You probably want to maintain your health this winter and the thought of
exercising for an hour or eating a strict diet is leaving you anxious and
depressed, but hold on, there’s no need to do either, that’s right,
listed below are 6 simple strategies that’ll lower your risks of winter
illness (and diseases) in half.

The 6 strategies:
a) Lower “Bad” Cholesterol-
Is your doctor trying to push statins on you because of a too-high
cholesterol reading? Well, try lowering it naturally with berries.
What type of berries? Black Raspberries.
The fresh berries may not be available right now or even frozen
berries, but don’t despair, just look for freeze-dried powder.
Add 1 tsp. of the powder to a smoothie, a bowl of oatmeal
or a bowl of fruit. Doing this one trick can trim artery-clogging
LDL cholesterol by 20 points, cutting heart disease risk by 25%.
Blackberries contain ellgaic acid and helps your liver keep blood
fats in balance.

b) Lower Blood Sugar Levels-
As mentioned earlier, these tips are simple and if pre-diabetes and
diabetes are a concern, start knitting, work on a scrapbook, write
poetry or your own personal story.
Doing some type of activity that focuses on something positive
can cut cortisol production by 60% in less than 30 minutes.
And since cortisol doesn’t just make you jittery and nervous, it
can also hinder the release of sugar-controlling insulin and make your
immune system sluggish. So, spend a little time on a new or forgotten
hobby and you could boost blood-glucose control by 60%, plus cut the risk
of cold symptoms in half.

c) A Delicious Way To a Leaner Physique-
You may know all about “Avocado toast” as a favorite food of the under
30 crowd, but did you know it can also help trim down your stomach.
That’s right, one doesn’t think of toast and avocado as slimming foods,
but they are if prepared right. Avocados are rich in phytosterols and
monounsaturated fats that prevent carb cravings and switch on liver genes
that help you burn abdominal fat for fuel. Another benefit: Losing the belly
fat (which releases tissue-damaging inflammation) cuts your risk of heart
disease, cancer and diabetes in half.
Important tip:
If you’re already slim and don’t wish to lose anymore weight, top your
slice of toast with avocado, a little olive oil and seasonings, but if you have
a lot more weight to lose, have the avocado and skip the toast.

d) Heart Health-
A major concern this time of year, thanks to staying indoors, eating
rich foods from Halloween right up until Valentine’s day and snow shoveling
is heart disease (heart attack). Poor eating and strenuous activity
can really overwork and burden your heart and one simple way to keep it
(your heart) in tip-top shape, is heading to a wine shop or bar.
No, that’s not a misprint, enjoying a nightcap can cut your risk of heart
disease by up to 50%. A drink a day, say a shot of whiskey, a 12 oz. beer or
a glass of wine (red or white) prods the liver to make 20% more good (HDL)
cholesterol, (a protective blood fat that blocks formation of artery-stiffening
plaque. Another plus: Good cholesterol (HDL) nourishes and energizes
immune cells that can quickly kill precancerous cells, eliminating the damaging
cells and reducing cancer by about 40%.

e) Reduce Blood Pressure-
Another major concern this time of year: Too high blood pressure and if this
is a concern, perhaps you’ll want to listen to the woman of the house and take her
advice. What advice is that? Put on more clothes, and cover yourself up in a warm
and cozy blanket. Keeping blood pressure below 120/80, cuts your heart
disease risk by 50%. Lowering your blood pressure especially in the fall and winter
allows more nutrient-rich blood to reach your heart, lungs and other tissues that
fight viral infections.
Another tip:
If you snow shovel in the winter and are up there in age, you may want to
make sure you’re covered up. Wear a scarf, a thick hat, gloves and a thick
and warm coat. Doing so can literally keep you from having a heart attack.

f) Reduce Stroke Risks-
Like blood pressure and blood sugar levels, another concern: increased risk of
strokes and like the aformentioned suggestions, reducing it (stroke risks) is
quite simple and only requires that you change your thoughts.
That’s right, thinking negatively about a co-worker or family member or
always seeing the glass as “half empty” can have devastating effects on
your health. Lowering your levels of artery-clogging triglycerides (a type
of fat the liver produces from excess sugar) can cut the risk of a stroke
by 54%. Some really great news: You can drop your triglycerides by
30% just by focusing on little things that make you feel more content-
like receiving or giving complements or taking in the beauty of
the sun rising and you’ll quickly quash the production of the stress
hormones that can make it harder for the liver to keep triglycerides
levels in the optimal range.

Sources:
* The Journal of Phytotherapy Research
* University of Conn. Research Dept.
* University of Utah, Research Scientists

Please make sure to pass this article on to family and friends who are
concerned about their health, (this time of year). Share it over at Facebook,
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Twitter.

Tomorrow’s post: Leftover Turkey.
Make something other than sandwiches and soup
using that Thanksgiving turkey.