High Cholesterol? Add Hot Chili Peppers to your diet

While trying to find out why my bell peppers keep falling off the plant, I came across this interesting tid-bit of information. 

Because of my hypoproteinemia, my cholesterol and triglycerides are very high.  That's why I found this bit of information very interesting.  Maybe this is is why I find myself craving them so much.

This is from a list of questions Located on this website.

13. Q. We have just moved to this area and enjoy the Mexican food. What makes Mexican food so hot? Is it the pepper they add?


A. The cooks add pepper alright but not the black stuff you shake from a can - they add green peppers, Capsicum annum. These peppers contain a chemical named capsaicin. When you eat these "green bullets from hell" there's a cellular response that releases neurotransmitters. These are proteins that mimic chemically the sensation of burning or pain. They go to the end plate of our sensory nerves and create the sensation of pain. The body's response is to remove the chemical irritant by increasing heart rate to increase metabolism, by increasing salivation and increasing sweating. Your nose runs and the gastrointestinal tract goes to work in high gear to remove the irritant. You sweat to cool yourself.


The body's strong reaction to capsaicin is why many people claim chili has medicinal properties. A paper by a New Mexico biologist noted that the death rate from heart disease in the state was about half the national rate. She also said the rate of heart disease among Hispanics and Indians was low. Presumed reason? They all eat lots of chile pepper and that reduces blood fat levels. Hot peppers are said to protect against blood clots that could cause thromboembolism.


So why do folks eat this hot food? When people eat hot chili the brain secretes endorphins, the opiate-like substances that block pain. Endorphins are produced when runners "hit the wall" and get their second wind. Who needs to jog and watch their diet? Just eat peppers and keep on burning!

A Tasty Fish Recipe from Daniel Taverne (Blog Owner)

In an effort to keep life interesting, I created the following video of me preparing this baked fish dish.  I call it "Baked Tilapia with a Tomato and Green Chili Salsa"... now doesn't THAT sound impressive?


Not only is fish high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, prepared this way made it taste GREAT!


Give it a try then give me your feedback.

Study - Curb Overeating with Protein-Rich Breakfasts

If you want to stay healthy, researchers at MissourUniversity are suggesting that regularly eating protein-rich breakfasts keeps you satisfied and wards off overeating... read full story. <---LINK



My Comments:

Many people with hypoproteinemia are subject to hyperlipidemia (hign levels of fats in our blood).  I, for example, have high cholesterol and triglycerides). 

So if I follow the advice indicated in the above study, I'll consider what kinds of proteins I consume. 

Bacon is a protein food, but it also has a high fat content.  Sure, I might eat a slice of bacon every once in a while, but that is not going to be what I turn to to increase  my protein intake.

I may, for example, add some egg-whites to my scrambled eggs.  Egg whites are high-protein, but low cholesterol.

I may consume a protein supplement such as a soy-protein powder mixed into my orange juice.
I think it would be okay to increase protein, provided it isn't a high fat/cholesterol protein.

What are your thoughts?

The article referred to in this post was a headline located in the right side-bar of this blog.  The headlines are updated daily, so bookmark this site and come back often.

Meditation Prescribed More & More Often as Alternative to Medicine

Watch this Video. I am a firm believer in meditation as a way to, at least, promote peace, well being, and health.


Why not give it a try.

Update - Current Status - What's Happening

Well, I've been out of pocket lately regarding this blog.  My internet service was inoperative due to my cable-modem giving out.  I have it back on-line now, and have this report:


I've got severe osteoporosis, since my calcium is always low.  I've been taking vit.D, (ergocalcifero) twice a week, and fosimax for monts and months that hasn't helped my bone density over a 2 year period.


So, the doctor wants me to take an injection instead of taking the fosimax.  It is an strong drug that is a once a year injection instead of a weekly pill.


The problem with this is that there is a risk associated with this injection (as well as the weekly pills) that my jaw bone (Mandible) could die (osteonecrosis).


This wouldn't be good.


I've been having good luck on the protein/edema department.


I had an appointment about 2 weeks following my last hospitalization.  This appointment was about a month ago.


In the process of that appointment, it was decided that I should get admitted for diureses since I was there and had gained about 10 poinds of fluid.


I stayed about 7 days and reduced my weight from about 185 to 175.


The news is that since I've been out, I've been holding steady at about 174. 


Maybe there is something to getting albumin infused in excessive amounts that curbs my protein loss.


Well, this is all for now.

How to Deal with your Tension

This is my contribution to your effort in finding a way to deal with the stresses that come with a chronic illness. 


Sometimes, it's a metter of relaxation..  Give this guided meditation a try.

Some Doctor’s Don’t Listen!

Could this be true? Surely medical schools teach that LISTENING is an important part of the doctor/patient relationship, yet too often I find some don’t listen.



Usually it’s the overconfident ones who have the most difficulty with this skill. They are usually the ones who’ve been in practice for 10 years or more.


Typically, when I’m in the hospital, the listening-challenged doctor will grandiosely waltz into my room followed by his/her learning-underling-doctors gesturing wildly, explaining, in-depth, my condition, while incorrectly finishing my sentences for me.


I have found younger doctors are usually better listeners. In fact, they want to hear everything!


They’ll ask for family history, for instance, and show interest in my great-aunt’s history of chronic in-grown toe nails!


Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. I’m just saying: Can’t we strike a happy medium?


Here’s my solution: Sometimes, I wait till the listening-challenged doctor is alone, or I call him/her aside to explain a situation. This way they don’t have the influence of their entourage (whom they often feel a need to impress) to diminish said listening ability.


Often I find this is necessary when conflicts become apparent between actual facts and what the doctor believes are facts. Doctor’s don’t like to have their facts corrected by lowly patients in the presence of their subordinate peers.


Once, for example, I tried telling the doctor the dosage of medications I was given on a previous hospital admission. Did he listen? No, he seemed to ignore my information. I suggested he look at my last admission records, which he did not do. He started me out on a much lower dose of the medicine which meant I spent much longer in the hospital the second time.


Staying longer in the hospital is a waste of time, space, and money!


What are your experiences of doctors? I’ll post all “clean” comments.