Cynthia Stadd, HHC
Holistic Health and Nutrition Specialist

FEATURE ARTICLE		Heart Health:  Top 3 Nutritional Things You May Not Know
UPCOMING NATURAL FOOD MARKET TOUR		Sign up NOW for February-May
SUPPLEMENTS		Heart Healthy CoQ10 and Fish Oils
NUTRITION COUNSELING AND PILATES		Private, Semi-Private and Phone Coaching Programs with Pilates Training

A NOTE FROM CYNTHIA...

OK, with Valentine's Day and all how could I resist an issue devoted to Heart Health?! 

So this month focuses on cutting-edge nutritional theory with foods you may not know can greatly affect the health of your cholesterol levels, heart function and risk for heart attack.

However, please remember that there is much more that goes into your "Heart Health" besides just food.  Our bodies are energy, and just like the energy of any food can instantly affect our health, so can the energy of:

• A negative thought
• A heart that harbors resentment
• An important relationship that has not been healed

So eat well, pay attention to the people that matter, heal those relationships you know needs some attention, and enjoy some good organic dark chocolate this week (cocoa content above 65% preferred)!

Your health coach,

Cynthia

ps.  As always, I love to hear from you. Have questions or comments about anything in this newsletter?  Don't hesitate to email me at cynthia@cynfullyhealthy.com.

SUCCESS STORY

"I would highly recommend Cynthia Stadd to anyone seeking to improve their general health and well-being, and especially to those working on weight loss and infertility issues!

Cynthia was a wonderful resource to me as I transitioned to a more organic, whole foods diet. I am a full-time professional often working 60 hours/week and Cynthia tailored a plan for me that was not only do-able, but also resulted in immediate weight loss with specific examples of what to eat for each meal, food/brands to buy and directions on how to prepare foods.

She recommends foods that you enjoy and finds alternatives for any types of foods that you dislike. Cynthia is very patient and understanding. And, to top it all off, my husband and I conceived naturally after 3 years of trying unsuccessfully. Thanks Cynthia!"

Diane K., Florida

FEATURE ARTICLE

HEART HEALTH:

The Top 3 Nutritional Things You May Not Know

By now, most everyone knows that eating too much saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol rich foods are a no no for good heart health.  What you may not know is where trans fats are truly hiding, that certain saturated fats are actually good for you and that there is a very high correlation with sugar and heart disease risk.  Read on for the “LOVE” ly details and specific food brand suggestions.

First, Let’s Clear Up the Saturated Fat Story

Yes, you absolutely want to reduce your consumption of animal-based fats that come in foods like chicken, beef, lamb, dairy and eggs.  This is not to say you can NEVER have them.  In the context of a nutrient-rich primarily whole food plant-based diet, having a few servings of these foods per week (3-4 oz per serving, the size of the palm of your hand) is considered safe for heart health.

But did you know that coconut oil, a plant-based saturated fat, can be extremely good for you? 

This tropical oil has for a long time been thrown in the “bad” category simply because it is predominately a saturated fat, but it does not have a negative effect on cholesterol. Natural, non-hydrogenated coconut oil tends to increase HDL cholesterol (the good kind) and improve the cholesterol profile. Total blood cholesterol, which includes both HDL (good) and LDL (bad) cholesterol, is a very inaccurate indicator of heart disease risk.  The ratio of the bad to good cholesterol (LDL/HDL) is universally recognized as a far more accurate indicator of heart disease risk. Because of coconut oil's tendency to increase HDL, the cholesterol ratio improves and thus decreases risk of heart disease.

People who traditionally consume large quantities of coconut oil as part of their ordinary diet have a very low incidence of heart disease and have normal blood cholesterol levels. This has been well supported by numerous population studies.

So my pick for coconut oil?

The best kinds are organic and extra virgin.  A great brand is “Garden of Life”, found in most health food stores.

Use coconut oil to stir-fry all veggies, especially green ones, which will maximize absorption of all the fat soluble vitamins.  You can also bake with it and use it however you would use butter.  And it tastes great!

Trans Fats Are The Absolute Devil.. Know Where They Are Lurking

Avoid any label that has the word “hydrogenated,” “partially-hydrogenated” or “shortening” in it.  These fats were once healthy vegetable oils that have been pumped with hydrogen atoms to make them more stable, thereby allowing your favorite cookies and crackers to sit on the shelf of the food store for a year and not go moldy.  Ever think about that one???  (I think I heard once that a Twinkie can live for 7 years!!)

So here is a list of common places you will find the evil trans fats:

• All commercially produced cookies, cakes, crackers, baked goods (Health food stores have excellent Trans-Fat free options for all your favorite goodies)
• Protein and energy bars.. the trans fats are in the coatings
• Snack chips and processed foods that come out of a bag
• Margarine and shortening
• Fried foods
• Microwaved popcorn
• Anytime you heat a vegetable oil past its heat point – don’t cook on high heat with oils like canola, sunflower, safflower

So once again, the health food store can be your best friend because you can get healthy snack bars (try Lara Bars – raw, unprocessed, delicious), ice cream, buttery spreads (try Earth Balance brand), cookies and cereals all without trans fats or saturated fat. 

If you are not familiar with what on earth is actually in a health food store, join me for my next tour!  (See below for details)

What Nobody Connects with Bad Heart Health - Refined Sugar

When you eat refined sugar, it releases so quickly in your body that it's hard to break down. It sends your organs into a frenzy. "If you don't burn it up, it has to go somewhere," explains Dr. Timothy Brantley. "So it goes into our bodies as fat or goes into our arteries and starts to clog them."

New research is showing an incredibly high correlation with regular sugar consumers and risk for heart attack and stroke.

Now before you pout at the thought of never enjoying another dessert, remember two things:

1.  You can safely enjoy wonderful low-glycemic natural sweeteners such as Agave Nectar, Stevia and Lo-Han Fruit, commonly found in the brand Sweet and Slender. All of these are found in most Natural Food Stores. They can be added to your foods for sweet flavor or baked with to create your own delicious baked goods.

2.  When you eat your sweets slowly, without guilt, and you actually chew, you may just find that you only need 4-5 bites to satisfy the craving.  Try it!

Did you find this article helpful?

Let me know by contacting me at cynthia@cynfullyhealthy.com!

HEART FRIENDLY SUPPLEMENTS

The heart has the highest concentration of CoQ10 of all the tissues in our body and it seems logical because of its high energy needs.

In addition to congestive heart failure, research has shown that when CoQ10 treatment was employed as an adjunct to standard medical therapy, conditions such as diastolic dysfunction, angina pectoris, hypertension, ventricular arrhythmias, mitral valve prolapse and drug induced cardiotoxicities may benefit.*

The one I suggest is a liquid, highly absorbable formula:

Advanced Coenzyme Q10

http://chforlife.com

(Click here for product details and to order online)

You may also want to consider taking an EPA/DHA blend of fish oils, which is not only good for heart health, but also helps with the body with anti-inflammation and good digestion/elimination.*

Essential Omega III

http://chforlife.com

*Please check with your doctor before starting a new supplement regime.

UPCOMING FOOD TOUR

Click to get more details and sign up now:

Natural Food Market Tour, March-May

Want to know more about Cynthia?

Check out Cynthia's Story on www.cynfullyhealthy.com.

HOLISTIC HEALTH AND NUTRITION COUNSELING PROGRAMS WITH PILATES CORE TRAINING

Start reaching your health goals today!

Cynthia can help if you experience any of the following:

	Battle with a chronic imbalance — menstrual, digestive or energy related — that just won’t go away
	Suffer with male or female infertility and/or specific reproductive disorders
	Realize that deciding what to eat is more stressful than enjoyable
	Are unable to permanently lose weight and are sick of dieting
	Feel like your relationship with food and/or your body is unhealthy and don’t know how to get unstuck
	Over-eat and/or binge eat

She can also train you with Pilates-based exercise for core strength, abdominal toning, flexibility and breathing techniques.

If you are considering a private or semi-private counseling program, or Pilates-based training program, don’t hesitate to call for a FREE 30 minute talk.

Let’s see if we are good match!

917.691.4170

Healthy living is infectious! Please forward this e-newsletter to your friends and loved ones to keep the natural healing community growing. Anyone can subscribe by visiting www.cynfullyhealthy.com.

Note: the information in this newsletter is presented for educational purposes only. This information is not intended as a substitute for diagnosis and treatment by a licensed professional.

© 2005 Cynfully Healthy. All Rights Reserved. You may copy or distribute this e-newsletter, in whole or in part, as long as this copyright notice and full information about contacting the author are attached. The author is: Cynthia Stadd, and can be contacted at www.cynfullyhealthy.com.

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Phone: 917.691.4170
Fax: 212.684.1780
Email: cynthia@cynfullyhealthy.com
www.cynfullyhealthy.com