In order to make a transition to making some eating changes, consider this Quick-Start Plan as a good choice.
Assuming that you're in overall good health (without any heart disease symptoms), here are 3 easy tips to get started on your "Second Life" program. That’s the program for the second 45 years for tackling heart disease and related risk factors:
1. Start drinking several cups/mugs of green or white tea each day (white tea is even higher in antioxidants). There are some brands that taste mellow and pleasant, and some have flavors like jasmine or orange. Studies show that green tea has significant health benefits—it can help to relax arteries up to 5%, and help to lower your blood pressure several points. It can also help to reduce inflammation, a known contributor to plaque growth. Try a few flavors and brands and find one you like. Drink this healthful beverage instead of coffee or soda during the day.
2. Eat small portions of dark chocolate a few times per day. A small handful (about a teaspoon) of chips is about right. I like bittersweet baking chips—they’re cheaper and have few extra ingredients. Some brands have more than 60% to70% cacao, which is great! Dark chocolate, like green tea, can help to relax arteries by about 5% and help to lower your blood pressure. Like green tea, it can also help reduce inflammation. It’s very high in antioxidants.
Both chocolate and green (or white tea, a less processed form), can also help LDL from oxidizing and make platelets less sticky to help prevent artery clots. Green tea acts rather quickly (in about 30 minutes), but doesn’t last as long as chocolate, so drink more green tea during the day.
3. If you’re a healthy adult, have a one-day juice fast several times a year. These are great for giving your digestive system a break and can help to clear fats and cholesterol from your system. It’s not hard to do, and you won’t feel like you’re starving! Drink every hour or so and you’ll feel full. You’ll probably loose a few pounds too! Here’s what I use for 1 day:
1-46 ounce size of V8 (low sodium)
1-carton of chicken broth (low sodium)
1-bottle (12 to 16 ounces) of natural juice like berry, pomegranate, carrot, or other antioxidant-rich juice (avoid added sugar or corn sweetener). Naked and Odwalla brands offer some good choices.
Several cups of green tea
Several glasses of water
Alternate drinks throughout the day for variety. For example, have some hot broth for lunch or dinner, and alternate juices, tea, and water when you feel hungry. About 1 glass per hour is right. If you have leftover juice the next day, extend until all the juice is finished!
In addition to giving your digestive system a good rest, with virtually no fat, you’ll also have little or no dietary cholesterol (great for helping plaque), and lots of healthy antioxidants to help lower inflammation and improve your metabolic functions! Try this every 3 months to really gain some good benefits!
Plan for a relaxing day, probably a weekend day is best. You can do some light physical activity, such as gardening or walking. Try to consider what your Second Life will be like. Will you be energetic and vibrant or infirm and disabled with a sudden end? That choice is largely yours!
Disclaimer: The information contained on this website is for educational use and is not intended as a substitute for the diagnosis or treatment of a licensed professional. Statements regarding the properties or functions of nutritional supplements may not have been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
©2008-2009 by Steve/Beat Heart Disease
About Me
- beatheartdisease
- Where to begin? I’ve been interested in health, diet, and nutritional supplements for 20 years, because I had a childhood illness. I learned what it’s like to be hospitalized, go through shots, surgeries, etc. It was a great lesson in what happens when you lose your health. I’ve had a decent diet for years, but had some bad habits in my 20s and 30s: I smoked cigaretts, ate fast food, etc. When I had an initial CT scan, the scan showed some plaque so I did more research into how I might reverse it. I was able to reverse it quite a bit! This blog is a result of that research along with a moderate diet and supplements. Feel free to e-mail me with questions at the contact address!
