Let's Do It Healthy

October 11, 2004

High Blood Pressure? Don't Boil Your Food.

When you boil vegetables, it leaches out the potassium that is essential in blood pressure control. Steam, bake, roast or microwave instead. A boiled potato, for example, loses up to half its potassium, as do most other vegetables. This is particularly true when you use large amounts of water that just gets poured down the drain.

Knock down cholesterol.

It's not just about diet -- physical activity makes a huge difference, too. Exercise improves your blood cholesterol profile by lowering your levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and, more important, boosting your levels of HDL (protective) cholesterol. It also reduces your overall risk of dying prematurely and helps you control your weight; significantly reduces your risk of dying from coronary artery disease or a heart attack; helps your heart pump more blood with each contraction; reduces your risk of developing high blood pressure and helps lower existing high blood pressure; and improves blood circulation throughout your body.

Baker's treat.

Is the secret to delicious low-fat treats already be in your pantry? When used in baking, applesauce helps lower the overall fat content of some of your favorite muffins, bars, quick breads and cakes. When you're adapting a high-fat recipe to low-fat healthfulness, start by replacing two-thirds of the original's butter or margarine with unsweetened applesauce. Like fat, a fruit puree such as applesauce coats the starchy flour particles in baking. Without this step, gluten forms when the flour is moistened and stirred, making the end result tough.