Maintaining a low cholesterol diet can be a challenge, especially if it means cutting down on your favorite food. However, if you have set your mind to nourish a healthy heart, there are many alternatives, which can delight your taste buds and cut down the level of LDL or bad cholesterol in your body. And remember, you do not need a doctor’s prescription to switch over to a low-cholesterol diet. Planning and maintaining a healthy diet will eliminate the need for extreme measures or visits to the doctor.
Control portion size
Overeating can cause an increase in your cholesterol level. It’s all about the proportion. Also, a lot of people each more to finish off their leftover food or whatever extra lying on the table. Not wasting food is a good idea; however, in such cases, one should distribute it to the needy. Once you learn when to stop eating, you can be assured of good heart health as well.
Limit your intake of saturated fats
Although there is no conclusive proof that intake of saturated fats can lead to heart disease, they do push up the level of bad cholesterol. On the flip side, they also contribute to the good cholesterol and cut down the level of triglycerides. The bottom line here is to reduce the intake of saturated fats including meat, milk, and cheese. You can replace them with low-fat alternatives or stick to minimum weekly intake in case of meats.
Get rid of trans fat
Your body can certainly do without trans fat in any form. They clog the arteries, push up the levels of triglycerides and can add to your weight. Trans fats including hydrogenated oils, processed food, bakery products, chips and other similar snacks, and carbonated drinks might be good to taste but not for health.
Include fresh fruits
Any healthy diet plan should include at least five servings of fruit per day. Whole fruits are much more nutritious than fruit juices. You can eat them as such or mix up a salad of three or more. Save this healthy snack for your mid-morning hunger pang.
Add soluble fiber to your diet
Fiber can help you to cut down the bad cholesterol in your body. Our body cannot digest these fibers but as they care eliminated from the body they carry toxic wastes along with them. You can include fiber in the form of oats, brown bread, brown rice, barley and whole fruits. Beans and lentils are also a good soluble fiber and are good for the heart.
Include seafood in your diet
Omega-3 fatty acids found in sardines, herrings, and Salmons can bring down the levels of bad cholesterol in your blood.
Replace red meat with healthier alternatives
Protein is essential for our bodies, animal protein, especially red meat can cause more harm than good. You should look for alternatives like skinless chicken and fish.
Drink plenty of water
Water is functioning of the various organs in our body. It aids digestion, boosts our metabolism and helps in functioning of the heart.
Adopt healthy snacks
Nuts are excellent for your overall health. They fill you up while lowering your cholesterol. So, make sure to include a handful of nuts in your diet like walnuts, almonds and cashew nuts are all good for your heart.
Cut down on salt and sugars
Cutting down on these white foods promote a healthy body. Lowering the level of salt controls your blood pressure and controlling sugar intake guards you against Type-2 diabetes.
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Wedding guest book – Design, presentation, and DIY ideas
Read moreThe moments that lead up to a wedding and the ones that follow are something most couples treasure throughout their lives. Some frame their wedding invitations, flowers, or even décor, while others hold on to their wedding attire and pass it on to the next generation. But one special keepsake that couples treasure is their wedding guest book. These books help couples personalize their big day and revisit and cherish those memories on anniversaries.
Design
Couples can design a wedding guest book in several ways. For instance, they could visit shopping websites to source personalized wedding guest books that include pictures of their liking. That said, there are a few essential tips to follow while designing the book.A great way to begin is by writing the couple’s name, wedding date, and other details on the first page, like the lyrics from their first dance. While other information can follow, the pages should match the wedding colors or theme that is being planned. Moreover, the book’s design should complement the couple’s home, where it will be kept after the wedding. For example, if a couple wants to keep the wedding guest book on their coffee table, they should design it to complement their home décor. Most importantly, the book should have sufficient pages for the guests to write, doodle, or paste photographs as they prefer.
Presentation
Correctly presenting a guest book at the wedding is the key to getting the maximum number of guests to participate in the activity. One tip is to display the book near the reception entrance so guests can sign it upon arrival. But sometimes, the venue layout may make it difficult to do this. In such situations, couples can place the wedding book in an open space where it is easily visible. This location should be spacious for family, friends, and guests to hang out comfortably without being rushed or cramped for space to sign the book. Another way to get guests to sign the book is to dress the table with decorations to make it visually appealing. If possible, the couple should also designate a close family member to remind people to sign the book as they pass by.Popular wedding guest book ideas
Traditionally, a wedding guest book is a bound book where friends, family members, and other guests sign their names and sometimes leave well-wished or inspirational messages to motivate the wedded couple. Using a bound book is still lovely, but couples have started personalizing this wedding detail. Doing so makes it much more fun and memorable for the newlyweds and the guests. Here are six non-traditional wedding guestbook alternatives to try:Thumb impressions
Thumb impressions are among the most creative ideas for a wedding guest book. The couple draws a giant tree with several branches to set the idea in motion. During the wedding, the couple or the person in charge places an eco-friendly ink pad next to the artwork. Now the guests press their thumbs against the ink pad and make an impression on the tree’s branches, creating the leaves. They sometimes also sign over the imprint so the couple can identify who it belongs to.Jenga set
Implementing this idea could make playing Jenga way more fun. The couple purchases a blank Jenga set (or two, based on the expected number of people at the wedding) and has their guests sign the blocks. Each time the newlyweds have friends and family over in the future, they play the game and revisit the wishes scribbled into the set on their special day.Beach and nautical keepsakes
Couples who enjoy spending time at the beach love this idea. They use objects like a surfboard, a model sailboat, stones, oars, a wooden anchor, or seashells to collect signatures and written wishes from guests at their wedding. Some couples get friends, family members, and guests to sign on parchment and then put the paper in a bottle.Signature tree
A signature tree is among the prettiest guest book ideas. Couples create a tree using craft paper and shape the leaves as hearts or another object of their choosing. At the wedding, guests sign on the leaves or write well wishes. Once the event is over, the couple frames the tree or hangs it on a wall to cherish it forever.Wooden sign board
This type of signboard is a beautiful guest book DIY idea any couple could use. The craft requires the couple to purchase a large wooden board of a style they prefer and inscribe their wedding details. With guest signatures on it, the wooden board serves as an attractive piece of wall art at the newlyweds’ home.Music records
Using records as a medium for a wedding guest book is ideal for newlyweds who are all about music. Couples create this keepsake by purchasing circular MDF boards from a local craft shop in a suitable size. Next, they paint the boards to make them look like music records and get their guests to sign them. The record labels include details like their wedding date, favorite lyrics, and the names of special dances. -
10 Best low-carb snacks for a healthy meal
Read moreIf you want to start with the best low-carb diet plan, you will notice that it is easier to plan the full meals, where veggies and meat are great options. However, it is the middle meal or the snack that poses a problem. You should avoid fried and junk snack options, but at the same time, you should have a small meal at regular intervals, including three low-carb meals. Here are 10 best low-carb snacks that you can include in your diet plan from across the internet.
Avocado crisps – Mix avocado with some salt, cheese, and seasonings. Make small balls of this mixture and then flat them out. Bake this batch until desired. And there goes a perfect, healthy snack for you to have between meals.
Cheesy Jalapeno mushroom bites – In case you are fond of hot and spicy flavors, this recipe is for you. The mushrooms and jalapenos are filled with a mix of cheese and seasonings and then baked. In case you want to make it a full meal, toss in bite-sized pieces of chicken or turkey.
Crispy parmesan tomato chips – If you are a tomato fan, this recipe is for you. First, you’ll need to cut thick slices of big tomatoes. Add a drizzle of some extra virgin olive oil on the slices. Sprinkle finely grated parmesan cheese and your preferred Italian seasonings. Slow bake this batch of sliced tomatoes until a crisp texture is obtained, which can take more than half an hour. The final result is a tray full of healthy and low-carb snack.
Pizza bites “ Make a pizza base with a mixture of coconut flour and almond. Top it up with your favorite veggies. Swapping the pepperoni with turkey would be a good option. Layer it with a few crumbled pieces of cheese and bake for a few minutes.
Flourless Pumpkin bread “ Make a mix of pumpkin mixed with cinnamon, nutmeg, and walnuts. The sugar can be replaced with granulated sweetener, or even better, maple syrup. Bake it and enjoy!
Boiled or water poached eggs “ This is the healthiest and simplest low-carb snack that you can have anytime, anywhere. Add a few veggies on it and a few seasonings to make it more appealing.
Olives “ Olives can be added as a topping item in your salad and Mediterranean dishes. You can also have a few pieces in the night as a healthy low-carb snack.
Nuts “ Have a handful of dry fruits such as almonds, walnuts, macadamia nuts, etc. You can roast a few nuts or add them for a crunchy texture in dishes like salads, desserts, etc.
Veggies & Dips – Vegetable sticks like carrot, cucumber, and celery when had with cream cheese dips can be ideal as a quick snack item. It’s healthy and easy to prepare.
Fruits & Cream – Berries and cream to satisfy the sweet tooth. You can also add a teaspoon of sugar, and substitute berried with other fruits.