Warm-Weather Waist Wreckers

It's summertime, and the living is easy—but eating healthfully can be hard. Some of the season's most popular foods, like potato salad and fried chicken, contain massive amounts of calories and fat, while others, such as hot dogs, boast ingredients that may be downright dangerous. How can you avoid the most frightening hot-weather fare?

Daiquiris. These refreshing libations may seem like a good way to cool down on a hot summer's day, but a single daiquiri packs more than 300 calories (70 more than a scoop of strawberry ice cream) and loads of sugar. If you're looking for slimming summer cocktails, opt for wine spritzers or sangria—and steer clear of other diet-deadly drinks, like piña coladas, Long Island iced teas, and wine coolers.
Snow Cones. This cool, colorful treat may look low-calorie (after all, it's basically a big chunk of ice), but looks can be deceiving. Thanks to the sugary syrup and flavorings, snow cones contain a whopping 550 calories per 12-ounce serving—and they're devoid of any nutritional value. Other empty-calorie summer culprits include taffy, cotton candy, and fried dough.
Cool Whip. With only 25 calories and 1.5 grams of fat per serving, this ubiquitous dessert topping has a reputation for being diet-friendly. But look a little closer at the label, and you'll find that it's far from nutritious. Cool Whip actually contains both high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated vegetable oil (that's code for "trans fat"), an ingredient that could increase your chances of developing coronary artery disease.

Flame Of Friendship

I have been tagged by a co-blogger friend Straight From The Heart who had been tagged by Mommy Ruby from PMO . This tag is very unique and meaningful, so thank's mommy Elvz for this tag.

The Flame of Friendship.
A symbol of spirit of unity.
The burning icon of love.
Undying picture of hope.
The hot symbol of oneness.
The Flame of Friendship.

And now it’s your turn to flame yourself!

Meet new friends. Discover friendship. Make bonds.
Copy this post starting from the PICTURE ABOVE to the end
and add your blog on the list below.
Let’s start FLAMING!

The People Who Accepted The Flame of Friendship
———————————————————–

Tiklaton: We are the witness.
Janeth Vicy’s Life Journey.
A Simple Life.
Hailey's Domain
Hailey's Beats and Bits
MOMEMO
Pinay Mommy Online
Straight from the Heart
Against All Odds
(now, you follow!)
OOOPSS!! Don’t forget to invite your friends!

END COPY HERE

So now, I am passing this tag " Friendship Of Flame to the following:

Gladys
In demand Opinions
Loyna
bubbles of thoughts
Bonz

Are Home Cholesterol Test Worth It

You might be tempted to try home cholesterol tests purchased from a pharmacy or online. But are they safe and accurate?

When the heart’s blood vessels become clogged with cholesterol, it sets the stage for a heart attack, and this year, nearly half a million Americans will die from heart disease. What's more, due in part to rising obesity rates and the popularity of fast food, heart-attack victims are getting younger and younger. It should come as no surprise, then, that high cholesterol is increasingly being referred to as a “silent killer.”

Stay Home or Leave It to the Lab?
An estimated 105.2 million American adults have total blood cholesterol values of 200 mg/dL and higher, and of these, about 36.6 million have levels of 240 or above. In adults, total cholesterol levels of 240 mg/dL or higher are considered high risk, while levels from 200 to 239 mg/dL are considered borderline-high risk.

If you’re 20 years of age or older, your cholesterol levels should be tested every five years and possibly more often if you already have high cholesterol. With medical costs rising, you might be tempted to try home cholesterol tests purchased from a pharmacy or via the Internet. But are they worth it?

Home cholesterol tests are generally 95 percent accurate, which approved in such tests 1993. The home accuracy rates are on par with the rates of professional lab exams. The FDA also points out that home tests claiming to be “traceable” to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may be more accurate than others.

The D.I.Y Downside
That said, home cholesterol tests don’t come without their problems. Most of them measure only total cholesterol, not your full cholesterol profile, which includes HDL, LDL, and triglycerides. Plus, it’s always best for a doctor to review test results in conjunction with your other risk factors, such as family history, nutritional habits, age, and gender, to make a truly informed diagnosis and treatment recommendations.

Whats’s more, to get an accurate reading, patients need to fast before their test. But all too often, patients forget to stop eating without their doctor's’ instruction.

Perhaps most surprisingly, although home tests may be faster and more convenient, they might not offer much of a savings after all. Nowadays, home cholesterol tests cost anywhere from $15 for a standard kit to $200 for sophisticated digital monitoring. Meanwhile, full-profile tests conducted at the doctor’s office and any needed follow-up tests cost about $30 each. In addition, most health insurance companies cover those costs but home kits are not covered.

For these reasons, most experts recommend skipping the at-home tests. You may save some time, but taking a trip to the doctor is still the best way to gauge your cholesterol levels and reduce your disease risk.