It seems that if you want to control your cholesterol naturally (specifically raise your good HDL) and you don't want to take medication (which I don't), the important thing to remember is:
It's all about the B's.
B3 or Niacin, to be exact.
I got a phone call from my doctor saying that we could try to tackle my cholesterol level by taking a Niacin supplement.
HOORAY!
Of course, there is the possibility of side effects.
Bummer :(
So I decided to find out if there is a way I can boost my Niacin levels through food and a lower dose of B3. As it turns out there are quite a few foods which give you the cholesterol friendly extra B3 vitamin.
Mushrooms
Peas
Corn
Kidney Beans
Soy Beans
Peanuts
Sea Vegetables
Fortified soy milk
So I think I shall make sure I have these foods in my cupboard or fridge and go pick up a bottle of B3 (Niacin). Time will tell (four months until my next blood work) if going the natural route will straighten my cholesterol levels but I am confident it will.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Flax and Granola Pancake!
I love pancakes!
Ever since I was a little girl and my mother started making me buttermilk pancakes (Bisquick!)I have thought they were the perfect breakfast treat. Better than waffles, more scrumptious than French toast (well...maybe not) pancakes have always meant comfort.
The great thing is I can now VEGANIZE THEM! I can even make my pancakes more healthy and tasty. For instance, today I made enough pancake batter (you don't even have to make it from scratch anymore!)for one fairly large pancake, but to boost the nutrition factor I added three tbsps of Flaxseed Meal, mixing it until fully incorporated. After pouring the batter in the pan and letting it cook a bit (until the edges rounded up a little) I sprinkled a quarter cup of Pumpkin Flax Granola onto it and finished cooking it.
SO YUM!! The pancake was more filling than when I've eaten simple Buttermilk pancakes in the past. Honestly, I could only eat half of the pancake and I wasn't hungry again until lunch-time. A very good choice for a healthier breakfast which I shall definitely do again.
Hmmmm...maybe next time I'll add blueberres.
Ever since I was a little girl and my mother started making me buttermilk pancakes (Bisquick!)I have thought they were the perfect breakfast treat. Better than waffles, more scrumptious than French toast (well...maybe not) pancakes have always meant comfort.
The great thing is I can now VEGANIZE THEM! I can even make my pancakes more healthy and tasty. For instance, today I made enough pancake batter (you don't even have to make it from scratch anymore!)for one fairly large pancake, but to boost the nutrition factor I added three tbsps of Flaxseed Meal, mixing it until fully incorporated. After pouring the batter in the pan and letting it cook a bit (until the edges rounded up a little) I sprinkled a quarter cup of Pumpkin Flax Granola onto it and finished cooking it.
SO YUM!! The pancake was more filling than when I've eaten simple Buttermilk pancakes in the past. Honestly, I could only eat half of the pancake and I wasn't hungry again until lunch-time. A very good choice for a healthier breakfast which I shall definitely do again.
Hmmmm...maybe next time I'll add blueberres.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Cholesterol Medication...Seriously?
So as you know, I started this personal blog to detail my new healthy vegan life-style because the doctor informed me yesterday that my risk for heart disease is now very high because of my cholesterol numbers. What I didn't tell you is that she also wants to put me on cholesterol medication.
Seriously?? I'm only 45!
Talk about a kick in the pants! Not to mention that stuff isn't cheap by a long shot. I went to the pharmacy to pick it up today and nearly dropped my jaw (or maybe I actually did!) We're talking $84 a month out of pocket! Honestly, it might as well be $840 because that is an extra financial burden we don't need right now.
I don't know if eating a vegan diet (rich in leafy greens, flaxseed, fruits, and nuts) will get my cholesterol numbers where they need to be but it's worth a try and will certainly be less expensive than paying for extra medication every month.
My first day eating vegan wasn't bad...although I did (do) find myself craving cheese. :/
However, I have been drinking more water and eating more fruits and veggies so that's gotta be a good thing. I don't know. The last two days has been a kind of "wake up" call I guess (although you would think the "Syndrome X" chest pain from three years ago would have been stronger but oh well). Cholesterol is what got me on the road to change. I heard recently that sometimes it's better to make this kind of a lifestyle change suddenly rather than gradually. A kind of "just do it" mentality where you go cold-turkey and hopefully never look back.
We shall see.
***********************************
Here is a little something fun for this Harvest season. I received it in my email newsletter from VegNews. Yes, I know it's cookies but it looks delicious!
Pumpkin Cookies
Makes 36 cookies
What You Need:
2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1-1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup non-hydrogenated margarine
1 cup sugar
1 cup pumpkin purée
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 cup chocolate-covered raisins
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/3 cup toasted coconut
1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts
What You Do:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper and set aside. In a medium bowl, place flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, salt, and nutmeg and stir well to combine.
2. In a large bowl, cream margarine and sugar. Add pumpkin purée, vanilla, and almond extract, and stir well to combine. Add dry mixture to wet mixture and combine thoroughly. Fold in the remaining ingredients.
3. Working in batches, drop the cookie dough by tablespoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets, spacing them 3 inches apart. Using the back of a spoon, flatten each tablespoonful to form a 2-inch circle. Bake for 8 minutes, rotate the cookie sheet's placement on the rack in the oven, and bake an additional 7 to 8 minutes or until they are lightly browned around the edges.
4. Remove from the oven and allow cookies to cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes before transferring them to a rack to cool completely. Repeat procedure for remaining dough. Store cooled cookies in an air-tight container. For an extra festive punch, frost cookies with your favorite colorful icing.
Seriously?? I'm only 45!
Talk about a kick in the pants! Not to mention that stuff isn't cheap by a long shot. I went to the pharmacy to pick it up today and nearly dropped my jaw (or maybe I actually did!) We're talking $84 a month out of pocket! Honestly, it might as well be $840 because that is an extra financial burden we don't need right now.
I don't know if eating a vegan diet (rich in leafy greens, flaxseed, fruits, and nuts) will get my cholesterol numbers where they need to be but it's worth a try and will certainly be less expensive than paying for extra medication every month.
My first day eating vegan wasn't bad...although I did (do) find myself craving cheese. :/
However, I have been drinking more water and eating more fruits and veggies so that's gotta be a good thing. I don't know. The last two days has been a kind of "wake up" call I guess (although you would think the "Syndrome X" chest pain from three years ago would have been stronger but oh well). Cholesterol is what got me on the road to change. I heard recently that sometimes it's better to make this kind of a lifestyle change suddenly rather than gradually. A kind of "just do it" mentality where you go cold-turkey and hopefully never look back.
We shall see.
***********************************
Here is a little something fun for this Harvest season. I received it in my email newsletter from VegNews. Yes, I know it's cookies but it looks delicious!
Pumpkin Cookies
Makes 36 cookies
What You Need:
2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1-1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup non-hydrogenated margarine
1 cup sugar
1 cup pumpkin purée
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 cup chocolate-covered raisins
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/3 cup toasted coconut
1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts
What You Do:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper and set aside. In a medium bowl, place flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, salt, and nutmeg and stir well to combine.
2. In a large bowl, cream margarine and sugar. Add pumpkin purée, vanilla, and almond extract, and stir well to combine. Add dry mixture to wet mixture and combine thoroughly. Fold in the remaining ingredients.
3. Working in batches, drop the cookie dough by tablespoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets, spacing them 3 inches apart. Using the back of a spoon, flatten each tablespoonful to form a 2-inch circle. Bake for 8 minutes, rotate the cookie sheet's placement on the rack in the oven, and bake an additional 7 to 8 minutes or until they are lightly browned around the edges.
4. Remove from the oven and allow cookies to cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes before transferring them to a rack to cool completely. Repeat procedure for remaining dough. Store cooled cookies in an air-tight container. For an extra festive punch, frost cookies with your favorite colorful icing.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
The Journey Begins
"Your risk for heart disease has gone up significantly".
Those were the words I heard from my doctor this morning as she read my cholesterol numbers and risk factor for heart disease. Considering my HDL (good cholesterol) is 26 and my LDL (bad cholesterol) is 226...well, lets just say it's time for some changes.
For me that starts with eating healthy and losing weight....a lot of weight.
I was a vegetarian for years but in the last three or four have gone back to eating chicken, eggs, and dairy. However, I know the best diet (especially for a healthy heart) is one which abstains from all animal products. I know what Dr. Dean Ornish and Dr. MacDougall have reported about the vegan diet and heart disease prevention (or reversal).
It's time to make a serious change if I want to live a healthy life and do everything I believe God has called me to do, enjoy my family, and appreciate this gift called life. I know myself, though. It's not going to be easy. So I've decided to create a place to track my journey.
Thoughts.
Triumphs.
Setbacks.
In the end, it's about learning to be healthy again and that's a good thing.
********************************************************
If you want to learn more about what your cholesterol levels mean check out the American Heart Association.
Those were the words I heard from my doctor this morning as she read my cholesterol numbers and risk factor for heart disease. Considering my HDL (good cholesterol) is 26 and my LDL (bad cholesterol) is 226...well, lets just say it's time for some changes.
For me that starts with eating healthy and losing weight....a lot of weight.
I was a vegetarian for years but in the last three or four have gone back to eating chicken, eggs, and dairy. However, I know the best diet (especially for a healthy heart) is one which abstains from all animal products. I know what Dr. Dean Ornish and Dr. MacDougall have reported about the vegan diet and heart disease prevention (or reversal).
It's time to make a serious change if I want to live a healthy life and do everything I believe God has called me to do, enjoy my family, and appreciate this gift called life. I know myself, though. It's not going to be easy. So I've decided to create a place to track my journey.
Thoughts.
Triumphs.
Setbacks.
In the end, it's about learning to be healthy again and that's a good thing.
********************************************************
If you want to learn more about what your cholesterol levels mean check out the American Heart Association.
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