Your questions answered for the week of May 14th

What items are good to eat to help lower blood pressure and cholesterol?

Cholesterol levels are greatly influenced by diet, but they are also affected by your genetic makeup. Foods high in cholesterol and or saturated fat increase cholesterol levels. A vegetarian diet, regular exercise, the nutrients niacin and vitamin C may lower cholesterol according to research. Sometimes it may be necessary to take medication. It is also important to eat a diet that is high in fiber.

Examples of good food choices would be; apples, oats, almonds, bananas, carrots, cold water fish, beans, garlic, cinnamon, olive oil, salmon, strawberries, walnuts, barley and brown rice. Add fresh juices, especially carrot, celery and beet. Limit nutrient intake of saturated fats such as lard, margarine, butter and animal protein.

I am only 25 years old and already suffering from thinning hair. Is there a diet or supplement that can prevent this from happening?

Factors that are involved in hair loss include heredity, hormones and aging. In addition to heredity factors that promote hair loss include poor circulation, acute illness, surgery, radiation exposure, skin disease, sudden weight loss, high fever, iron deficiency, diabetes, thyroid disease, drugs such as those used in chemotherapy, stress, poor diet, ring worm and other fungal infections, chemicals such as hair dyes, vitamin deficiencies and pregnancy.

Considerations: Essential fatty acids (flax seed oil, primrose oil or salmon oil), Ultra Hair from Nature’s Plus (contains nutrients necessary to stimulate hair growth), B-Complex (important for the health and growth of hair), Vitamin C (3,000-10,000 mg daily-aids in improving scalp circulation), Vitamin E (200 IU daily-improves health and growth of hair), Zinc (50-100mg daily-stimulates hair growth by enhancing immune function), Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in starch to provide protection for the hair follicles and encourage hair growth, and Biotin (good sources are brown rice, green peas, brewer’s yeast, lentils, oats, soybeans, sunflower seeds and walnuts). It is normal to lose 50-100 hairs a day. If you are losing large amounts of hair, see a physician.