Tag Archives: holistic approach

Consuming Fish Linked To Heart Health

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fish consumption linked to heart health

The Women's Health Initiative Observational Study (WHI-OS), which involved 84,493 females aged 50-79 years old has linked fish consumption to a heathy heart. This integrative nutrition-based study analyzed data over a 10-year period on the effects of various forms of fish consumption and heart failure. The results were startling and provide valuable information. At the start of this study none of the participants had heart disease.

Fish is well known as a food which enhances both physical as well as mental health. Fish oil is also reported to be a mental and physical nutrient which reduces disease development and mental deterioration. In evaluating fish and fish oil it would be natural to expect that positive outcomes would be observed and reported.

The study divided the consumption of baked or broiled fish into frequency categories of less than 1 time per month; 1-3 times per month; 1-2 times per week; 3-4 times per week and greater than 5 times per week.

The study also observed the consumption of fried fish at the frequencies of less than one serving per month; 1-3 times per month and greater than 1 time per week.

The findings, however, were startling. The weekly consumption of 5 or more serving of baked or broiled dark fish, primarily salmon, mackerel and bluefish, was found to lower the risk of heart failure by an impressive 30%. While the consumption of fried fish, just 1 time or more per week, was associated to be related to a 48% increase in heart failure!

Another surprise within this study is that the assumption that taking omega-3 supplements will be as beneficial as eating fish. The study could not identify any significant change in cardiac failure rates that was associated with taking omega-3 supplements.

While the study came to no hard and fast conclusion of why the fried fish was so lethal, the thinking is that there must be some property to the oil when deep fried that creates the negative health effects. Another conclusion drawn from this study was that it appears better to eat fresh fish that is baked or broiled that to reply on fish oil supplements for heart health.

While this is a blow to those of us who love fish and chips, enjoying fish that is well cooked and healthy for our hearts is not a hard thing to get used to.

For more whole health discussions like this, listen to my hit radio show Living Above The Drama.

A Whole Health Approach To Spring And Summer Allergy Relief

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A Whole Health Approach To Spring And Summer Allergy Relief

A standout amongst the most important aspects of tending to any medical problem is to comprehend the circumstances and end results of how and why you are encountering your side effects, and what they represent. Seasonal Allergies are, for some, the drawback to the magnificence of spring and summer. Itchy, runny eyes and nose, sniffling, coughing, and wheezing can direct a person's actions, where they can go, and even what they can eat. A whole health approach may provide greater relief.

None of this is desirable, and much of it has been shown to be preventable. To understand how you can take control of your seasonal allergies, let’s explore where they come from. Foreign proteins are found in many airborne substances, such as pollen, dust mites, and ragweed. When mucous membranes that come in contact with these foreign proteins are not immunologically competent enough to break down the proteins, the membranes secrete mucous, fluids, and histamine. This causes the itching, swelling, irritation, and watery excretions that make seasonal allergies so challenging.

To improve allergy symptoms, steroid or steroid-like medications are often prescribed. These are anti-inflammatory chemicals that reduce the allergic immune reaction to the foreign proteins.

By building up our immune and adrenal system, we can enable our bodies to be better able to handle these allergens, which cause the allergy reactions. Our adrenals are located either on top of or within the kidneys and produce cortico-steroids and other natural anti-inflammatory as part of our “national guard” system. Hans Selye, MD, PhD, who spent over 50 years researching the adrenals and immune system, discovered the important nutrition and lifestyle components to keeping this important body system working well:

-A diet rich in B, C, E, and A vitamins (or supplementation)

-Unsaturated fatty acids, such as fish oils

-Adequate protein intake

-Minerals to aid the production of natural allergy fighting anti-inflammatories

-Adequate sleep and rest

-Elimination of infections

-Reduction of emotional stress

-Moderate exercise

-Avoidance of over exertion

-Avoidance of traumas as well as dental and medical surgery

-Elimination of extreme temperatures indoors and out

Seyle’s research demonstrated that by taking good care of our adrenal and immune system, allergies may be greatly reduced and, in some cases, eliminated. Applying some of these principles may allow you to enjoy this spring more while experiencing fewer symptoms.

For more whole health discussions like this, listen to my weekly radio show Living Above The Drama available on iHeartRadio.