This weekend I went out to breakfast with my boyfriend, his parents, their friends and their four year old daughter. When it came time to order the young girl’s breakfast, her mom ordered her chocolate chip pancakes. She reassured us that this was vacation and she was allowing her to have a treat on this particular day. Although I could fit in the category of “major health freak” I understood this and enjoyed knowing how happy this four year old would be to get a yummy treat on her vacation. But when the waitress brought out her pancakes I was horrified at what I saw. The plate she put down in front of the girl had a pancake the size of a medium pizza with chocolate spots all over. I could not believe this! Not only was it a waste of food, as I knew the little girl would never even make it through a fourth of the pancake, but that they would even offer a pancake that big. And I don’t mean offer it to just a kid, but to anyone! It is times like this that I am reminded of how unhealthy the majority of Americans are and how childhood obesity is continuously growing.

One of the major affects of a diet with constant “junk” food is high cholesterol. High cholesterol comes from too much LDL cholesterol, also known as “bad” cholesterol, circulating in the blood. This causes a slow build up on the inner walls of the arteries that feed blood to the heart and brain. This is obviously a bad thing and can lead to heart attacks and/or strokes. There are different ways to treat high cholesterol, but if your high numbers are due to poor diet, then the most obvious thing to do is change your diet. You can start by eating foods that have been known to clean your arteries, therefor, lower your cholesterol.

1. Avocado: Use this tasty food as an alternative to mayonnaise on your favorite sandwich or on its own as a healthy snack.

2. Whole Grains: You can get plenty of servings of whole grains in whole wheat breads, brown rice and oatmeal.

3. Olive Oil: Although this is high in fat, it is good fat that your body needs. Use on pasta, vegetables or to create a healthy salad dressing.

4. Asparagus: This vegetable works in the veins to release pressure and keep dangerous clots from building.

5. Pomegranate: This fruit contains antioxidants that protect the lining of the arteries from getting damaged. You can have this as a juice or even enjoy the seeds alone, just make sure not to spill because pomegranate does stain!

6. Turmeric: This is a wonderful spice that doubles as an anti-inflammatory. Inflammation is a major cause of hardening in the arteries.

7. Cinnamon: This is another power spice. Loaded with antioxidants, cinnamon can help reduce fats in the bloodstream preventing plaque build up in the arteries and lowering bad cholesterol.

The list continues on, but as you can see, eating healthy food that can help lower your cholesterol is healthy and yummy! John E. Peakes Insurance Agency knows that health is important, which is why we want to share this with you. If you can make  small healthy change, everyday, you will really begin to notice the improvements in your body and how you feel. So why not start today. Instead of that gigantic pancake, have some heart healthy oatmeal with berries and cinnamon. It is that easy! So make a change and feel great!