Welcome to My Vegan Journey to Health

This is my journey into the vegetarian and vegan world. I am going to be as honest as I can about how I am affected by this “conversion”.

About 2 months ago I went to the doctor because I caught a cold that wouldn’t go away. While I was there I had my blood drawn to run my numbers for important stuff like cholesterol and some other things that I don’t understand but came back normal. (It had been 15 years since I had it done previously.)

Two months ago when I took it they failed to tell me that it was important to fast so my numbers were:

Total Cholesterol: 210 (needs to be lower than 200)
Triglycerides: 202 (needs to be lower than 150)
HDL: 45 (needs to be greater than 39)
VLDL Cholesterol: 40 (needs to be lower than 40)
LDL Cholesterol: 125 (needs to be lower than 100)

After two months and with a 12 hour fast:

Total Cholesterol: 218 (needs to be lower than 200)
Triglycerides: 150 (needs to be lower than 150)
HDL: 44 (needs to be greater than 39)
VLDL Cholesterol: 30 (needs to be lower than 40)
LDL Cholesterol: 144 (needs to be lower than 100)

This has been a wake up call for me. I exercise regularly (running 4-7 miles/3-4 times a week) and hardly ever ate red meat. Ate mostly chicken and loved cheese and ice cream and considered myself a connoisseur of french fries. I admit, I love french fries. But after getting my scores I am really aware of what I put into my body. At first I started researching cholesterol and got side tracked on being a vegetarian and how the Food Industry feeds and kills the animals that America eats. I saw the video documentary King Corn, which is a really good documentary telling you what our bodies are really made up of by testing the DNA in our hair . That got me really scared to eat any kind of meat.. I was OK with organic for a little while and the more that I researched about meat and the affects that happen to our bodies, I decided whole-heartedly to never eat meat again. In Vegan language I was a ovo-lacto vegetarian. Which means do not eat beef, lamb, pork, poultry, fish, shellfish or animal flesh of any kind, but still willing to eat eggs and dairy.  For a month, I didn’t eat any kind of flesh except for a handful of beef jerky because it tastes pretty delicious.

After the first month, I got my hands on the book, Vegan, The New Ethics of Eating by: Erik Marcus and that is totally changing the way I view dairy and eggs. Awesome, awesome book about the way that animal protein affects our bodies. Our liver naturally produces the cholesterol that we need to live. When we eat things are from animals we are adding unnecessary cholesterol to our bodies. For me, even the slightest amount affects my totals negatively.  So, I have chosen to not eat meat from all animals and dairy and eggs. I want to check my cholesterol totals at the end of 6 months to see how I am physically doing and then again at one year. I was offered very freely y my doctor to go on medication to lower it. I am so against these kind of doctors. The only information they gave me was “watch what you eat and increase my exercise”. Gee thanks! After two months of “watching what I ate” my numbers are still not in the good range and they said they wanted to write me a prescription for cholesterol lowering meds. I said, ” No thanks!” In mind my I am thinking you are crazy! And I am looking for another doctor. Don’t they know what the side affects are of these medications that they freely prescribe?? Maybe I am the crazy one? But in my mind I feel so strongly about not going on them and I am so turned off by this practice that I am ready to find a new doctor. Someone who listens and advises before meds are given. Ok, that’s enough…you get the picture.

Since I have made the decision to not eat meat in any form I am have been so excited and I don’t feel deprived at all. I am grateful and thankful for a husband who is not mad that I have totally refused to make meat again. we have about 2 or more pounds of meat in our freezer that is just sitting there waiting to be eaten. Any takers?

So, my daughter has requested my attention and I will leave on this note: I have made the choice to eat like a vegetarian and I am slowly converted to Vegan. I don’t want to have the title of Vegan but that is what I aim to be. I am more than what I eat. I am a christian of 12 years, a wife of 6 years and a mom to a sweet 3.5 year old girl. This blog is to note my journey of turning Vegan and I will post the information pertaining to this.

I will be back to post some more soon!

Changing dietary fats could reduce disease risk: Study

Related topics: Trans- and saturated fats, Science & Nutrition, Fats & oils

Consuming a diet rich in monounsaturated fats could lower the risk of metabolic syndrome – even without weight loss, says a new study.

Metabolic syndrome is a condition that encompasses a number of risk factors for overweight and obesity, such as a large waistline, hypertension, high blood pressure, and low levels of HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol – so-called ‘good’ cholesterol. This latest study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, adds further weight to the idea that monounsaturated fat can help reduce LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol while diets high in saturated fat are linked to higher rates of tissue inflammation.

Inflammation related to obesity is known to contribute to the development of a range of disorders, including type-2 diabetes, heart disease, insulin resistance, and fatty liver disease.

“Several studies have show increased inflammation in adipose tissue of obese subjects and revealed its possible role in the development of insulin resistance,” the authors wrote. “Our study suggests that the type of dietary fat is an important component in the cause of adipose tissue inflammation.”

Dietary composition

The Dutch researchers selected twenty ‘moderately overweight’ subjects for the study on the basis of a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or over, or a waist circumference of at least 80cm for women and 94cm for men. All subjects consumed a diet rich in saturated fat for a two-week ‘run-in period’ and then ten continued on this diet for a further eight weeks, while ten received a diet rich in monounsaturated fats, mainly in the form of refined olive oil.

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The diets were similar in terms of total fats, protein, carbohydrates and dietary fiber, but the saturated fat diet contained 19 percent saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and 11 percent monounsaturated fatty acids(MUFAs), while the monounsaturated fat diet contained 11 percent SFAs and 20 percent MUFAs. The researchers monitored weight and adjusted energy intake in order to prevent weight changes.

Monounsaturated fat, reduced cholesterol

The researchers found that the MUFA diet led to reduced total and LDL cholesterol, but did not affect insulin sensitivity, although they hypothesized that the intervention period may have been too short to observe changes in insulin sensitivity.

However, they noted that it was difficult to distinguish whether the beneficial effects of the MUFA diet were due to higher levels of monounsaturated fat or lower levels of saturated fat. “It could be a combination of both,” they wrote.

Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Published online ahead of print

“A saturated fatty acid–rich diet induces an obesity-linked proinflammatory gene expression profile in adipose tissue of subjects at risk of metabolic syndrome”

Authors: Susan J van Dijk, Edith JM Feskens, Marieke B Bos, Dianne WM Hoelen, Rik Heijligenberg, Mechteld Grootte Bromhaar, Lisette CPGM de Groot, Jeanne HM de Vries, Michael Müller, and Lydia A Afman.

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Cholesterol - All about cholesterol

What is cholesterol?

How many are still asking the question? Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is found in greater quantities in animals including man as in all other life forms. It has two origins: the diet and biosynthesis, primarily by the liver.

It is present in all cells and its rate, when too high can cause health problems very serious or even fatal. Obese people, smokers, alcoholics and menopausal women are considered more risky, but we find poorly controlled cholesterol in children younger and younger.

Cholesterol is found in two forms. The free form, ie it is associated with nothing else and the esterified form when linked to a fatty acid to form Steroids. Its low hydrophilic character who found himself in the free form is completely removed when it is linked to a fatty acid.

However cholesterol should not be considered an enemy. Humans need cholesterol because it is an essential component of our cells. In fact this is the priority component of cell membranes. The formation of the lipid layer of plasma membranes utilizes a significant portion of cholesterol. The latter also plays a role in membrane fluidity.

There can be no human life without cholesterol because it is the precursor of steroid hormones and is among others used by our body to manufacture vitamin D. It is also an essential constituent of bile.

Let us respect our cholesterol, but keep it in the eye!
The “good” and “bad” cholesterol.

In fact, cholesterol is not under two different molecules. Rather transportation systems that carry blood that have very different roles: lipoprotein (LDL small density lipoproteins) and HDL (high density lipoprotein). Hence the popular name of LDL and HDL.

HDL cholesterol recovered in the organs that have too much and relates to the liver which is responsible for its elimination. These are HDL cleans all the arteries of fatty deposits of poor quality and thus help reduce the occurrence of atherosclerotic plaque. Therefore we attribute the adjective “good” cholesterol to HDL.

LDL working in the opposite direction. This means that they deposit cholesterol on artery walls. Then begin to form slabs of fat called atheroma. Hence the title of “bad” cholesterol.

Cholesterol is one of the causative agents of atherosclerosis leading to cardiovascular disease. The excess “bad cholesterol” and the lack of “good cholesterol” are recognized as risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

There are several treatments to reduce “bad cholesterol” but exercise and healthy eating are identified as the natural solution more effective. However, some drugs have the power to increase the rate of “good” cholesterol. Think of “statins” that get extraordinary results in people heavily affected by the “bad” cholesterol.

A visit to your doctor is recommended. Have a test to know your cholesterol level and take the opportunity to inform you about “statins”. The results of your tests will tell you if you use medication or if a better quality of life, a healthy diet and exercise would be sufficient.

But remember that over the report “total cholesterol / HDL is higher the cardiovascular risk is high.

“Arjuna Ksheerapaka”… A Simple preparation to prevent heart problems

Arjuna Ksheerapaka(Milk processed with Arjuna) is one of the easiest and cost effective preparation the consumption of which can keep the heart problems away. 

Indications:

*For those who have a tendency to hire the cardiac ailments, viz those having a familial background of cardiac ailments(as a preventive measure to strengthen the heart as an organ and also to enable it to work easily)

*To those having mild to moderate heart problems

*As a supportive in severe cardiac cases

*Lipid problems like hyper-lipidaemia, hyper-triglyceridaemia etc

*Those suffering from mild to moderate depression & stress (or to avoid them)

*Insomnia

 

Ingredients Required:

1. Bark of Arjuna tree(Terminalia Arjuna):

  Synonyms: Kakubha, Nadisarja, Indradru, Veeravriksha, Dhavala and all the names of Arjuna,the pandava of Mahabharat epic(Paartha, Gaandheevi, Dhananjaya, Karnaari etc

  Arjuna is a tree belonging to the family Combretaceae, which grows to a height of about 60 to 70 ft. Its bark is used for medicinal preparations. Its bark consists of 25% of water soluble calcium salts, about 16% of tannin, active ingredient Arjunine, sugars, small quantities of magnesium salts and organic acids.

Properties: Has Kashaya rasa(astringent taste), Sheeta guna(cold nature)

Doshik action: Alleviates morbid pitta and kapha

Names in other languages: Kahu or Koha(Hindi), Arjuna(Marathi and Gujarati), Matti(Kannada), Tella maddi(Telugu), Marudamaram(Tamil)

2.  Milk: Cow’s Milk

3.  Water 

Method of preparation:

As per the preparations of Ksheerapaka, a prescribed amount of the dravya(medicament) is taken. Milk is taken in a quantity of 4 times that of the medicine. Water should be 4 times that of milk. All are mixed together and heated on mild fire until all the water evaporates and only the milk remains. By this time the active principles of the drug would have come to the milk. The milk is now fildered and the milk is taken luke warm. Every time the preparation shall be prepared fresh. It should neither be preserved nor refrigerated nor reused after a long time following its preparation, because by then it would have lost its medicinal properties.

In this context we shall discuss the quantity of ksheerapaka to be prepared enough for a single dose consumption. Arjuna bark – 1 tola i.e approximately 12 gms is taken. 4 times milk i.e around 50 ml of milk is taken. To this water in a quantity of 4 times that of milk i.e 200ml is added. Now the combination is kept on mild fire and heated until only milk remains i.e until the whole quantity of water i.e 200ml of water evaporates. Now the final product is filtered and consumed warm. This preparation is known as Arjuna Ksheerapaka. 

 Benefits:

*Alleviates Kshata Ksheena(emaciation due to chest injuries or due to rise in intra thoracic pressure), Visha(toxicity due to endogenous or exogenous toxins), Rakta Vikaras(diseases manifested due to the vitiation of blood or blood borne diseases)

*Destroys excessive meda(fat or adipose) – In this context it can be used in prevention and treatment of lipid problems and correcting the abnormalities in lipid profile in the earlier conditions, this preventing the heart diseases. Decreases the level of cholesterol.

*Helps to alleviate the Prameha vranas( good medicine in dealing with the diabetic ulcers and boils in the earlier conditions)

*Destroys excessive pitta and kapha in the system which are otherwise harmful for the heart

*Helps to relieve depression, stress and insomnia

*Externally and internally in fractures and inflammatory conditions.

*Improves circulation of blood.

 

Try this simple preparation and share your valuable thoughts and views with us –

 

For details contact: Dr Raghuram Y.S,MD(ayu),

                                Consultant Physician

                                Arogya Ayurvedic Centre

                               12th cross,Jayanagar 7th Block/Off K.R. Road

                                Bangalore – 82

                                Landmark: Opp Upahar Sagar hotel/Behind Shastry’s Bakery

                                Ph: 9480071422/080-26766291

Mail us at: drraghuramys@gmail.com

                  drraghuram@avnarogya.in

Visit us at: www.avnarogya.in and www.arogyabangalore.com

Cholesterol Medications – Understanding the Different Classes

Diet and exercise are normally the first choice for controlling high cholesterol for many people. Unfortunately there are some people whose cholesterol does not respond to lifestyle changes but with the help of a cholesterol lowering medication they can easily manage this condition. There are several different classes of cholesterol drugs and in most cases your doctor can help prescribe the one that will work best for you.

LDL cholesterol, also known as low density lipoprotein, is the reason many of these drugs exist. LDL cholesterol is the primary culprit in the formation of arterial plaque. Plaque deposits can cause blockages and clots which are a major factor for heart disease and strokes. There are four classes of cholesterol drugs whose main function is to lower LDL levels in the blood stream. These include Statins, Bile Acid Binding Resins, Absorption Inhibitors, and Fibrates. While they work very well they also can have some discomforting side affects for some people, usually of the stomach and digestive system variety. Some people experience cramps, constipation, nausea, and bloating.

Another area of concern with high cholesterol is triglycerides. Triglycerides are fats that come from both animal and plant food sources. In particular saturated fat has been shown in scientific studies to raise blood LDL cholesterol levels more then dietary food cholesterol. Statins, Absorption Inhibitors, and Fibrates moderate and reduce the amount of triglycerides that find their way into the circulatory system.

Another side to the cholesterol equation is HDL, or high density lipoprotein, cholesterol. This is known as the good cholesterol and its primary purpose is to remove excess LDL cholesterol from the blood stream and deliver it to the liver where it is excreted from the body. While Statins, Absorption Inhibitors, and Fibrates are the primary drugs that do this the increase is not large. But in the battle against coronary artery disease every little gain is considered a victory.

There are a number of different drug companies making these types of drugs which can be found under many recognizable names, including Lipitor. The current advertising campaigns in all media types have ingrained many of these drug names in our collective conscious. Your doctor is the best source of information when it comes to deciding which drug will work best for you. It is also important to let your doctor know if you experience any side affects. With the multitude of drugs to choose from your doctor should be able to find one that works well without the side affects.