Sunday, April 26, 2015

Check out my new website


This blog post counts as #880 that I’ve written and posted on my blogger site since I began in 2011.  My newest venture has been building a website.  Please check out my new website at
http://www.sharonehohler.com/wp/  I am certain it will be a work-in-progress but I am proud of my accomplishment.  (Not bad for a non-technie person like me).

 

 

Sunday, April 19, 2015

In the News--what causes high blood pressure--salt or sugar?

"Too much salt will give you high blood pressure".  We’ve heard this from researchers and doctors all the past 50 years.  Millions of us have tried to be mindful of how much salt we eat and lower our salt intake.  Will too much salt give you high blood pressure?  Is this a true statement?  Some researchers are questioning this statement.  They are suggesting maybe it’s processed sugar, not salt, that causes hypertension. 

This revolutionary research published in American Journal of Cardiology reports that lowering salt intake has had very poor results (lowering a person’s systolic –top number—by 5 mm Hg and the diastolic –bottom number by 2.5mm Hg.  The researchers are recognizing that insulin resistance (type 2 diabetes) and obesity occur in the same people who have hypertension (high blood pressure).  Doctors know that the high sugar levels in a person’s blood causes the body to shift fluid into blood vessels and reach a dilution level the body needs.  Could this increased volume inside blood vessels be causing the high blood pressure?   Could it be the processed sugars we are eating?   The researchers are concluding that processed sugar is bad for us and we eat too much of it. 

If this is true, we can improve our health by cutting back on processed foods, especially sweet foods.  We can eat more fresh fruits and decrease our cake intake.  Watch this topic; I bet we will hear more about this. 

 

Sunday, April 12, 2015

In the News--Can we avoid Alzheimer's disease?

This headline refers to research that is piling up.  Researchers are recognizing that diabetes and Alzheimer’s are connected.  People with out of control diabetes are being recognized as increasingly risky for developing Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, some researchers are calling Alzheimer’s disease, “type 3 diabetes.” 

As I have pointed out the last few weeks, out of control diabetes does harm quietly to our blood vessels, hearts, kidneys, and other parts of our bodies.  Why not consider that it can damage our brains?  While we need some sugar for our brain cells to function properly and to think well, a high level of sugar in our brain circulation may be causing damage there also. 

So what researchers suggest we do?  If we do not have diabetes, focus our efforts on healthy lifestyle to prevent developing diabetes.  If we have been diagnosed with diabetes, work with our doctor to keep the diabetes under control.  A normal blood sugar level will help prevent complications and damage.  Here’s some things we can do:

·       Eat more healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and low-fat meats and cheeses.  Eat less processed, sugar-laden foods.

·       Work to lose weight if you are overweight.  (Not an easy thing to master for many of us.)

·       Add exercise to our days.  The Mayo clinic suggests 30 minutes most days.  While this sounds like a lot, start slow and work on it.  Also increase slowly and in small amounts to avoid hurting yourself.

·       Brush and floss daily.

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Happy Easter

 
We hide Easter eggs, let our kids hunt them and enjoy too much candy.  We gather together with family and loved ones to enjoy a big meal.  (Ham is the traditional Easter meal for my family). 
But the most important reason for Easter Sunday happened centuries ago. Jesus Christ rose from the dead on Easter Sunday morning.  He had been crucified on a cross on Friday (three days earlier). We Christians believe this sinless Jesus took our sins and faults on himself and died to give us the gift of forgiveness.  We celebrate our risen King Jesus. I am sharing a link to a youtube.com video.
 
Join me in listening to Casting Crowns sing O Glorious Day at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xODpgyqGCYM