Health: Memory is Key, Eat Real Food

#health #memory #food #cholesterol

"Our brains want real food. Some nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and various vitamins help your memory stay sharp and can protect your brain from damage at old age. Others, such as nuts and eggs, contain nutrients that support memory and brain development"-- Paul Ebeling

Bad cholesterol is low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) that has been found to have a negative role in cognitive performance in older adults, according to a study.  Cognitive performance is all about remembering, thinking, learning, and understanding.  We are dependent on these brain-based skills without realizing it.

September is National Cholesterol Education Month so let’s learn more about it now and what bad cholesterol really does in our body.

Our cholesterol levels are not fixed; they can rise and fall in relation to what we have been eating, drugs, exercise, and by a disease. What we know is that each person’s levels rise and fall to different degrees.  Some can have static levels while others are very inconsistent.  All of this is taken into account in the research.

Cholesterol isn’t totally bad for us; we actually need it to assist the body in normal functioning. We have cell membranes that are made up of around 30% cholesterol which helps in building, maintaining, and keeping membranes functional.

Lipoproteins come in 2 forms: low-density (LDL) and high-density (HDL). The HDL cholesterol is called the “good cholesterol” as it helps move the LDL cholesterol toward the liver where it is broken down and then flows on.

We call LDL cholesterol “bad cholesterol” because when there is too much of it, a thick, hard plaque is created clogging up arteries and stiffening them which increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

So, all cholesterol is not bad, it is always about eating a balanced eating plan with lots of vegetables and fruit.

Learn how to lower cholesterol naturally with real foods, and how to cook to help lower your cholesterol.

Cooking to Lower Cholesterol Primer

• Select lean cuts of meat with minimal visible fat.

• Buy “choice” or “select” grades rather than “prime.” Select lean or extra lean ground beef.

• Trim all visible fat from meat before cooking.

• Broil rather than pan-fry meats such as hamburger, lamb chops, pork chops and steak.

• Limit processed meats such as sausage, bologna, salami and hot dogs. Many processed meats – even those with “reduced fat” labels – are high in calories and saturated fat. Such foods are often high in sodium, too.

• Read labels carefully and eat processed foods only occasionally, and

• Eat more fish

Eat healthy, Be healthy, Live lively