation and can exacerbate cholesterol and heart health issues.Fiber plays a crucial role in combating high cholesterol, yet neither chicken nor beef contains fiber, which acts like a sponge to soak up and eliminate cholesterol from the body. The high fat content in meat, combined with the absence of fiber, underscores the futility of choosing leaner meats as a solution for cholesterol management. The complexity in determining the fat content in meat based on various factors renders the effort nearly impossible, drawing attention to the need for alternative dietary choices.Emphasizing plant-based proteins such as beans, lentils, whole grains, and vegetables presents a viable solution for those aiming to lower their cholesterol levels. These food items are not only rich in fiber and low in fat but also provide a clean, cholesterol-lowering protein alternative to meat. Adopting a plant-focused diet could significantly improve cholesterol levels, blood sugar, and blood pressure, offering a healthier lifestyle choice free from the unwanted side effects associated with other cholesterol management strategies like statin use.

Incorporating a strength training routine into your exercise regimen offers substantial benefits that go beyond traditional cardiovascular workouts. While cardio exercises like walking and cycling are often associated with weight loss, strength training is more effective for shedding pounds, especially as one ages. This is because strength training not only builds muscle mass but also boosts calorie burning even when you're at rest, ensuring a more sustained weight loss process.

"What's the best breakfast?" people often ask me. Expecting that I might say eggs or whole wheat toast, I say this, "Oatmeal. It's not just for breakfast anymore."According to Quaker Oats, the average American eats 15 bowls of oatmeal each year. Quaker man might think that’s ok, but I think that it’s awful! When I consider oatmeal’s potential for lowering body weight, blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels, I get on my soap box and scream.I might shout, “Oatmeal is high in fiber and essential nutrients! It has impressive health benefits! Oatmeal deserves its place, not only in your morning routine, but at any time during the day!”That's right. Any time of day.

"Why aren't eggs a healthy breakfast option?" -- asked by many peopleEggs. Not all they're cracked up to be.The widespread misinformation about eggs has become accepted as truth. And unfortunately, too many people are suffering because of it.Yes. Eggs have become a popular source of protein. But relying on protein from eggs increases your risk of heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and liver disease. 

Does baby aspirin lower blood pressure? Can it be taken with a blood thinner? What are the natural ways to lower blood pressure?Do you remember this little aspirin bottle? And the orange-creamsicle-tasting tablets inside? YUM!                                                                                                                                      Photo credit: Science History Institute*   Here's a little bit of aspirin trivia. In 2000, experts found that children who take aspirin can develop Reye’s syndrome. Reye's syndrome is a rare disease that causes brain and liver damage after a viral infection or the flu. So production of these tasty tablets stopped.Now-a-days, you don’t have to be a kid to take baby aspirin. Almost 29 million Americans take it to “thin the blood.” I don’t know how much “thinning” happens with that, though. Aspirin doesn’t change the thickness, or viscosity, of the blood. But it does prevent heart attacks and strokes in people who have already had a cardiac event or stroke. 

This make-believe story can help you next time you hit a plateau…Otis wants to lose weight. He can't see his feet past his large gut. Otis eats roughly 3,000 calories a day, and his weight is steady at 300 pounds. He sets his goal weight at 180 pounds.First, Otis decides to stop eating second helpings. He makes no other changes to his diet or to the number of days he goes to the gym. His daily calorie intake goes from 3,000 to 2,000. And because of that, Otis starts to lose weight.Otis’s body starts emptying out its fat and carbohydrate stores to make up for the calorie shortage. As the weeks go by, Otis continues to eat 2,000 calories a day, and the weight loss goes on.Until the day when the weight loss stops. Otis has plateaued.

Elizabeth asked... Is it necessary or desirable to have my vitamin B12 levels checked?Yes, and YES!We don’t need a lot of vitamin B12 to stay healthy, but we do need a steady supply. Most adults need 2.4 mcg (micrograms) a day. To get an idea of what that means… 3 ounces of pan-fried beef liver has more than 70 mcg. BLAH! Beef, salmon, and tuna have about 2.5 mcg in each 3 oz. serving. But these aren’t such great options either.

Jim W. commented... Talk to me about losing my gut size. It appears that I have a lot of fatty tissue there. And, yes my diet now includes meat, eggs, etc. Not much plant food. Jim, I’m glad that you’re paying attention to the size of your waistline. Your growing “gut,” as you put it, is a sign that you’re accumulating visceral abdominal fat. And that needs your attention. BIG TIME!

I get this question more times than I can count. We have been hood-winked into believing that we need to eat animal protein for good health. We are obsessed with thoughts about getting enough protein. STOP THAT! Nothing could be further from the truth. Eating meat is NOT necessary for good health. People all over the world thrive on meatless diets. In fact, vegans and vegetarians, people who DON'T eat meat, live longer and better than people who do eat it.