Grapes: Powerful Antioxidants that Reduce the Risk of Atherosclerosis

Fresh, delicious, juicy grapes!

Did you know that eating fresh grapes may prevent the accumulation of harmful oxidized cholesterol as well as the development of
atherosclerotic lesions. Yes. According to the study, as reported
in the Journal of Nutrition (vol. 135, pp. 722-728, 2005.), naturally occurring antioxidants in fresh grapes known as polyphenols are believed to be responsible for this beneficial impact.

In order to ensure the scientific validity of grape health studies, a representative sample of fresh California grapes was collected, freeze-dried and ground into an edible grape powder. The grape powder used in this study contains all of the biologically active compounds found in fresh grapes.

“We found a remarkable reduction in the development of atherosclerosis following consumption of grape powder,” said principal investigator Bianca Fuhrman, Senior Scientist at the Lipid Research Laboratory headed by Dr. Michael Aviram at the Rambam Medical Center in Israel . “Grapes contain an abundance of powerful antioxidants that appear to inhibit an array of critical
factors that can cause atherosclerosis.”

Atherosclerosis, also known as hardening of the arteries, is the result of cholesterol build-up on the arterial wall, which leads to blockage of the vessels that supply blood to the heart or the brain, resulting in a heart attack or stroke, respectively. Blood cholesterol is carried throughout the body by two lipoproteins.

Low density lipoprotein (LDL), also known as the “bad” cholesterol, deposits cholesterol in arterial walls when it is present in excess. High density lipoprotein (HDL), or the “good” cholesterol, removes the excess cholesterol from the arteries to the liver and out of the body.

When cholesterol is damaged by oxidation, such as oxidized LDL cholesterol, it is more easily deposited in the arterial walls, leading to a blockage of the vessels. Diseases caused by atherosclerosis are the leading cause of illness and death in the U.S.

Eating 5 to 10 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables per day will help. And while you’re at it, be sure to lead your children towards a life of health, happiness, vitality, and longevity by adding delicious grapes to their diet.

Hook Up with Health and yummy grapes for better health!

PS. Check out our new lower prices on great tasting snacks and meal replacements at www.hookupwithhealth.wholefoodfarmacy today!

Quinoa benefits people with high cholesterol and more!

Quinoa, though not technically a cereal grain like wheat or oats,
has been cultivated and eaten as a cereal for thousands of years
by South Americans. Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is the tiny seed
of the Chenopodium Quinoa, a leafy plant that is a distant
relative of spinach and beets.

Quinoa was called the "mother grain" by the Incas (chisiya mama).
Now, as people in the rest of the world learn more about Quinoa,
they're discovering that its ancient nickname was well deserved -
Quinoa is indeed a nutritional powerhouse.

Quinoa's protein content, about 16 percent, is higher than that
of any other grain. Wheat also has a high protein content, about
14 percent, but the protein in wheat and most other grains is
lacking in the amino acid lysine, which Quinoa has in abundance.
In fact, the amino acid composition in Quinoa is almost perfect.

The World Health Organization has judged the protein in Quinoa
to be as complete as that in milk. In addition, Quinoa contains
more iron than most grains, and is a good source of calcium,
phosphorus, folate, and many B vitamins.

Eating a serving of whole grains, such as Quinoa, at least 6 times each week is an especially good idea for postmenopausal women with high cholesterol, high blood pressure or other signs of cardiovascular disease.

A 3-year prospective study of 229 postmenopausal women with
cardiovascular disease, published in the July 2005 issue of the
American Heart Journal, shows that those eating at least 6
servings of whole grains each week experienced slowed progression
of atherosclerosis, the build-up of plaque that narrows the
vessels through which blood flows and lss progression in
stenosis, the narrowing of the diameter of arterial passageways.

Quinoa can be found in your favorite Wholefood Farmacy foods
such as Phi Plus, as well as all seven of our Wholefood Farinas:
AmpliPhi, BeautiPhi, ClariPhi, DetoxiPhi, ElectriPhi, FructiPhi
& GloriPhi.

Hook up With Health and Quinoa today.

PS. To try great tasting Phi Plus and our seven Wholefood Farinas click the link at the Hook Up With Health tab.

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How to Reduce LDL (Bad) Cholesterol and the Risk of Heart Disease

Back in 1993, the original Walnut Study from Loma Linda University made headlines around the world and was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Why all the excitement? Because Loma Linda University had broken new ground. They were the first to find that walnuts in a controlled diet reduced LDL (bad) cholesterol and heart disease risk significantly more than the Step 1 diet that was then recommended by the American Heart Association. In other words - they proved, scientifically, that food really can be your medicine.

In April 2000, another landmark walnut study was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The study, a follow-up to the 1993 Loma Linda study, was conducted at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona. Researchers had 49 men and women with high cholesterol incorporate walnuts into a healthy Mediterranean diet, substituting a handful of walnuts a day for some of the monounsaturated fat in the diet. Participants lowered their "bad" LDL cholesterol by almost 6 per cent and heart disease risk by 11 per cent beyond what would be expected from the Mediterranean diet alone.

The Loma Linda study participants substituted walnuts, one of nature's richest sources of polyunsaturated fat, for saturated fat. The Barcelona participants substituted walnuts for another healthy fat. Barcelona scientists also remarked on the ease of incorporating walnuts into the diet. According to researcher Juan Carlos Laguna, Ph.D., "That's the main point of the study. You eat a normal amount, like five or six walnuts a day. That's something you can do every day without any problem."

You can find Walnuts in many of your favorite Wholefood Farmacy foods such as Phi Plus, Cranberry Phi, Coco Cherry Phi and TropiPhi.

Hook Up With Health and Walnuts Today to lower your Bad Cholesterol

With your Health and Wellness Through Food In Mind!

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Can Children Learn to Eat Healthy?

Teaching children from a young age to eat healthy fats can have lifelong health benefits according to

a new study published in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation in August, 2007.

The study focused on over one thousand children in Findland who were followed from the age of 7

months through age 14. The researchers found that children who were taught to focus on the

healthy fats found in fish, nuts, seeds, and plant oils had slightly lower cholesterol levels compared

to children who ate an unrestricted diet by the time they reached the age of 14.


Dr. Art Labovitz, cardiology director at Saint Louis University School of Medicine pointed out that even a

small decrease in cholesterol levels can have a big influence over the course of your child’s life.

“If you study large numbers of people, the small increments result in a significant change in heart attacks

and cardiac deaths,” said Dr. Art Labovitz.


Dr. Harri Niinikoski, lead author of the study done at the University of Turku in Finland, said children begin

forming their eating and lifestyle habits in childhood. “We think that this lifestyle change can be started

early,” he said.


Dr. Sarah Blumenschein, a pediatric cardiologist with the University of Texas Southwestern Medical

Center, said the study shows that early intervention is the key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. “The

earlier you intervene, the more likely you are going to be successful,” she said.


The key is to teach your children, starting as young as possilbe, to appreciate the healthy fats found in

fish, nuts, seeds, and plant oils. By avoiding the saturated fas and trans fats which are in most

processed foods, fast foods and junk foods – your children will lower their total fat intake and enjoy more

of the benefits that healthy fats have to offer.  As your children grow into their teens and begin eating  

more meals away from home, their healthy habits will guide them towards healthier food choices when

unsupervised.

We encourage parents everywhere to read the nutrition information on the foods that their children eat.

The healthy fats are listed as unsaturated fats, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

The unhealthy fats are listed as saturated fats and trans fats.


Wholefood Farmacy foods are rich in heart healthy fats which are found in nuts, seeds, and plant oils –

and these foods offer you a wonderful way to encourage healthy eating habits with your children starting

at a young age.  Great tasting Whole Food Farmacy foods, such as Phi Plus, Cornucopia, 

and Bucky Balls can be easily introduced to your children.

Please note, many of the Whole Food Farmacy products are a combination of wonderfully healthy

ingredients therefore it is advisable to read the nutritional information available on each product ahead

of your purchase to prevent issues children may have with food allergies.

Hook your children up with heart healthy meal replacements and snacks today!  

www.hookupiwthhealth.wholefoodfarmacy.com