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By now you may have figured out that Christmas is my favorite time of the year, because for the pass few days I’ve posted articles like Healthy Eating During Christmas and Do It Yourself Christmas Cards. Well, here is another great healthy tip for all the folks planning on drinking at all the Christmas dinners and still remain health conscious.

So you are offered the usual two choices, red or white wine. Which one do you choose? Well, if you want be health conscious this Christmas, do like the French and have a little red wine, occasionally. You will find that you may actually have a heartier time while doing this and the health benefits you get may actually surprise you. Studies show that drinking red wine moderately :smile: may actually bring health benefits such as preventing heart diseases and improving the circulatory system.

Though not definite, the health benefits of drinking a little red wine cannot be overlooked. The “French Paradox” provides one of the most compelling arguments to support this. Though the French diet is saturated with fat, they have a relatively low incidence of coronary heart diseases. Some scientists attribute this to their red wine drinking.

What makes red wines beneficial to our health is that it is a rich source of disease fighting agents known as antioxidants. These antioxidants reduce blood clot formation so that oxygen can efficiently reach the vital organs of the body such as the brain and heart. This in turn, helps to reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks and also improves the body’s circulatory system.

I hope that, knowing about red wine and its health benefits shouldn’t encourage you to over-indulge this holiday season, since this will only cause harm instead of good. But at least when you are asked to choose between red and white wine, consider the red.


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For many people in the Caribbean the word cholesterol is often linked with chronic diseases and is mostly considered unhealthy. Yet cholesterol plays a very important role in how our bodies function. What then is cholesterol?

In a few words …It is a waxy material produced by the liver. In the body, Cholesterol makes cell membranes, insulates our nerves, and supplies certain hormones. The big problem is that our bodies make adequate cholesterol for our use and additional amounts are not necessary. But when we eat animal products, they add to what is already in our body. These sources of unwanted cholesterol include meats, poultry, fish, and dairy products.

Excessive cholesterol in the blood can result in cardiovascular diseases that increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Our hearts receive oxygen from arteries carrying blood. If the arteries narrow or are blocked, however, the heart will be deprived of life-giving oxygen, leading to chest pain or heart attack. Heart attack may occur when plaque ruptures and blood clots are formed that block or cut off blood supply to the heart.

Not all cholesterol is bad. The high-density lipoprotein or HDL is made by our bodies and help reduce risk of heart attacks. The bad cholesterol is the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) that can clog arteries and cause heart attack and stroke.

Too much LDL cholesterol in the blood, results in the cholesterol mixing with other materials to form plaque and build up deposits on the walls of our arteries, causing them to harden. This build up makes arteries narrow and slows the flow of blood to the heart.

There are a couple of ways you can go about securing the perfect method for you. To do this, you’ll have to consider your vacation lifestyle, needs, desires and personality. Being an adventurous traveler doesn’t necessarily mean exploring the mountaintops and caves in every corner of the world.

To enjoy a healthy heart we must lower blood cholesterol by eating more fiber and foods low in saturated fat. Foods such as Grace Oats are low in fat, high in fiber and help to reduce cholesterol. Oats are also full of vitamins and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, copper and thiamine.

Scientists believe oats are very good for us, linked to reducing the “bad” cholesterol while maintaining the “good” cholesterol within our bodies. The fiber in oats makes us feel fuller longer and provide long lasting energy throughout the day and especially good for diabetics as it helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels throughout the day. What are you doing to understand and control you cholesterol level? Let’s hear them in the comments


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