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To
receive information on ways to lower cholesterol levels through a diet
fortified with stanols and sterols, visit Wellness Wednesday, held from
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 29 in the Children’s Hospital lobby.
by Janet Carter, Outpatient Dietitian
Heart Health Coordinator
Sterols and stanols are substances found in plants that, when included
in food ingredients, can lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels in the
blood and prevent harmful buildup on artery walls.
Some food manufacturers are now fortifying a few of their food items
(usually margarines and salad dressings) with plant sterols and
stanols. In the right form and quantity, these substances inhibit the
absorption of cholesterol in the gut.
In addition to watching how much cholesterol and saturated fat
consumed, consider incorporating sterols and stanols into your diet,
either by eating a plant-based diet or trying some of the following
kinds of fortified foods: BenecolSpread; Take Control Spread;
SmartBalanceOmegaPlus Buttery Spread; Promise Activ Supershots; Nature
Valley Healthy Heart Chewy Granola Bars; and Yoplait Healthy Heart
Yogurt.
For information, visit http://www.corowise.com.
New skinny on vinegar
Source: Dr. Ann Kulze's July newsletter—http://www.dranns10steps.com/index.cfm.
A new report found that
the vegetables and olive oil that make up the backbone of the
Mediterranean Diet are the key players in its well-documented health
and youth-enhancing effects, and that combining them provides
additional efficacy (BMJ, June 09).
Here are some reasons for including a pre-meal appetizer of tossed salad with an olive oil and vinegar-based dressing:
- The bulk provided by the pre-meal veggies acutely reduces mealtime caloric intake.
- The fat in the olive oil delays stomach emptying (which boosts satiety).
- The oleic acid in the olive oil triggers a quick release of the appetite suppressive hormone CCK.
- The vinegar reduces the glycemic response of carbs coming on board.
Friday, July 24, 2009
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